When the Philadelphia Eagles selected Eli Stowers in the second round of the draft, the headlines naturally focused on his jaw-dropping athleticism and impressive production at Vanderbilt. But as it turns out, the numbers only tell half the story.
Former Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews recently sat down with The Athletic and delivered what might be the most heartfelt endorsement of a rookie you'll hear all season. Matthews, who spent five of his 11 NFL seasons in Philadelphia before coaching at Vanderbilt last year, didn't just praise Stowers' football skills—he put the young tight end in a category reserved for role models.
"I would love for my boys to be like Eli Stowers," Matthews said, carefully choosing his words as a father. "I don't know if I can compliment a person better than that."
Coming from a man who has lived inside NFL locker rooms for over a decade, that statement carries serious weight. Matthews explained that he had carefully considered which athletes he wanted his own children to emulate. He settled on two names. One of them is Stowers.
On paper, Stowers already checks every box for Eagles fans eager to see their new tight end in action. He enters the NFL fresh off winning the John Mackey Award and earning Unanimous All-American honors after a standout final season at Vanderbilt. His combine performance turned heads across the league, particularly that stunning 45½-inch vertical jump that had scouts scrambling for their notebooks.
But Matthews focused on something far more telling. According to the former receiver, Stowers consistently set himself apart through moments fans never see—the pre-dawn workouts, the film sessions, the way he carries himself when nobody's watching. Matthews praised his preparation habits, consistency, faith, and temperament, calling his former pupil "the blueprint" for what a professional athlete should be.
The most striking part of Matthews' comments? How genuine he believes Stowers truly is. In a league filled with manufactured personas, Matthews insists the rookie's character is the real deal—the kind of foundation that turns promising talent into lasting success.
For Eagles fans, that's exactly the kind of prospect worth getting excited about.