The rookie can come in and make a difference right away.
Some rookies come in and pay their dues. They are buried on the depth chart behind a number of veterans and have to put in their time or wait for an injury to ascend to the starting lineup. That doesn’t seem to be the trajectory for newly drafted tight end, Tyler Warren, though. Deemed a perfect fit for the Indianapolis Colts, Warren is slated to come in and start right away, and if he doesn’t, it will be a crime. After what fans witnessed out of the tight end group last year, not inserting Warren right away would be incredibly disappointing as it would show a lack of understanding of the playbook and the professional game. The better bet is that Warren comes in and shines.
Shane Steichen hasn’t had a tight end of Warren’s ability during his tenure as head coach. Last year, the Colts were so devoid of talent it was easy to forget one was on the field. The inability of the tight ends to get open and make plays put a strain on the rest of the offense. That pressure should ease with the 6’5”+, 256 pound rookie with an impressive catch radius roaming the middle of the field. He can serve as a safety valve for Anthony Richardson, and if he proves valuable and builds trust, he could become a favorite target. The point of emphasis for Richardson this year has to be short to intermediate throws. Someone like Warren who has elite hands could become the answers to his prayers.
Don’t expect Warren to only be roaming the flat, however. He can be a vertical threat and work the seam. Do all of that and Warren will get plenty of looks in the red zone as well. He will create mismatches, and his big frame will serve as a perfect target for Richardson when looking to the end zone. While it may be difficult to pass the numbers of Brock Bowers from last year, it truly seems like Warren has a chance to get close. We have seen tight ends dominate and thrive while serving as the place a quarterback is looking when things get tight.
Warren may not end up as the offensive rookie of the year. He may not even lead the Colts in catches or touchdowns. That’s ok though. He will be playing in the NFL for the first time in his life. Expecting him to come out of the gate on fire is unrealistic. With that said, expectations should be high. Warren is coming into a unit that was nonexistent last year. The floor was the level for fan’s expectations. If he can put together even modest numbers his rookie year, fans may start to compare him to Dallas Clark. Put it all together and fans will thank their lucky stars they got another star in the making.
