The Colts land one of the 2025 NFL Draft’s best tight ends in this year’s class during this latest mock from a longtime draft guru.
According to longtime ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., the Indianapolis Colts will select a top Big Ten tight end in this year’s NFL Draft with the 14th overall pick—only it’ll be Michigan’s Colston Loveland instead:
14. Indianapolis Colts
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
I liked the Colts’ signings of Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum, so I’m less worried about the secondary than I was a few weeks ago. But I’m still very concerned about Indy’s pass-catching options. This is a make-or-break season for quarterback Anthony Richardson — especially now that Daniel Jones is in the fold as competition — and the wide receiver and tight end rooms are light.
The Colts could take a wideout such as Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka or Texas’ Matthew Golden. But Loveland is ranked higher on my board than all three and could immediately become Indy’s No. 1 tight end. I see him hauling in some Richardson deep balls down the seam.
The Colts select Loveland as the draft’s second top tight end off the board, as the New York Jets poach Penn State’s Tyler Warren within the top 10 picks at the 7th overall selection.
“The listed 6’5,” 245 pound junior tight end for the Wolverines caught 56 receptions for 582 total receiving yards and 5 touchdown receptions during 10 starts this past season—earning 2nd-Team All-American and All-Big Ten honors (behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren) respectively.
He was a CFP National Champion and First-Team All-Big Ten for the Wolverines back in 2023.”
Snagging Loveland near midway through the first round is a solid consolation prize for the still very tight end needy Colts. While he’s not the same asset as a blocker as Warren, he offers more receiving versatility and is built more in the prototypical ‘move’ tight end role.
He would be a nice chess piece for Colts head coach Shane Steichen to scheme offensively, posing mismatches all over the field in a wide array of unique looks.
He’d also provide projected third-year starter Anthony Richardson a sure-handed receiving target who can separate across the middle of the field and down the seam for big plays.
Having shored up the defensive secondary already with some key free agent signings, Loveland’s big addition to the Colts offense would fill a major need going forward.
