The Indianapolis Colts are still more than three months away from the 2025 NFL draft, but they must win big in Green Bay this season to ensure the franchise’s future.
In a mock draft from Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick, the analyst predicts that Indianapolis will select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren.
“The Colts had one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses, but they also received minimal production from their tight ends—Kylen Granson led the position group with 14 catches for 182 yards—and need to prioritize surrounding Anthony Richardson with weapons.”
Flick also stated, “Enter Warren, a versatile, do-it-all tight end who had 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.” At 6’6 “, 261 pounds, Warren blends old-school build with modern traits.”
Flick is correct in stating that the Colts’ tight ends are almost entirely absent as receivers. Kylen Granson had 14 receptions, but veteran Mo Alie-Cox (12), Drew Ogletree (9) and Will Mallory (four) fared no better. The group combined for 39 catches, posing no offensive threat to Joe Flacco or Anthony Richardson.
As Flick also points out, QB Richardson needs as many targets to throw to in his third NFL season, which is the most important of his career. Warren is a versatile tight end who can receive, block, and carry the ball (26 carries for 218 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in 2024), making him an excellent choice for Indianapolis.
However, other parts of the roster require more quality, particularly defensively, now that the Colts have a new coordinator in Lou Anarumo. While a versatile tight end is appealing, Indianapolis may address a lack of depth on defense at positions such as cornerback, safety, and defensive lineman.
With the Colts selecting 14th overall, it presents several possibilities for who they’ll choose in the NFL draft. Warren is a true menace to any defense, and general manager Chris Ballard mentioned the tight ends’ lack of performance in his end-of-season news conference, so the Colts will most certainly add to that position group at some time.
The Colts have several issues to address in the early stages of the 2025 offseason, as another 8-9 finish is not an option, nor is missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. Shane Steichen, Richardson, and Ballard may very well be fighting for their futures with Indianapolis this year.
We’ll see what the Colts add and drop from their roster ranks as January draws to a close ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
