Eli Finley TE Louisiana Tech |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #84 ROLE: Inline Multi-Role TE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.75 seconds (57%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #84 | |
| ROLE: Inline Multi-Role TE | |
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.75 seconds (57%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
80.0 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
|
72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 108.0 | |
| Hands: |
|
71% |
| Short Receiving: |
|
68% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
|
77% |
| Deep Threat: |
|
70% |
| Blocking: |
|
61% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#219
Position rank:
#9 (TE)
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| College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1760 | ||
RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cole Turner - Nevada |
|
98% |
| Jake Briningstool - Clemson |
|
97% |
| AJ Barner - Michigan |
|
94% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Eli Finley played soccer as well as football at Rockwall-Heath High School and made the all-district first team at tight end before choosing Louisiana Tech over offers from Oregon and the service academies. Born in Dallas, he also drew offers from North Texas and ULM, and his father, Matthew, kicked and punted at UTEP.Finley appeared 10 times as a freshman in 2023 and claimed the starting job in 2024, catching 25 passes for 314 yards and earning All-Conference USA honorable mention. He led the Bulldogs with 38 catches for 444 yards in 2025, highlighted by a six-catch, 154-yard performance against Southern Miss, and earned second-team All-CUSA honors.
A Mackey Award watch list selection and one of the Shrine Bowl's top 1,000 prospects, Finley has caught a touchdown pass in two of Louisiana Tech's four games this fall, including the 80-6 win over Northwestern State and the loss at Baylor.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Reliable hands, with no drops on 48 targets in 2025 and over half his contested chances caught
- Builds speed after the catch, turning six catches into 154 yards against Southern Miss
- Pass protection is a plus, allowing three pressures in all of 2025
- Long 6-foot-6 frame that works the seams and over the middle
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Run blocking trails his receiving; gets stalemated at the point when sealing edges inline
- Light at 246 pounds for an inline role, lacking anchor against bigger defenders
- Lacks the quickness to separate on short routes against tight man coverage
- Rarely a red-zone target, with two career touchdowns before 2026
- Modest volume for a team-leading receiver, with 38 catches in his best season
Scouting Report: Summary
Finley has been a steady presence at Louisiana Tech for three seasons, a tall, athletic tight end who can line up inline or in the slot and contribute as both a receiver and a blocker. He has a big catch radius and is at his best over the middle, where his size makes him an easy target, and he showed big-play ability in 2025 with a 154-yard game against Southern Miss. He has also found the end zone twice this fall, already matching his career total entering the season.However, he does not have a standout trait. At 246 pounds, he is light for an inline role and can be overpowered by bigger defensive linemen and edge players when run blocking, and he lacks the quickness to separate consistently on short routes. His run blocking also lacks finish when he is asked to seal the edge inline, and his production has been modest for a player of his experience, with just two career touchdowns entering 2026.
Overall, Finley is a tall, versatile tight end with enough athleticism and experience to earn an NFL camp invitation and fight for a job. He projects as a seventh-round tight end who would fit as a third tight end and core special teams player.
How other scouting services rate Eli Finley (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
179.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
10.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.