The Colts appear to have gotten a potentially great one regarding prized Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in Day 1.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, new Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren, who surprisingly slid a bit to the 14th overall pick, was the 2nd best value pick from Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
He came in just behind Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham (No. 1), who went 5th overall to the Cleveland Browns after a trade down:
2. Tyler Warren
Penn State · TE · Senior
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 · No. 14 overall
Production Score: 98
Athleticism Score: 85 (estimated)
OVERALL DRAFT SCORE: 92
Last year, general manager Chris Ballard tried and failed to move up to a position where he could have selected Brock Bowers. This year, he didn’t have to move for a player with similar upside, letting the board come to him and deliver one of the best all-around players in the draft. According to the Next Gen Stats draft model, Warren earned the second-highest overall draft score (92) in this year’s class, while his production score (98) ranks third among tight ends over the last five draft classes.
A true three-down contributor, Warren brings immediate value as both a receiver and blocker. He’s a top-10 talent who fell into the teens as teams above Indy appeared to prioritize more premium positions. Warren will look to elevate a tight end room that recorded a league-low 232 yards after the catch in 2024. The last Colts tight end to record more than 500 receiving yards in a season? Eric Ebron in 2018 (750).
The stars truly aligned for the Colts last night, who were able to select arguably the top tight end in this year’s draft class—along with Michigan’s Colston Loveland, who went a few spots earlier to the Chicago Bears with the 10th overall pick.
Based off how the board fell within the Top 8 picks or so, Colts general manager Chris Ballard felt confident that they’d safely land one of the top two tight ends without having to trade up, and it turned out that it was somewhat surprisingly Warren.
Warren was last year’s John Mackey Award recipient and also earned First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2024.
He had a monster season for the Nittany Lions last year, as he recorded 104 receptions for 1,233 total receiving yards (11.9 ypr. avg.) and 8 rushing touchdowns, as well as had 4 rushing touchdowns when running the wildcat/in short yardage.
He’s the 2nd tight end that the Colts have selected in the 1st round throughout their illustrious franchise history, joining another former All-Big Ten standout, Dallas Clark, who also infamously wore #44.
At ‘6,5.5,” 256 pounds, Warren is a big bodied tight end, with sure hands and deceptive quickness, who can catch, block, and will actively seek out physical contact—looking to go through defenders (not around them).
While he has shorter arms, he has a large catch radius, is adept at 50-50 balls and catching/playing through physical contact, and also can box out opposing defenders. His weaknesses right now are that he doesn’t get a ton of separation, and he has more long speed, as it takes a bit for the freight train to get going, but when it does, look out! He’s a bulldozer in the open field, which makes him a major asset on tight end screens/dump-offs.
Like any young tight end, his blocking and route running could also use some refinement.
He also demonstrated tremendous versatility last year for the Nittany Lions, as the focal point of their offensive attack, being deployed at tight end, wide receiver, quarterback, fullback, and wherever else at times they could creatively get the football back into his hands.
Given his high level of production last year for Penn State, his obvious size and athleticism, and well regarded character and makeup—at a major of position of need for the Colts, and this pick was a no brainer, slam dunk near midway through the 1st round of this year’s draft.
It likely made up for the Colts being unsuccessful at trading up for Brock Bowers last year, as Warren should become a perennial Pro Bowler in his own right.
