Colts must consider modifying game plan before history repeats itself

There’s a possibility Penn State tight end Tyler Warren may be too good of a prospect for an NFL team to pass up on drafting him before the Colts pick at No. 14 overall. If Warren is taken, the Colts war room will have to adjust the game plan and explore other options in real time during the NFL Draft.

With one month before the 2025 NFL Draft begins at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, the Indianapolis Colts still have vital holes to fill on the depth chart.

Perhaps the two most important positions for the Colts to address for the last few seasons have been tight end and cornerback. Indianapolis has instead reached the point of desperation to discover a reliable, pass-catching tight end who can provide better production. The last Colts TE to reach 500 receiving yards in a single season was Eric Ebron in 2018.

The four horsemen the Colts cycled through in 2024 posted four of the 15-lowest catch percentages among TEs that received at least eight targets. Drew Ogletree returns for his third NFL campaign after being limited to nine catches and one TD last season. It is possible Jelani Woods will emerge healthy at training camp, but the third-round draft pick has missed the last two seasons after dealing with hamstring and turf toe injuries.

DAY 1 – Tyler Warren (Penn State)

It makes perfect sense why Tyler Warren has been connected to the Colts throughout the draft process. If the Penn State product is still on the board when Indianapolis is on the clock, the draft war room should snag the best tight end prospect in the first round. Warren led all TEs among Power-Five conferences with 104 catches, 1,233 receiving yards, 67 first downs and 12 total TDs. He was the focal point of the offense that led the Nittany Lions to the first College Football Playoff appearance and his 25 career TDs are the most for a tight end in program history.

DAY 2 – Colston Loveland (Michigan)

If Warren is selected before the No. 14 overall pick, Michigan’s Colston Loveland could become a viable option for the Colts on Day 2 of the draft. Loveland posted 56 catches for 582 receiving yards and scored five TDs in 2024, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors for the defending champion Wolverines after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in Michigan’s CFP National Championship run. Loveland’s 649 receiving yards and 2.38 yards gained per route run in 2023 finished fifth among all FBS TEs. With a massive 6’6 frame, Loveland creates a mismatch against linebackers to sustain possessions and deliver in key moments.

DAY 3 – Terrance Ferguson (Oregon)

If the objective early during the draft is to bolster the defense, Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson would be a steal for the Colts to land in the fourth round. Pro Football Focus has Ferguson listed as the No. 5 tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft Rankings. Ferguson raised his draft stock during the NFL Scouting Combine after he led his position group with a 4.63 40-yard dash and a 39-inch vertical leap.

Ferguson scored three receiving TDs in his final five games at Oregon, including inside Lucas Oil Stadium during the second quarter of the Big Ten Championship game. He led Oregon to a Big Ten title and became the program’s all-time leader by a tight end with 134 career receptions and 16 receiving TDs. Oregon’s 6’5 prospect averaged an extra 9.0 yards after catch, which was the most YAC per reception among TEs in Power-Five conferences, according to PFF.

There’s a possibility Penn State tight end Tyler Warren may be too good of a prospect for an NFL team to pass up on drafting him before the Colts pick at No. 14 overall. If Warren is taken, the Colts war room will have to modify the game plan and explore other options in real time during the NFL Draft.