Final Report

Eli Stowers is, in a vacuum, the best receiving TE in this class. Unfortunately for him, receiving in a vacuum is the evaluating criteria for another position, not this one. Stowers, a converted QB from New Mexico State, has taken to running routes and catching the ball as if born to it. It's not simply that he's an explosive athlete who benefits from schemed up production, as position converts with quick success often are. Stowers looks like he has been doing what he's doing for years. His routes are crisp, he has a refined navigation of space and leverage, and he is a consistent matchup-winner when lined up as the sole TE on safeties and LBs. The issue is that the blocking is nonexistent. In addition to certainly not translating in-line, blocking on the move isn't a strength for him either despite that being a much easier proposition. He's just not a blocker. Because of this, it puts him from an every-down perspective into the place of a slot receiver. I don't think he can do that full time, where he's matched up on nickels and corners rather than safeties and LBs. It's totally a different proposition and while he is pretty close, and can certainly do it sometimes, a full-time role there is tough to project. All of that is why he only played about half of possible snaps at Vanderbilt, coming off the field frequently. As a third down, two-minute weapon, he's going to be very useful. As an every-down player, that's not likely to happen unless he has another level to ascend to as a receiver OR drops weight and moves to WR full-time. The latter I think is actually potentially lucrative for him. As it stands, he's a lot like Dalton Kincaid in all the best...and worst ways.

Recommended Position

WR

Round Grade

3rd-4th

Player Comp

Dalton Kincaid

Scheme Fits