The Eagles add another skill position player, drafting tight end Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt with the No. 54 overall pick.
Stowers played five seasons of college football, starting his career at Texas A&M before spending a year at New Mexico State and transferring to Vanderbilt for his final two seasons.
The 6-foot-3, 239-pound Stowers had 638 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2024 before posting 62 grabs for 769 yards and four scores last season. Stowers set tight end Combine records in broad jump (11 feet, 3 inches), and vertical jump (45.5 inches).
Stowers earned first-team All-American honors and won the Mackey Award. He also won the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman). The Eagles now have drafted the nation's top wide receiver (Makai Lemon, Biletnikoff Award) and tight end.
Stowers joins a room with Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, E.J. Jenkins, Cameron Latu, Johnny Mundt, Stone Smartt, and Jaheim Bell.
The Eagles kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft by moving up three spots in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to select WR Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
WR Makai Lemon was selected by the Eagles with the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
TE Eli Stowers was selected No. 54 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T Markel Bell was selected No. 68 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T Markel Bell was selected No. 68 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
T Markel Bell was selected No. 68 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career stats
111 receptions
1,407 receiving yards
11 touchdowns
2025 stats
Recorded 62 receptions for 769 yards and 4 touchdowns across 12 games
PFF overall grade of 81.6 (7th among 199 FBS tight ends nationally) and receiving grade of 85.3 (6th nationally)
Accolades
John Mackey Award winner: The first Vanderbilt player in program history to win the award
William V. Campbell Trophy winner, college football Academic Heisman, carrying a 3.92 GPA alongside his on-field excellence
First-Team All-American
First-Team All-SEC
