Much of the hype surrounding Eli Stowers as a potential NFL star centers on his rare athleticism.  That won’t be a problem for the Eagles’ new tight end, selected at No. 54 overall on Day 2 of the 2026 draft. But what could truly set the Vanderbilt product apart is his deep, holistic understanding of offensive football tied to his past as a quarterback. Stowers’ college journey began at Texas A&M as a signal caller before a shoulder injury derailed those plans, by altering his throwing mechanics, and eventually leading him to tight end.  The move paid off in 2025, when he won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end at Vanderbilt. When Eagles On SI asked the Dallas-area native how his quarterback background helped with the transition, Stowers lit up. “Yeah, 100%,” he said. “It helped the transition be easier because I understood the offense — the whole scope of it. As a quarterback, you have to. I understood defensive structures and how defenses work.…