Albert Breer has heard Colts ‘linked to both Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland’ ahead of this week’s NFL Draft

The Colts have a big receiving need at tight end and are heavily linked to the position’s top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft class.

According to SI.com’s Albert Breer, the Indianapolis Colts have reportedly been linked to both Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland just ahead of this week’s 2025 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday:

Indianapolis Colts

First round: No. 14.

Total picks: 7.

Needs: OG, TE, DT, LB.

What you need to know: Indy was linked plenty last year to Brock Bowers—he went two picks before they took Laiatu Latu—and the Colts could be in play for such a player once again. I’ve heard them linked to both Warren and Michigan TE Colston Loveland, whom some teams actually prefer to his Big 10 rival. If it’s not one of those two, the smart bet would be a lineman, either offensive or defensive, with Alabama G Tyler Booker, who was a real alpha inside the Tide program (and helped the coaches get the most out of teammates such as current Titans OT JC Latham) through the transition from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer. They could also theoretically take someone like Booker, and double back with a second-round tight end like LSU’s Mason Taylor, since there’s more depth at tight end than there is with offensive linemen.

KOA Colorado’s Benjamin Allbright, who’s normally pretty plugged in among league circles, also recently connected Loveland to the Colts. Both Warren and Loveland have been popular mainstream NFL mock draft picks for Indianapolis with the 14th overall pick since this past season ended.

For what it’s worth, Colts longtime general manager Chris Ballard indicated on Monday that while the team is open towards taking a tight end early on, that they will not be drafting purely based on need—and may not pick who many draft experts are projecting right now:

That being said, it’s definitely smokescreen season, so there’s a lot of posturing and bluffing from all NFL general managers league-wide. No one really knows how exactly each team is planning on drafting and how things will ultimately unfold. It’s more of a general idea.

It’s also no secret that the Colts have gotten next to nothing receiving-wise from their tight end room in recent seasons. While a bit different in playing styles, either Warren or Loveland would be a major upgrade, providing a much needed playmaker from the position.

We should find out soon enough whether either Warren or Loveland will be the newest Colt, ending months of potential speculation.