The Colts fill a number of needs and have a surprising trade up to get their guy in this latest mainstream mock draft.
According to NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, the Indianapolis Colts will make a surprising trade up in his latest 2025 mock draft—trading up with the Miami Dolphins just one spot to #13:
13. Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren
Penn State · TE · Senior
PROJECTED TRADE WITH MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Colts don’t typically trade up, but GM Chris Ballard could be enticed by a desire to fend off other teams who might be trying to acquire the large, agile, sure-handed Warren. In the fourth one-spot Round 1 move of the past six drafts (the Bucs went from No. 14 to 13 for Tristan Wirfs in 2020; the Eagles went from No. 10 to No. 9 for Jalen Carter in 2023; the Vikings went from No. 11 to No. 10 for J.J. McCarthy in 2024), Indy surrenders its fourth-round pick, with one of Miami’s seventh-rounders coming back.
Could be it be lucky #13 (T.Y. Hilton’s number!) for the Colts to ultimately land prized Penn State tight end Tyler Warren?
We’ll see… Ballard could be a bit more aggressive entering this year in what’s shaping up to be a ‘make-or-break’ 2025 campaign. Even if it doesn’t pan out, he may not be around after next year to deal with the potential repercussions regardless.
That being said, the longtime Colts general manager has yet to trade up in the first round during his 8 prior years of drafting for the Horseshoe, and I’m not sure he’d realistically do it this year just to move up one spot—even for Warren, preferring to take his chances instead.
Ballard did indicate that they’re looking for a tight end who can impact all 3 downs in former Pro Bowler Jack Doyle’s mold—and yes, that also screams Warren, who’s one of the most complete tight end prospects to come out of the draft in recent memory:
Chris Ballard used Jack Doyle to exemplify what the team is looking for at TE:
“[Doyle] was somebody that can be consistent & be a guy the defense has to account for…be able to play all 3 downs, be functional in run game, make plays at critical times & be an option in the MOF.” pic.twitter.com/cAHKkhSbZz
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) April 21, 2025
For what it’s worth, here are Reuter’s other draft picks for the Colts in this 7-round mock:
- Pick 45: Texas A&M edge Nic Scourton
- Pick 80: Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter
- Pick 151: Sacramento State offensive guard Jackson Slater
- Pick 189: Miami (Fl.) running back Damien Martinez
- Pick 224: Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard
- Pick 232: Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald
