The Colts get after their remaining offensive roster deficiencies in this most recent Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft.
According to ESPN’s longtime NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. (subscription), the Indianapolis Colts are going to plug two of their glaring offensive holes, as the Horseshoe will select Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (#14) and Arizona offensive guard Jonah Savaiinaea (#45) in his most recent NFL Mock Draft:
14. Indianapolis Colts
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Colts had arguably the NFL’s worst tight end production last season, with their group combining for 39 catches, 467 yards and two TDs. They also lost Kylen Granson (Eagles) and Mo Alie-Cox (unsigned) and haven’t addressed the position. In an enormous make-or-break year for Anthony Richardson (and/or possibly Daniel Jones), Indy has to get more playmakers in its offense. Loveland has the seam-stretching ability to make plays down the field, and he has the 6-foot-6 size to post up in the red zone.
Receiver is the other position that stands out, but I went with Loveland as the better value (No. 11 on my board). Here’s an interesting note from ESPN Research off that decision: This would be the first time since 2006 that multiple running backs and multiple tight ends were selected before a second wide receiver went off the board.
45. Indianapolis Colts
Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona
Savaiinaea played tackle last season at Arizona — and played it well, with zero sacks allowed. But his NFL future is probably inside at guard, where he started 12 games in 2022. The Colts’ interior lost Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. Savaiinaea has the ability and size to open running lanes for Jonathan Taylor and keep interior pass rushers off Anthony Richardson.
For what it’s worth, Kiper Jr. has remained consistent that Loveland will be the Colts pick near midway through the first round, as he was Indy’s pick in his prior mock draft as well.
Also noteworthy, he has Penn State tight end Tyler Warren going 10th overall to the Chicago Bears—just ahead of the Colts by a few picks.
“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.”
While Loveland doesn’t offer as much as Warren as a run blocker, he does provide more versatility and separation at tight end as a receiver—much more in the ‘move’ role.
He would be an immediate upgrade to any tight end the Colts currently have from a receiving standpoint and (hopefully) become a dynamic playmaker over the middle of the field for either Indy starting quarterback—whether it’s the incumbent Anthony Richardson or his challenger, veteran free agent addition Daniel Jones.
Meanwhile, the 6’4,” 234 pound (with 33 7’8” arms) Savaiinaea started 11 games as a junior for the Wildcats—earning All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.
He has an athletic RAS profile of 9.19 out of a maximum of 10.0.
Per his NFL.com draft profile:
Overview
Durable three-year starter who is built like a right guard but has valuable protection experience as a collegiate tackle. Savaiinaea doesn’t have the athleticism to stick at right tackle in the NFL, but can play there in a pinch with some help. He’s very wide and can engulf smaller opponents as a base blocker while sealing off double teams and down blocks. His feet often deaden on contact, creating opportunities for defenders to leak through his edges in both the run and pass games. Savaiinaea’s size works to his advantage and he could become a serviceable starting guard in time.
“Jonah Savaiinaea is a physical mauler in the trenches. He boasts positional versatility across his college resume, but his brute force power and heavy anchor will be best optimized at guard in the NFL.” – @KyleCrabbs
: @Jordan_Reid pic.twitter.com/dVVnFdrQRp
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 29, 2025
If the Colts are going to take a right guard this early on, it projects to be for a ‘plug-and-play’ starting right guard, who can be inserted in beginning from Day 1 to replace the fairly big shoes left by departed free agent starter Will Fries.
While time will tell whether that’s ultimately Savaiinaea, it sounds just like Fries and Mark Glowinski before him at Colts starting right guard, that he’d have the chance to be a major asset when it comes to run blocking up front.
Both early projected picks would help shore up critical roster holes for the Colts offensively.
