Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers Labeled as 'Perfect Addition' for Broncos Offense After Jaylen Waddle Trade

ESPN draft expert says Stowers would complement Waddle and fit Sean Payton's offense well.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:19pm

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The Denver Broncos have already made a splash move by trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but ESPN's Jordan Reid believes the team could further bolster its offense by drafting Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reid says Stowers would be the "perfect addition" to head coach Sean Payton's offense, as he has the potential to be a mismatch problem for defenses as a big-bodied receiving threat.

Why it matters

Adding Stowers would give the Broncos another versatile offensive weapon to complement Waddle and the rest of the team's receiving corps. Stowers' ability to line up all over the formation and create mismatches could make the Broncos' offense even harder to defend, especially for a young quarterback like Bo Nix.

The details

Stowers is not a traditional in-line tight end, but rather a "move" piece who can stress linebackers and safeties from detached alignments. He earned a PFSN Prospect Grade of 81.91 and ranked as the No. 124 overall player and No. 6 tight end in the 2026 class. Stowers posted an 85.1 PFSN Wide Receiver Impact score in 2025 and averaged 2.7 yards per route run, showcasing his receiving prowess.

  • The Broncos traded for Jaylen Waddle in March 2026.

The players

Eli Stowers

A tight end prospect from Vanderbilt University who is projected to be a good fit for the Broncos' offense.

Sean Payton

The head coach of the Denver Broncos, known for building creative offenses that feature versatile playmakers.

Bo Nix

The Broncos' young starting quarterback.

Jaylen Waddle

The wide receiver the Broncos traded for in March 2026 to add a dynamic playmaker to their offense.

Courtland Sutton

The Broncos' top wide receiver, who will complement the speed and playmaking of Jaylen Waddle.

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What they’re saying

“He would be the perfect addition to coach Sean Payton's offense. With his value primarily coming as a big receiver, Stowers has the potential to be a mismatch on second- and third-level defenders in the slot or out wide.”

— Jordan Reid, ESPN draft expert

What’s next

The Broncos will continue to evaluate their options in the 2026 NFL Draft, weighing whether Eli Stowers would be a good fit to complement their offense after the Jaylen Waddle trade.

The takeaway

By adding Eli Stowers, the Broncos could further bolster their offense with a versatile receiving threat who could create mismatches and complement the speed and playmaking of Jaylen Waddle. Stowers' ability to line up all over the formation would give Sean Payton another weapon to work with in his creative offensive scheme.