INDIANAPOLIS – Friday was more of the same for Tyler Warren, but still just a bit different.
After a fulfilling career at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and five years at Penn State during which he developed into a first-round NFL draft pick, he was stretching, going through individual drills and running routes Friday afternoon during the Indianapolis Colts’ rookie minicamp.
Warren had done this for the better part of his life, but not quite like this.
He had signed his guaranteed four-year, $20.96 million contract as the No. 14 overall pick in the draft.
Now, this is his job.
“They say you’re never working if you’re doing what you love, right?’’ he said after his first practice as a Colt. “That’s what I’ve been doing my whole life, so continuing to do that. Doing what I love and what I feel like I’m supposed to be doing. It’s a lot of fun.’’
Warren and the others – eight draft picks, 15 undrafted players and 38 prospects brought in on a try-out basis – were getting the feel of the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center before joining the veterans in the coming weeks for the remainder of the team’s offseason workouts.
To this point, they had trained specifically for February’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indy, Pro Days and private workouts.
Friday was all about getting back on the field.
“I’m excited to be here and get back in the flow of football,’’ Warren said. “Actually getting on the field and playing football after this long process where I was doing a lot of stuff that wasn’t football. It was good to be out here with everybody and get back in the flow.”
Warren wore jersey 44 during high school and college, but that number belongs to veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin.
“(84) was on a list and I picked it,’’ he said. “It’s a good number. Honestly, it’s not too deep of a decision. That’s the one I liked on the options I had.’’
That’s the number Jack Doyle wore during an impactful nine-year career with his hometown Colts. The Cathedral High School product earned two Pro Bowl berths before retiring after the 2021 season.
Franklin on the mend
Franklin is recovering after undergoing a “clean up’’ procedure on one of his ankles this week.
“It’ll take some time, Coach Shane Steichen said. “Hopefully, he will be back by training camp.’’
The veteran linebacker has developed from 2018 seventh-round draft pick into a defensive cornerstone. Franklin set a franchise record with 166 tackles in 2022 and followed that up with 179 in ’23 and 173 last season.
His 518 tackles are the most in the NFL over the past three seasons.
Getting comfortable
Friday was the first opportunity for Steichen and his staff to work with the rookies on the field.
“We’re learning the playbook right now, you know what I mean?’’ he said. “Obviously, we’re not in pads, so we’ve got to be smart there. But really looking at the football IQ, the mental, seeing the movement skills.’’
Sixth-round pick Riley Leonard and returnee Jason Bean ran offensive drills.
Continued evaluation
Steichen, his coaches and Ballard’s personnel staff had deep knowledge of a portion of the players on the field from their pre-draft evaluations.
However, not as much was known regarding the three dozen players brought in on a tryout basis.
That group warrants further evaluation, noted Assistant General Manager Ed Dobbs, “because we’re not going to have them for an extended period. So, seeing just who moves around, who catches your eye, and even if we don’t sign them right away, it’s . . . hey, in camp we have an injury or something, we’ll go to them. We’ll talk to those guys before they get out of here and say, ‘Hey, look, we can’t sign you right now. We don’t have the spot. But stay in shape, be ready, because you’re one of the first people we’re coming to.’”
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.