Eli Stowers to Eagles, Fans React to New Jalen Hurts Target in 2026 NFL Draft After Makai Lemon Pick

The Philadelphia Eagles have added two targets for Jalen Hurts early in the 2026 NFL draft.

The Eagles drafted Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers at No. 54 during Friday's second round.

Philadelphia had started out the draft by selecting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon at No. 20 the day prior.

The decision to draft Stowers comes as veteran tight end Dallas Goedert heads into his age-31 season with the Eagles on an expiring contract.

Stowers started out as a quarterback at Texas A&M. He transitioned to tight end at New Mexico State before finishing his college career at Vanderbilt.

He recorded 62 catches for 769 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns during his senior season with the Commodores.

B/R NFL scout Daniel Harms described Stowers as a player who "showcases top-end body control in the air with fantastic post-catch instincts to churn out extra yards whenever he can."

"Stowers was a beneficiary of schemed-up touches in college, but he has continued to refine his top-of-the-route feel and does a nice job creating a touch of separation in his breaks," Harms wrote.

Harms added that Stowers "creates advantageous matchups with his body type as a 'big slot,'" and that he's "quick enough to line up on the outside and find some success as well."

He noted, however, that Stowers was "a negative in the run game as a blocker" in college.

Stowers will join an offense already bolstered by Lemon, who went into the draft as the No. 14 overall prospect and top slot receiver on the final Bleacher Report big board.

Bringing in these two prospects will allow the Eagles to build for a future after Goedert, who has played a key role in the Philadelphia offense since his own selection in the second round of the 2018 draft, while also bracing for the potential departure of A.J. Brown.

The Eagles' star wideout has been connected to the New England Patriots, who ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this week will "likely" be traded to the New England Patriots in June.