Eli Bowen CB Oklahoma |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #23 ROLE: Outside Zone CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.38 seconds (88%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #23 | |
| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.38 seconds (88%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: |
82.2 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 69.7 | |
| Tackling: |
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64% |
| Run Defense: |
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80% |
| Coverage: |
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79% |
| Zone: |
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74% |
| Man/Press: |
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80% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#137
Position rank:
#28 (DB)
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| College Games: 20 College Snaps: 972 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mac McWilliams - UCF |
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85% |
| Jarvis Brownlee Jr. - Louisville |
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83% |
| Kary Vincent Jr. - LSU |
|
81% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Out of Guyer High in the Dallas suburb of Corinth, Bowen signed with Oklahoma as a three-star cornerback and joined his older brother Peyton, a former five-star, in the Sooners' secondary. He earned early playing time and built a reputation for ball production, banking accolades including Freshman All-America recognition before his sophomore season.A midseason injury cost Bowen a chunk of 2025, but he still finished with two interceptions, including a pick-six, two pass breakups and 22 tackles across nine games. He played his best down the stretch, turning in a strong outing against LSU late in the year, and profiled as a zone-scheme cover man whose hands and instincts carry the projection while the man-coverage reps continue to develop. He logged a pick-six among his two interceptions and added seven run stops, flashing the ball production that defines his profile in a limited nine-game sample.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Quick-twitch speed to carry vertical routes and recover late
- Returned an 87-yard interception for a touchdown against Alabama
- Snagged two interceptions despite missing the season's first month
- Reads route concepts and drives on throws with anticipation
- Competes above his size in coverage on the boundary
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Short and light at 69 inches and 183 pounds for outside corner
- Missed the first four games to injury, shortening the sample
- Tackling finish is shaky, with six misses on limited snaps
- Man coverage trails the zone work against bigger receivers
- Frame can be overwhelmed at the catch point by size
Scouting Report: Summary
Bowen is an undersized, fast cover corner whose rare timed speed and ball skills produced two interceptions in nine games, including an 87-yard pick-six against Alabama that earned SEC player-of-the-week honors. He reads route concepts, drives on throws with anticipation, and competes above his size on the boundary. The speed and the splash plays are the projectable traits, and the production came despite missing the first month of the season to injury.The frame is the obvious limiter. At 69 inches and 183 pounds he is short and light for outside corner, his smoother reading routes in zone than mirroring in man against bigger receivers, and he can be overwhelmed at the catch point by size. He missed four games to injury, shortening the sample, and his tackling finish is shaky with six misses. He is a slot-or-zone projection at the next level rather than a boundary press man against NFL size.
The appeal is the speed and the ball production, a developmental nickel or zone corner whose traits fit inside even if the frame caps the outside role. The injury and the size keep the grade measured, but the playmaking and the closing speed are real. He grades on Day 3 as a developmental cover corner, a young, twitchy defender whose best NFL home is likely in the slot.
How other scouting services rate Eli Bowen (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
145.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
29.0
*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.