Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles, Round 2, Pick 54
The Philadelphia Eagles selected tight end Eli Stowers with the 54th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Stowers, a Vanderbilt product, now joins an Eagles offense that is retooling before an expected A.J. Brown trade post-June 1.
Projected Role in the Eagles Offense
- Backup
- Expected snap share: 40-70%
- Timeline to start: Week 1
- Primary competition: Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra
Key Takeaways
Eli Stowers projects as an immediate starter behind Dallas Goedert.
- Expected fantasy value: Dynasty TE2, redraft TE3 with upside
- Biggest winner: Eli Stowers
- Biggest loser: Grant Calcaterra
Fantasy Football Impact of Eli Stowers on the Philadelphia Eagles
Eli Stowers' athleticism was regularly on display at Vanderbilt, and he confirmed it with an eye-popping performance at the NFL Combine. Stowers cleared the all-time broad jump record for tight ends, 11'3". He followed that up with the second-best vertical, 45.5". His size-adjusted speed put him in the 99th percentile among every tight end drafted since 1987. The 2025 Mackey Award winner, Stowers, was hyper-productive in college, catching passes from Diego Pavio. His skill set as a receiver is exactly what we want to see in fantasy football. His receiving is effortless, and he is fast and maneuverable after the catch.
Earlier this offseason, the Eagles restructured Goedert's contract, allowing them to move on after this year. The Eagles were going to be saddled with a $20M cap hit upon Goedert's release, and he'll play in 2026 under a $7M deal. This, unfortunately, dampens immediate excitement for Stowers. Goedert is a long-time Eagle with versatility that helps their offense in every facet. Stowers is a bit undersized and struggles as a blocker. He can play as a pure receiver in 12- and 13-personnel while he grows into his paws.
The NFL is trending towards more sets with multiple tight ends, potentially providing a larger-than-expected role as a rookie. With A.J. Brown likely to be traded, Stowers could fill in on some of the after-the-catch routes that Brown thrived on. A fast and physical receiver, he can snare the ball across the middle of the field with an intent to create after the catch. There's upside here, but it may not manifest immediately. If he breaks out, it'll likely be after the team moves on from Goedert.
Stowers' athletic profile, college production, and draft capital put him on the dynasty radar. He'll likely settle in as a Round 2 pick in rookie drafts. He should be targeted late in best ball drafts, but he can probably stay on waivers in all but the deepest redraft leagues.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
Dallas Goedert's projections take a slight ding, but he and Stowers should play different roles in the offense. Geodert is a traditional tight end, and Stowers' early-career touches will likely be limited to pure routes, often out of the slot. Grant Calcaterra was on the best ball radar and had some contingent upside, but the Stowers' selection crushes those hopes.