The Eagles are doubling down on big, fast and downright unfair in the passing game, grabbing Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers in the second round and sending one former fan favorite into full-on proud coach mode.
Philadelphia used the No. 54 overall pick on Stowers, a vertical threat who brings rare speed and leaping ability to a receiving corps in flux. The move came with an instant personal twist for the franchise. Jordan Matthews, the former Eagles wideout who coached Stowers at Vanderbilt and helped install a play called “Philly” with the tight end specifically in mind, was openly thrilled to see his guy land back in his old NFL home.
Stowers arrives as a pass-catching tight end the team views as a matchup creator, according to PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Head coach Nick Sirianni praised Stowers’ athletic profile in the team’s draft release, calling him “super talented” and saying he “does some things that nobody else can do.” The Eagles also pointed out that Stowers joins a tight end room featuring Dallas Goedert and several veterans, and framed the pick as part of a broader push to add speed and versatility to the offense.
From QB To Mackey Winner
Stowers’ ascent has been quick and dramatic. A former quarterback who did not see in-game snaps at tight end until 2023, he turned himself into one of college football’s most productive players at the position and captured the John Mackey Award. Vanderbilt lists him as the 2025 John Mackey Award winner with 62 catches for 769 yards last season, according to Vanderbilt University Athletics.
His testing numbers only juiced the hype. Stowers ripped off a 45.5-inch vertical, an 11-foot-3 broad jump and a 4.51-second 40-yard dash in his combine workout, per Sports Illustrated, turning raw traits into concrete draft stock.
Matthews' 'Philly' Play Comes Full Circle
When Jordan Matthews joined Vanderbilt’s staff last season, he helped install a three-tight-end concept nicknamed “Philly” that was drawn up with Stowers in mind. So when the Eagles made the call on draft night, the symmetry was hard to miss.
“Crazy, right? It’s hard not to say the first thought was, ‘Wow, what are the chances?’” Matthews told ESPN, in comments reproduced by 6abc Philadelphia. His link to the pick, combined with his own history as an Eagles second-rounder in 2014, helped turn a straightforward roster move into a bit of a reunion story for the fan base.
Where He Fits In
The selection looks tailored to push the offense further into matchup-driven territory. Stowers is projected to line up detached from the formation and win in space, which would complement in-line options such as Dallas Goedert. The team listed Stowers among its incoming skill additions and stressed his versatility in the draft release, per PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
The timing also lines up with a broader reset on that side of the ball. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is installing a different scheme in Philadelphia, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, while star wideout A.J. Brown has surfaced in trade speculation throughout the spring, per NFL.com.
For now, Stowers lands in Philadelphia as a high-upside, developmental weapon whose early impact should come from creating mismatches in 11- and 12-personnel packages. He is expected to report to rookie minicamp and battle for snaps this summer as the Eagles fold new schematic ideas into a veteran core that suddenly has one more big-play option over the middle.
