Colts Fill Tight-End Void with Penn State’s Tyler Warren

The Indianapolis Colts kicked off their 2025 draft by finally addressing a glaring need: a do-it-all tight end. With their first-round pick (No. 14 overall), Indy selected Penn State’s Tyler Warren – a 6-foot-6, 257-pound “unicorn” at the position. According to ESPN analyst Stephen Holder, Warren was “targeted … for months” by the Colts and considered one of their most coveted prospects​. It had looked uncertain whether he’d fall to pick 14, but when Chicago surprisingly chose Michigan’s Colston Loveland moments earlier, Warren was suddenly on Indy’s radar. Holder notes this was a “dream scenario” for the Colts​: they got the multi-dimensional tight end they’ve been searching for in recent drafts.

Warren’s skill set matches the buzz. In 2024 he exploded for 104 catches, 1,451 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns (including four rushing TDs as a makeshift H-back/fullback)​. That stat line – more than triple his receptions from 2023 – underscored Penn State’s reliance on him as a true centerpiece. Colts area scout Chad Henry gushed that Warren is a “big man, … an extra receiver who can also knock the crap out of people on the line of scrimmage and in space.”​ In other words, Warren is a classic “Swiss Army Knife” tight end: an accomplished pass-catcher with linebacker-sized blocking chops. As head coach Shane Steichen noted before the draft, having a player “who can do both” receiving and blocking lets Indianapolis stay in its preferred 11-personnel package (three wideouts, one back, one tight end) without costly substitutions​. In today’s pass-centric NFL, that flexibility is gold.

The fit in Indy’s offense is immediate. Last season, the Colts finished dead last in tight-end receptions league-wide, and they made no big free-agent splashes at the position. That vacuum means Warren should see the field in plenty of key situations from Day 1. Holder predicts Warren will “rarely leave the field”​, giving Steichen a dynamic target over the middle and in the flats (and even on gadget plays – Warren threw a touchdown last year on a wild trick play). At 6’6”, he also creates matchup nightmares against smaller defenders. Wideouts Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Josh Downs are the Colts’ top receivers, but Warren’s arrival means defenses can’t ignore the TE in coverage. Steichen specifically praised Warren’s do-it-all game for allowing Indy to stay in 11 personnel – “you got the guy who can do both and you can run, stay in 11 personnel and not have to sub … that definitely helps,” he said​.

The reaction in Indianapolis has been enthusiastic. GM Chris Ballard sounded almost giddy about the pick. He noted that the last time he felt “that good about pulling a pick,” with such a consensus, was when the Colts drafted All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson in 2018​. Ballard and scouts highlighted Warren’s spectacular college performances – most notably a record-setting 17-catch, 224-yard game at USC – as proof he can deliver on big stages. “That was as dominant a game that you saw from any offensive player in college football this year,” Ballard said. “We’re really excited to get him.”​ ESPN’s analysts agreed, calling Warren’s fit in Indy a “dream scenario” that checks a lot of boxes​.

Broader implications are clear: the Colts hope Warren revitalizes a stagnant offense. With his arrival, Indy can exploit more formations and better protect their passing game. Fans and experts see this pick as an investment in the team’s identity under coach Steichen – one built on versatility and tempo. By adding a dynamic tight end, the Colts not only filled a weak spot but also sent a signal that their offense will look very different in 2025. As training camp approaches, eyes will be on Warren to see if he truly becomes the multi-purpose weapon Indy envisions.