The Kansas City Chiefs are one of many teams in the 2025 NFL Draft who will take advantage of arguably the best tight end class the league has seen in years. Even if they don't want to use a first-round pick at that position, Miami playmaker Elijah Arroyo could help them later in the draft.
Arroyo has shot up draft boards in the last few weeks, as a promising final season with the Hurricanes led to a strong Senior Bowl showing in which he flexed his muscles as a high-end receiver from the tight end position.
Certain teams use the tight end in the passing game more than most, and they will be the ones thirsting to bring Arroyo to town.
Miami TE Elijah Arroyo 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 251
- Recruiting: 2021 4-star, No. 201 national, No. 6 TE, No. 33 Texas
Positives
- Terrific receiving tight end with great release off the line of scrimmage and speed needed to split the seams down the middle. Faster than many wide receivers at the Senior Bowl.
- Moves well despite a 250-pound frame, got better as the year went on with regard to use his frame to win individual matchups against undersized DBs.
- Very good route runner who can both find the soft spots in zone coverage and set up DBs with craft route-running skills.
- Good hands and plus wingspan help him profile as someone who can be a red zone threat at the next level.
Arroyo has such outstanding speed from the tight end position that he will immediately be one of the more explosive pass-catchers in that role the second he steps in the league. At 250 pounds, Arroyo's combination of size, quickness, and hands will get offensive coordinators drooling.
Arroyo's route-running is possibly the best of any Day 2 tight end in this class, as he can completely toast less-athletic linebackers and DBs with his crafty and refined nature.
Negatives
- A one-year wonder with only 11 catches in three seasons before Cam Ward came and inflated his production.
- Below-average blocker who may take a few years in the pros to improve, can get overwhelmed at the point of attack due to subpar play strength.
- Comes with medical red flags due to injury concerns in the past few seasons. Small sample size, especially against top-tier competition, as a result.
Arroyo was a complete afterthought before this season due to his injuries and plain old ineffective play, leading some to wonder if his uptick in production was a product of playing alongside possible No. 1 pick Cam Ward.
Arroyo is never going to be a very good blocker, which could make it tough for a team to put him in a traditional in-line role. Any OC who picks him will need to work around that deficiency, which is a ton of work for a player who may be a Day 2 rookie.
Elijah Arroyo NFL Player Comparison: Mike Gesicki
Gesicki is never going to win any awards for his blocking, but he has bounced around the league due to his solid receiving skills. Arroyo should try to replicate his style of play as best he can.
Elijah Arroyo 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Early 3rd Round
Arroyo needs to go to the right situation, as any team that puts him in line and forces him to block will be in for some problems. As a receiver, however, Arroyo's potential is so high that he should be a Day 2 lock who ends up thriving as a passing game Swiss Army knife.
