Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus wrote that Miami Hurricanes standout Elijah Arroyo made a case to be the third tight end selected in the 2025 NFL Draft behind Tyler Warren of Penn State and Colston Loveland of Michigan during Senior Bowl practice last week. Arroyo is currently the fourth TE on the PFF Big Board behind Warren, Loveland and Gunnar Helm of Texas.
Arroyo received praise throughout social media from NFL Draft analysts. Few tight ends have the combination of size and speed that Arroyo has as an elite route runner. Arroyo had 35 receptions for 590 yards and seven touchdowns on a team with multiple receiving options.
In the Senior Bowl Arroyo did not record an official reception, but did catch a two-point conversion to put the National Team up 8-0 early in the game. The week of practice at the Senior Bowl is more important than how well a player performs in the game.
Arroyo is one of 10 Miami players invited to the NFL Combine later this month in Indianapolis. On-field workouts for TEs at the NFL Combine are on February 28 and the bench press is on March 1. Arroyo will have another opportunity to improve his NFL Draft status at the combine.
Miami TE Elijah Arroyo raised his NFL Draft stock at the Senior Bowl
"In what’s a wide-open race for TE3 in the NFL Draft behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland, Arroyo could have the inside track after a strong performance at the Senior Bowl. He has excellent athleticism at 6-foot-5, 251 pounds and was a nightmare for opposing defensive backs to handle. His 99.7 receiving grade against single converge this past season stood in the 99th percentile among FBS tight ends."Max Chadwick Pro Football Focus
In his first three seasons, Arroyo had 11 receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown. Arroyo earned second-team All-ACC honors following his breakout season in 2024. The numbers Arroyo had in 2024 were career highs and significantly exceeded his production from his first three seasons combined..
Arroyo entered college as the number six TE prospect in the 2021 class. If not for his knee injury, Arroyo might have left college after his third season. Arroyo needed his fourth season to put consistent production on video. Arroyo was a key part of the top-ranked offense nationally in 2024.
Arroyo played 165 in-line snaps and 216 slot snaps per PFF. The versatility Arroyo brings at TE should help his draft status. Arroyo has shown he can line up out wide or on the line. Expect Arroyo to continue to be used multiple ways in the NFL.