The 2025 NFL Combine kicks off this upcoming week. So let’s preview the event through the Indianapolis Colts’ lens and take a look at the tight end position.
For a deeper dive into the combine specifically and what you need to know from the Colts’ perspective, click here.
To preview other position groups, follow the links below:
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
What’s the need for the Colts at tight end?
The need, you ask? Well, it’s massive. As GM Chris Ballard said after the season, and as our eyes saw throughout the year, the Colts need a greater pass-catching presence from this position group.
Last season, the four tight ends on the Colts’ 53-man roster combined for 467 receiving yards. Compared to the rest of the NFL, there were 25 individual tight ends who had more receiving yards than the Colts entire unit did.
Defenses had very little to worry about when it came to the Colts’ tight end unit in the passing game. The trickle-down effect of that is defenses can then devote defenders elsewhere, muddying things for other Colts’ pass-catchers in other parts of the field.
In addition to a greater passing game presence, the Colts–like any team–could benefit from having a well-rounded skill set at that position and in the offense.
When there is versatility coupled with a capable blocking and pass-catching abilities, that element adds a level of unpredictability to an offense. For Shane Steichen, it can further open up the playbook, and from the defensive perspective, with the tight end able to wear so many hats, pre-snap, defenders can’t get a beat on what might be coming.
The good news for the Colts is that the tight end group is one that Daniel Jeremiah recently mentioned being one of the deeper classes in this year’s draft.
What does the Colts current tight end depth chart look like?
Jelani Woods
Andrew Ogletree
Will Mallory
Sean McKeon
Albert Okwuegbunam
Relative Athletic Scores of past tight end draft picks for Colts
The RAS formula–which was created by Kent Lee Platte–takes all of the measurements from the NFL Combine and Pro Days and converts them into an easily comparable figure that ranges from 0 to 10. On the RAS scale, 5.0 is considered average, with 8.0 or higher being in the top 20 percentile of the position group from an athleticism standpoint. The higher the RAS, the better the athlete.
Jelani Woods: 10.00
Andrew Ogletree: 9.34
Will Mallory: 9.05
Kylen Granson: 7.72
Which tight ends were invited to the NFL combine?
Elijah Arroyo, Miami
Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
Jake Briningstool, Clemson
Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech
CJ Dippre, Alabama
Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska
Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
Gunnar Helm, Texas
Brant Kuithe, Utah
Luke Lachey, Iowa
Colston Loveland, Michigan
Moliki Matavao, UCLA
Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina
Robbie Ouzts, Alabama
Joshua Simon, South Carolina
Mason Taylor, LSU
Tyler Warren, Penn State