Could the Giants add Arroyo as a versatile weapon?
The New York Giants are likely set at tight end.
Theo Johnson is one of the more athletic tight ends in the NFL and flashed potential throughout 2024, while Daniel Bellinger is well rounded and a talented athlete in his own right.
However, Bellinger will also be a free agent and the Giants could look to put talent in the pipeline.
And in that case, Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo has been turning heads throughout 2024 and 2025 as a versatile offensive weapon. He suffered a torn ACL in 2022 that also cost him most of 2023, but he’s back healthy and is considered one of the top tight ends in the country.
The Giants could also be tempted to add Arroyo if they draft his quarterback in the first round.
Prospect: Elijah Arroyo (8)
Games Watched: vs. Florida (2024), vs. Virginia Tech (2024), vs. California (2024), vs. Wake Forest (2024)
Red Flags: ACL (2022-2023)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot 4 1⁄2 inches
Weight: 251 pounds
Arm length: 33 1/8 inches
Hand size: 9 5/8 inches
Strengths
Best traits
- Versatility
- Athleticism
- Competitive
- Toughness
- Ball Skills
Elijah Arroyo is a tough, athletic, and versatile tight end prospect who’s coming off of a breakout season.
Arroyo has solid size for a modern “hybrid” tight end at 6-foot and 4 ½ inches, 251 pounds. He also has adequate length with 33-inch arms and 9 ⅝ inch hands. That gives him a good catch radius as well as the size to match up with most defenders on the perimeter or at the second level.
He was used all over the Miami offensive formation, getting snaps as an in-line and detached tight end, as a fullback and H-back, and as both a slot and wide receiver. Arroyo was able to execute and be productive from each alignment, and was also effective as both a receiver and blocker from every alignment.
He’s a relatively savvy route runner who knows how to utilize his route tempo as a weapon, and has remarkable control over his acceleration down the field.
That effectiveness and extreme versatility speak to his football IQ, athleticism, competitive toughness, and his play strength.
Arroyo has an efficient release off the line of scrimmage, getting into his routes quickly and without getting hung up on coverage players or on chip blocks. He understands his role in route concepts and is skilled in both using his frame to create traffic as well as finding voids in coverages. He has good ball skills to locate and track the ball in the air, is a natural “hands” catcher with good body control and concentration.
He is also a very tough blocker who’s able to punch above his weight class. Miami made full use of his athleticism to block for screen passes out of bunch formations, and as a lead blocker ahead of the running blocker from a fullback or h-back position. Arroyo is able to “lose slow” as a traditional tight end, and is competitive in sustain his blocks for as long as possible.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Health
- Size
There are few real weaknesses in Arroyo’s game and he does a lot well.
The biggest nit to pick with Arroyo is his lack of any truly stand-out traits. He has adequate size and play strength, and appears to have “good-but-not-great” athleticism. Teams looking for special traits or a tight end to excel in a specialized role could overlook him.
He does need to improve his skills as a separator, particularly against tight coverage. He also probably shouldn’t be asked to block NFL edge defenders one-on-one and would be more useful blocking smaller defenders at the second level.
Arroyo missed most of 2022 and 2023 due to a torn ACL. He didn’t appear to be impacted by any lingering effects of the injury in 2024, but teams will want to do their due diligence on his medical reports and long-term prognosis.
Game Tape
(Arroyo is the Miami tight end wearing number 8)
Projection
Elijah Arroyo projects as a starting tight end in a modern spread offense – provided his medical reports check out.
He’s something of a “jack of all trades” tight end who can fill a wide variety of roles and allow an offense to field a huge variety of looks from a single personnel package. Arroyo is an effective and competitive blocker, as well as a dangerous receiver.
Arroyo might not come into the NFL with the fanfare of a Kyle Pitts or Brock Bowers. That said, he has the potential to make waves as a rookie and be yet another good tight end to come out of Miami. He should be drafted relatively highly and has the potential to make his future team very happy with the decision.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes
Final Word: A Day 2 value.
