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Could the Philadelphia Eagles find tight end Dallas Goedert's replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft?

With the 2026 NFL Combine in full swing, the Philadelphia Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman will look to build up their roster during the upcoming free agency period and NFL Draft.

Unfortunately for the front office, Philadelphia is set to lose multiple key playmakers from last year’s squad, including star linebacker Nakobe Dean. On the offense, however, veteran tight end Dallas Goedert will be the top player that will hit the free market this offseason, leaving a massive void needing to be filled if he signs with another team.

Looking at the Eagles' draft position, the organization holds the No. 23 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, along with an additional seven picks on days two and three. And while many fans hoped that Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq could fall to Philadelphia at No. 23, the highly-touted prospect’s incredible performance during the combine will likely put him out of range.

Luckily, there is one name that put together a solid showing at the combine on Friday that the Eagles could target in the later rounds in Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers.

Why Stowers Makes Sense For the Eagles

Stowers, after bouncing around from Texas A&M and New Mexico State for his first three seasons in college, would eventually become an incredible pass catcher for the Commadoors in 2024 and 2025. During his first year with Vanderbilt, the veteran tight end managed to record 638 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 49 catches, paving the way for him to be a top-ranked player at his position for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Fortunately for Stowers, he would follow up his impressive run in 2024 with another terrific campaign this past season. The Commandoors' top pass catcher finished his final season with 769 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 62 receptions, which led to him being the 2025 John Mackey Award recipient.

In addition to his strong 2025 season at Vanderbilt, Stowers helped his draft stock during this year’s combine, as he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash while also recording a 45.5-inch vertical. Standing at 6-foot-4, 239 lbs., Stowers demonstrated his rare combination of size and athletic ability, making him a key player to watch for in the upcoming draft.

While Stowers struggled as a run blocker throughout his time in college, his skill set as a pass catcher will allow him to line up anywhere on the field. This would make him an excellent replacement for Goedert, who had a similar role with the Eagles in 2025.

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