Elijah Arroyo
Summary
Elijah Arroyo was selected in the 2nd Round (#50 Overall) in the 2025 Draft out of University of Miami. Arroyo is an intriguing young tight end with major upside. His standout traits are his size, catch-radius, explosion in the receiving game, and the upward trajectory he showed at Miami. His biggest questions are around health, blocking polish, and whether his breakout year can translate into consistent NFL production. If all goes well, he could become a go-to tight end; if not, he still offers a valuable receiving role with big-play impact.
Strengths
Size & catch-radius advantage: At 6′5″ with long arms and a large frame, Arroyo presents a big target for quarterbacks. In 2024 he averaged 16.9 yards per catch — one of the highest marks for tight ends that year. Field Gulls
Explosive in the pass game / big-play ability: Demonstrated the ability to stretch the field as a tight end and make significant gains after the catch. His college production in 2024 (35 catches for 590 yards and 7 TDs) showed his receiving upside. University of Miami Athletics
Versatility in alignment and role: At Miami, he lined up inline, detached, in the slot, and in H-back/pull-blocker roles — showing variety in how he was used. Good athleticism for the position — able to make plays in the open field, not just in short-area or red-zone situations.
Breakout trajectory and upside: After injury-limited earlier years (2022, 2023), he broke out in 2024 and improved his draft stock significantly. His selection early in Round 2 reflects belief in his future potential at the NFL level.
Weaknesses
Durability / injury history: Missed large parts of 2022 (and parts of 2023) due to injury. Teams likely view this as a risk given volume of snaps, physicality of NFL tight end role.
Blocking consistency & inline toughness: While he has demonstrated ability as a receiver, his blocking — especially against elite NFL defenders — still needs refinement. As a modern tight end, being effective in the run game and as a blocker will increase his value.
Route-tree depth and separation nuance: Though explosive, some scouting reports note that his change-of-direction, separation in short-area routes, and route-running polish can improve. He may be more of a vertical threat currently than a full all-round receiving TE who wins across every route type.
Limited volume history / somewhat late breakout: His earlier college seasons featured lower usage and target share; although 2024 was strong, he has less accumulated production than some peers. The transition to NFL will test whether his breakout carries forward with consistent role and snaps.
Fit & Outlook
Arroyo projects as a high-ceiling receiving tight end in the NFL. His best fit in the short term is as a TE1 or TE1-plus in a scheme that uses tight ends as vertical threats, mismatch creators, and move players. He can complement a strong passing offense by offering big-play capability. Over the longer term, if he adds strength in blocking, refines his route-running, and stays healthy, he has the potential to develop into a three-down tight end: one who is effective in both the pass and run game. Conversely, if blocking or durability remain issues, he may remain more of a specialist in the passing game (e.g., red-zone target, play-action threat).