Film review season is officially rolling, and today we break down the first half of our tight end class. This week, we see what the new NFL Combine TE Vertical Jump record holder showed on the field this year and break down what he might bring to your fantasy team next year. Next week, you can compare his report card against consensus TE1 Kenyon Sadiq and we’ll see just how close the two really are, and if there’s a third tight end challenging them both. Exciting stuff to jump into, so…
Eli Stowers - TE Vanderbilt
Originally recruited as a quarterback, Eli Stowers transitioned to tight end in 2023 and hasn’t looked back. After linking up with QB Diego Pavia at New Mexico State, the duo transferred to Vanderbilt, where Stowers quickly emerged as one of Pavia’s top targets and capped his career with All-American honors as a senior. Pre-combine, Stowers projected as a Day 2 selection (Round 3–4 range). But after posting a record-breaking vertical jump for tight ends and blazing a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash, his stock is clearly trending upward. Few prospects helped themselves more in Indianapolis, but let’s look at the tape:
The Great Stuff:
Elite athletic profile - one of the players to benefit most from the combine
Size and speed should allow him to be a lineup mismatch for linebackers
Dangerous YAC threat
The Good Stuff:
Impressive catch radius - consistently made catches even when Pavia threw behind him
Solid production profile posting two seasons over 650+ yards
Gadget plays - screens, shovel passes
Concerns:
Route running needs refinement - too reliant on his athleticism
Low ceiling as a run blocker could limit his time on the field
Only 3 years at the position
Evan Engram is the immediate stylistic comp. Stowers is essentially a wide receiver in a tight end’s frame: explosive, fluid, and built to win as a pass catcher more than a traditional in-line Y. On the floor end, Adam Trautman serves as a cautionary comparison: an athletic tight end whose limitations in the run game restricted his snap share. I’d love to see him land in Denver with Sean Payton. Payton has long searched for his next Jimmy Graham (see: Evan Engram, Adam Trautman), and Stowers’ athletic profile and receiving upside would give him a legitimate shot to grow into that joker role… behind the 31 year old Engram.
—DDT
Jack Endries - TE Texas
A rare three year starter, Endries saw a step up in his competition following his transfer from Cal to Texas last year that proved to make producing a bit tougher. I worry about a similar struggle as he moves towards the pro’s. He’s not bad, and I do think he’ll see the field for whichever team calls his name at the draft, but he’s not a guy I see a lot of upside in. Here’s what showed up on tape:
The Great Stuff:
Frequently channeled through the B-gap in the run game, where he was effective at sealing off linebackers and springing big runs
Age
The Good Stuff:
Strong catches away from body with quick transition from receiver into ball carrier
Occasionally makes nice grabs away from his frame
Releases off line and breaks at the tops of routes could be, but were not always, athletic
Route tree decently varied and route running had some nice reps
Willing blocker with a few wins vs. defensive linemen
Concerns:
Rarely able to separate versus man coverage and can over-run soft spots in zones, ending up back behind defenders
Not used very frequently in red zone
Some weak blocking reps and largely lacking a certain physicality as a blocker
Bland athletic profile makes it hard to imagine he’d be able to make strides in the NFL
I grant that there are exceptions, but when I think of the successful fantasy football tight ends of late I realize two categories. They are either the slimmer, speedier type that runs really sharp, explosive routes and can get behind a defense or the stockier, basketball player type that can move well laterally, has a big catch radius, and uses physicality to gain separation, and out-jumps everybody. Endries is neither. He is fundamentally sound and a half decent athlete, but there are no flashes on tape where I think he could take things to a different level. His comp from me is Brock Wright, a guy that has been a four year contributor in the NFL and will likely earn a roster spot on a second contract this year, but no team is looking at to potentially start. The two similarly bring enough blocking to be in the 12 or 13 personnel packages, but there is an absolute ceiling to what they can provide you in all facets of their game.
— DDR
Justin Joly - TE NC State
Joly’s film review serves as a reminder to us all that the report cards evaluate these players as NFL prospects. His score is pretty solid, but I think his limitations in the speed department could limit his potential as a fantasy football asset. That said, I stood up out of my chair multiple times watching this film. Dude is just an absolute menace. Let’s break it down:
The Great Stuff:
Physicality and consistency as a blocker are elite. He is moving any DB clear out of the play and is rarely giving an inch to defensive linemen.
His tenacity as a ball carrier makes every tackler need to give everything they have and rarely can one guy take him down with a head of steam
Very sure-handed and can make difficult catches
The Good Stuff:
Consistently made himself an option versus zone coverage
Boxes out defenders well to make up for lack of separation
Concerns:
Struggled to separate versus man coverage
Routes are pretty slow and limit how far downfield he can get before ball needs to come out
Nothing got me more fired up this entire offseason of film review than when he did an exact recreation of the Greg Jennings “putting the team on his back with a broken leg” clip against Pitt, limping 30 yards after getting behind the defense to score a touchdown. The man is a football player. That said, I think his lack of speed or explosiveness will make it pretty difficult for him to put together consistent statlines warranting a spot in fantasy lineups. For me, his comp is Darnell Washington, and though Washington’s size is certainly different than Joly’s, they both struggle and excel in the same departments. It’s going to break my heart to stay away from Joly in my leagues (alright maybe I’ll let myself get one share), but you’d better hope he ends up on your favorite NFL team, because the guy will be a weapon as a blocker and get you fired the hell up on more than one reception throughout the year.
—DDR
Oscar Delp - TE Georgia
Delp’s resumé of three years of mediocre stats certainly profiles similar to Endries, but I actually think the two could not be more different as assets. The “absolute ceiling” that I saw in Endries does not exist for me with Delp, but neither does the floor. Truth be told, after watching Delp’s film versus Tennessee in 2024, I almost removed him from the breakdown list entirely. Thankfully, I watched this year’s matchup against Mississippi State and actually saw a lot of improvement. Let’s break it down:
The Great Stuff:
Considerable improvement in both explosiveness running routes and power as a blocker from 2024 to 2025. Indicates there could still be more to see.
A few blocks where he moved so smart and so explosively that he was able to effect multiple defenders and generate big plays almost completely by himself
The Good Stuff:
Explosiveness at line of scrimmage and at top of routes can make it difficult for bigger defenders to stay with him
Does a good job not allowing contact to throw him off at line of scrimmage or later in routes
Route tree and route running were average to above average and was moved around formation a bit
Shows frequent physicality
Concerns:
Season numbers showed no improvement from 2024 despite showing growth on film
Non-factor in games frequently
Occasional botched block
Because of how little there is to go off of from his college career and how different he looked year to year, an exact comp for Delp is a bit difficult. Because of how low his production was in college, his floor is essentially being a complete non-factor in the league entirely. Like I said, though, there are flashes that I think are actually pretty enticing. His ceiling, if we’re going off of his best reps as a blocker and as a receiver, reminded me a lot of Pat Freiermuth. I think to reach that point Delp would need the right development and opportunity, and to continue his improvement trajectory, none of which is guaranteed, but I don’t hate him as a taxi squad stash at the very end of your draft or off of waivers, depending on the depth of your league. More likely than not, you can leave him on waivers and monitor his development and opportunity, but if it feels like things might be coming together, I can tell you I definitely will be pouncing and hoping for basically a free TE2.
— DDR
And just like that we’re halfway through the big fellas. Stay tuned for later this week when we drop our Free Agency newsletter after the league undoubtedly goes into a frenzy this Wednesday, and for more wide receiver and tight end film review after. Thanks for tuning in.
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