2025 NFL Scouting Report: Elijah Arroyo

Prospect Summary:

The “U” has been known as “tight end U” for a long time, and after some injury-riddled seasons, Arroyo reestablished the Hurricanes tradition of excellent tight end play in 2024. As a freshman in 2021, he had five catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Arroyo had an ACL tear on September 22, 2022 limiting him to five catches for 66 yards for the season, and suffered a setback in the 2023 preseason. He didn’t play until late November and had one catch for 11 yards. In 2024, with Cam Ward at quarterback, Arroyo stayed healthy and had a big season with 35 receptions for 590 yards and seven touchdowns. At the end of the season, Arroyo had a phenomenal week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

There are usually less than a handful of tight ends that can be split out wide from the line and generate separation with their sudden quickness and route running from NFL safeties and cornerbacks. Travis Kelce and Darren Waller were in their prime, Kyle Pitts has that ability if he were used that way, Brock Bowers showed that ability in his record-setting rookie season, and Arroyo has that special kind of ability for the next level. He is a real problem in coverage as he is too big and quick for safeties while being too fast for linebackers.

For the NFL, Arroyo looks like a future three-down starter. He has the skill set to be a dangerous receiver down the seam and in the red zone like he was in college. Arroyo has the quickness to get downfield, and he has a surprising burst for a tight end. He has excellent hands and is very skilled at going up high to make receptions over defensive backs. Even though he isn’t the biggest of tight ends, he has good body control and uses his size well to shield the ball from defenders to make receptions.

Arroyo is a twitchy athlete with burst out of his breaks and sudden movement skills. That translates to him being an excellent route runner who can consistently generate separation from linebackers or safeties. Arroyo has good feel as a receiver and can find soft spots in the zone. After the catch, Arroyo is a tough runner who has a burst, will weave through the secondary, and shows the ability to pick up yards downfield. As a pro, Arroyo should be a mismatch problem and dangerous weapon in the passing game.

As a blocker, Arroyo has a lot of room for improvement. He is average at best. He must get better at blocking the C-gap and pass protecting to be an elite three-down starter. He has the size, strength, and skill set to do it, but he needs to get better to help protect his quarterback and contribute to the rushing offense.

In the 2025 NFL Draft, Arroyo could go as high as the middle of the first round. It would be a surprise if he slipped out of the opening night of the draft, and if he does, that will be because of the medical and durability concerns. If he somehow does not go in the first, he won’t last long in the second.