While some Senior Bowl participants have used the week of practices to solidify their 2025 NFL Draft status, Miami Hurricanes TE Elijah Arroyo decided to exceed expectations with a phenomenal outing.
Elijah Arroyo Arrives on the 2025 NFL Draft Scene
The football world converged on Mobile, Alabama, this week, expecting confirmation about players they pre-emptively slotted into draft spots. Meanwhile, one of the early surprises, Arroyo, has opened eyes and become the buzz of the early week of practice for the showcase.
Normally, seafood and Southern cuisine stack up as the food choices of the day in Mobile, but Arroyo continued to cook defenders all morning with a blend of quick feet, smooth movement, and explosive strides. The former Hurricane not only improved his draft status, but he also made scouts and media stand up and take notice.
The Elijah Arroyo train is rolling!!
Miami’s TE is on a mission at the Senior Bowl#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/msx0MdSh04
— Efram Geller (@Mr1rrelevant) January 28, 2025
Despite the vast number of elite NFL tight ends, the position doesn’t really grab headlines unless you drop a pass, cash in on marketing, or date a pop star. While Arroyo worked hard to eliminate the first part, the other two do not apply at this point.
While Rob Gronkowski played like a throwback with modern skills, the days of the massive, plodding tight end went the way of the dinosaur. Even in the previous era, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates provided a glimpse into the future years before it arrived.
Elijah Arroyo is part of why this is such a solid TE class. pic.twitter.com/i72Dydwztr
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 28, 2025
Now, teams prefer the smaller (weight-wise) tight end to start. Teams split them out wide, into the slot, and even feature them as ball carriers on sweeps. As a result, agility and change of direction become mandatory unless teams need an in-line blocker for heavy formations and max-protect situations.
Arroyo, after a strong showing, can join contemporary younger tight ends like Brock Bowers, Kyle Pitts, and Sam LaPorta. Now, that doesn’t mean one great practice thrusts Arroyo into that tight end class.
With the praise for Arroyo comes a deep dive into his medical background. A season-ending ACL injury five games into the 2022 season will force teams to raise a red flag. The injury limited him to one 11-yard catch in 2023.
Much of Arroyo’s draft status hinges upon a return of clean medicals. Moreover, if you look at his career, 76% of his career production came in 2024.
Arroyo will hear his name called during the NFL Draft this spring. Clearing the first hurdle — excelling in the Senior Bowl practice — now sits in the rearview. Next up: the NFL Combine
KEEP READING: Top 5 Tight Ends To Watch at the 2025 Senior Bowl
The agility drills will show how stable and strong his injured knee will hold up during intensive activity. Furthermore, his catching while moving across all three levels will indicate how he will fit into particular offenses.
Winning multiple 1-on-1 drills in front of the entire assembled group goes far into the minds of scouts. After completing an entire season for a team that stayed in the ACC Championship hunt, you could see the positive traits that would entice a team to possibly want to jump in late on Day 3.
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