The Philadelphia Eagles made an intriguing selection in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, picking tight end Eli Stowers. If you haven't looked closely at his film yet, you might want to—because this kid could turn into something special.

Let's be honest: when you hear "tight end," you probably picture a big, bruising blocker who can also catch passes. Stowers isn't that—at least not yet. At 239 pounds, he's more of a "move tight end" than an inline player. That means he's not going to be your traditional, every-down blocker. After last season's struggles with tight end blocking, I understand why some fans might be nervous. But here's the thing: not every tight end has to be a mauler in the run game. You can scheme around limitations. The problem last year was that the Eagles didn't even try. Hopefully, that changes in 2026.

What makes Stowers so exciting is what he can do. His journey to this point is fascinating. He arrived at Texas A&M as a highly touted quarterback recruit, then transitioned positions and eventually transferred to Vanderbilt, where he rebuilt himself as a pass-catcher. That quarterback background shows up on tape in a big way.

For a player who has only been catching passes professionally for a few years, his natural feel for the football is extraordinary. He contorts his body on poorly thrown balls in a way that bails out his quarterback. He makes acrobatic catches away from his frame, showing the kind of hand-eye coordination that can't be taught. This isn't a project—it's a player with a rare, instinctive ability to track and secure the football.

I had Stowers as my TE2 in this draft class, with a second-round grade. Yes, he needs to improve as a blocker. But you can't watch his film and not be excited about what he could become. If the Eagles commit to scheming around his strengths—using him in motion, flexed out, and in the seam—this pick could look like a steal in a year or two. Stowers might not be the traditional tight end you're used to, but he could end up being a very good football player.