More than 300 NFL prospects put their talent on display for NFL scouts in Indianapolis each February. This year, signal-callerDiego Pavia and tightendEli Stowers were invited to compete. The NFL Combine serves as the first major checkpoint on the road to the NFL Draft, which begins April 23. Over the course of a few days, prospects engage in medical evaluations, team interviews and on-the-field workouts. The Hustler broke down key takeaways from Pavia and Stowers’ combine performances and how they affect their draft stock.
Eli Stowers
After a stellar high school campaign, Eli Stowers committed to play football at Texas A&M. He was a four-star quarterback who, as a junior in high school in 2019, passed for 2,969 yards with 36 touchdowns, with 1,166 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He then appeared in five games as a backup for the Aggies and transferred to New Mexico State University, where he became a tight end. After recording 35 receptions for 366 yards in 2023, he transferred to Vanderbilt, where he put up back-to-back standout campaigns. Stowers finished the 2025 season with 769 yards and 4 touchdowns, winning theJohn Mackey Award — the premier accolade for the tight end position. He entered the combine as one of the consensus top tight ends in the 2026 draft class.
Stowersdelivered one of the most impressiveDay 2 performances in tight end history, breaking several all-time records at theposition. First, heposteda 45.5-inch vertical, arecord, and the third-highest recorded vertical at thecombine since 1999. He then recorded an all-time best atthe 11’3” broad jump, a record which had stood since 2017. On the 40-yard dash, he ran an impressive 4.51 seconds during his first attempt, which was tied forsecond amongst alltightends in the class. Lastly, for his physical measurements, he came in at 6’3 ¾ and 239 pounds.
ELI. STOWERS. 👏pic.twitter.com/xACK9F4wya
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) February 28, 2026
Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers with a 45.5″ vertical jump, the best by a tight end at the combine since 2003. pic.twitter.com/omkvCxDpDG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2026
Dane Brugler, a writer for The Athletic,evaluated Stowers’ performance at the combine, noting his exceptional athleticism and fantastic hands.
“An above-average athlete for his position, Stowers attacks the technique of defenders and uses his quickness to consistently win one-on-one on slants, digs or seam balls,” Bruglar said. “He’s produced mixed results when asked to attack in traffic, but he has reliable hands and fluid adjustment skills.”
NFL analyst Lance Zierleinnoted that Stower’s run-blocking ceiling is low but is an above average pass catcher. He pointed out his potential strength as an “F” tight end, which are primarily used as a matchup weapon, moving around from the traditional positioning to the slot to get more favorable matchups against linebackers or safeties. Stowers is not a traditional “Y” tight end, who typically lines up next to the offensive tackle on the line of scrimmage. He spent many of his snaps at the slot position during the 2025 campaign, with scoutsnoting how his acceleration helps him excel on slants and underneath routes. Stowers is an explosive high upside receiving threat who has the speed to be a threat downfield. However, teams seeking a more traditional in-line, blocking tight end may look elsewhere.
When asked at thepodium if people aren’t paying enough attention to his run blocking ability, Stowers responded.
“I’ve taken a lot of strides in my run blocking over the last two years,” Stowers said. “I think I’ve gotten a lot better, and I think I continue to get a lot better as well, not just in that aspect of my game, but in every aspect of my game.”
Despite his impressive combine appearance, Stowers’ draft stock hasn’t risen very much. Projected first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq, who played at Oregon, also had a phenomenal performance, notably running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. Still, Stowers’ testing numbers, production and tape have solidified his standing as a top tight end in the class. After Sadiq, Eric Froton of NBC Sportshad Stowers as his No. 2 tight end. Stowers has positioned himself squarely within the Day 2 conversation and should go in the early part of the second round, with an outside shot at the late first.
Diego Pavia
There have been many questions surrounding the Heisman-runner up quarterback these last few months, with one of the most common centered around his height. He was listed 6’0 by Vanderbilt but only 5’9 ⅞ at the senior bowl. At the combine, he measured at 5’10 with an arm length of 28 5/8″, hand size of 9 5/8″ and weight of 207 pounds. He participated in several throwing drills but opted out of the athletic testing portion, which includes the 40-yard dash.
.@VandyFootball QB @diegopavia02‘s full throwing session from the Combine.
2026 NFL Combine continues tomorrow at 1pm ET on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Ed0p4HWOfD
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2026
.@VandyFootball QB Diego Pavia with a couple of beauties on the go route.
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/iI0vu4koR0
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2026
Pavia did take the stage for media availabilities, though, and touched on what he brings to whatever team eventually gets him. In aninterview with Bryant McFadden, Pavia was asked why he would be an asset for an NFL team.
“I’m a person that doesn’t take “no” for an answer,” Pavia said. “That’s just the player I am. The player I’ve always been. I’m the ultimate teammate. You turn on the film, someone has a 30-yard run, I’m down there with them, you know what I mean? And so that’s who I’m gonna be for an organization. I’m a winner. [If] you turn on the tape, you see a winner.”
Pavia also pushed back on questions surrounding his attitude.
“I think people get caught up in my confidence for arrogance,” Pavia said. “But my confidence comes from my preparation of work that I put in in the offseason. That’s what boosts me to have that extra edge on Saturday.”
When asked about his maturity at the Combine podium, Pavia pointed to amessage he heard from head coach Clark Lea.
“Coach Lea always pressed that your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed till you’re 25, and I just turned 24, so I’ve got like 365 days to go,” Pavia said.
The maturity concerns stem primarily from Pavia’s behavior after placing second for the Heisman Trophy in December 2025. He publicly criticized the voting system for the most prestigious award in all of college football. Following the backlash, he released a post onX apologizing for being disrespectful andtaking responsibility for his mistake. Size concerns were already a part of Pavia’s evaluations, and off-field concerns about his behavior could push him further down draft boards. Teams looking for a backup may be hesitant to invest in a player they might see as a distraction.
When discussing Pavia’s draft outlook, an AFC pro personnel director told LanceZierlein that he liked the makeup of Pavia.
“He’s not a bad player at all,” the personnel director said. “Really smart. I don’t know if he can win from the pocket enough, but I really love the makeup.”
Pavia was one of the best quarterbacks in college football this past season, throwing for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns to just eight interceptions while adding 826 rushing yards and nine touchdown runs. Pavia inherited a team that went 2-10 and brought them to a 10-3 record in just two seasons. He is a dual threat, with an inherent toughness and confidence that helps extend plays under pressure. He has a great leadership presence, short passing accuracy and real college experience. Despite that production, teams will have concerns about his size(similar profile to Kyler Murray), along with his downfield arm strength and decision making. Combined with questions about whether he could become a distraction, those factors are why he could slide. He is projected to be taken in the sixth or seventh round and could potentially sign as an undrafted free agent.
With the draft approaching, the next opportunity to see Pavia or Stowers in action is March 20 at Vanderbilt’s Pro Day.