GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Indianapolis Colts addressed their most pressing need in the NFL Draft Thursday night.
The team chose Penn State tight end Tyler Warren with the 14th overall selection. Warren was a first-team All-American and Mackey Award winner (the annual honor given to the nation’s top tight end). He was widely considered the most versatile tight end in the draft.
Another top tight end option, Michigan’s Colston Loveland, went to the Chicago Bears at No. 10.
General manager Chris Ballard and coach Shane Steichen both indicated during pre-draft interviews that the team wanted to upgrade the tight end position with a player who could play three downs and pose a threat in the passing game, something sorely missing from the Indianapolis offense in recent years.
The board fell Indy’s way, although fans had to grit their teeth throughout the first round. Several mock drafts had Warren going much earlier, leaving the Colts to select Loveland, the other tight end with a first-round grade.
Things played out differently on draft night.
The first hurdle to clear was the New York Jets, who went with Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou with the seventh pick. After that, it was a waiting game to see if any other team would take the All-American tight end from Mechanicsville, Virginia. Chicago’s decision to pick Loveland came as a surprise, as most analysts expected Warren to be the first tight end off the board.
Teams positioned immediately after Chicago focused on their various needs, although NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s announcement of the No. 12 pick for Dallas–a different Tyler (Tyler Booker, a guard from Alabama)–may have given fans who valued Tyler Warren a momentary heart flutter.
At 6’5″ and 256 pounds, Warren is a big target with good speed who can reel in contested balls. At Penn State, he lined up in multiple positions and emerged as a capable blocker. He finished his 2024 season with 104 catches for 1,233 yards and 8 TDs. He added four rushing touchdowns; the former high school quarterback also threw a touchdown pass.
“He’s violent after the catch. He brings an element of toughness that I thought we needed to add offensively,” Ballard said of the selection.
He expects Steichen to find unique ways to utilize Warren’s varied skill set. He lined up at fullback, in the slot, on the line of scrimmage and the Wildcat position.
“He’s unique. He’s a unique player. We’re really excited to get him,” Ballard said. “Shane’s a creative guy. He’ll find ways [to play to his strengths].”
Ballard described Warren as the kind of player who’s always open and believes he had the best hands of anyone in the entire NFL Draft. The Colts general manager pointed to Warren’s dominant game against USC, when he caught 17 passes for 224 yards to help the Nittany Lions avoid an upset against the Trojans.
“He’s going to be able to handle a high volume on Sunday, whatever we ask him to do,” Ballard said.
The general manager was effusive in his praise for Warren and definitively said he would help whichever quarterback ended up with the starting job. Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are at the center of the team’s quarterback competition.
Ballard emphatically said he didn’t consider trading up because he felt “very good” about the pick and Warren’s availability at No. 14. It’s the same feeling he had in 2018, when the team selected Quenton Nelson sixth overall in Ballard’s second draft as Colts GM.
Here’s Warren’s draft profile from NFL.com:
The ultimate “whatever, whenever” player in the 2025 draft with the size, athleticism and competitive spirit to make good on his intentions. Warren plays with swagger and “best player on the field” energy. He imprints on games with alignment versatility, allowing opportunities for play-callers to stress the defense. Despite his size, he’s quick enough to beat man coverage underneath and plays with good recognition of holes in coverage. He has the ball skills and toughness to win contested catches and withstand punishing contact. He’s very capable as a lead/move blocker but will need a little improvement at sustaining blocks when blocking in-line. Warren can access all three levels of the field but is best served short and intermediate. He possesses elite football character and plays with a confidence that can be contagious. He has a chance to become one of the best tight ends in the league.
The Colts have six other tight ends on the roster: Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Sean McKeon, Drew Ogletree, Albert Okwuegbunam and Jelani Woods.
As things currently stand, the Colts have the following picks remaining:
- Round 2: Pick 13 (45 Overall)
- Round 3: Pick 16 (80 Overall)
- Round 4: Pick 15 (117 Overall)
- Round 5: Pick 14 (151 Overall)
- Round 6: Pick 13 (189 Overall)
- Round 7: Pick 16 (232 Overall)
Here’s a look at Indy’s first-round picks under Chris Ballard
- 2017: Ohio State safety Malik Hooker
- 2018: Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson (via trade)
- 2019: No first-round pick; traded down for a pair of second-round picks
- 2020: No first-round pick; pick traded to acquire DeForest Buckner
- 2021: Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye
- 2022: No first-round pick; pick traded to acquire Carson Wentz
- 2023: Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson
- 2024: UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu
- 2025: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren