If the Indianapolis Colts are going to land Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the 2025 NFL draft, will they have to trade up to do so?
If the Indianapolis Colts are going to land Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the 2025 NFL draft, will they have to trade up to do so?
Understandably so, Warren has been an extremely popular pick for the Colts in mock drafts, but there are a lot of offenses that could benefit from his do-it-all skill set.
On the consensus big board, Warren is ranked as the ninth best prospect in this year’s class, and while he doesn’t play a premium position that we typically see taken in the top 10, the lack of high end talent overall in this year’s draft could be a factor in Warren going sooner than later.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. recently mentioned a few teams within the top 10 that could be landing spots for the tight end.
“It’s anywhere in that top 10,” Kiper said of Warren recently, via the Indy Star. “It begins with Jacksonville at No. 5. Jacksonville can use Tyler Warren. There’s no question. You think about Trevor Lawrence and you think about what Tyler Warren would mean to that Jacksonville offense with (Evan) Engram gone.”
“So I think it begins at Jacksonville, and then you go to the Jets; do they take a right tackle or do they take Tyler Warren, the tight end? … Then you get down to the Bears at 10. Even though they have Cole Kmet, they need a third option behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and Warren could be that guy there. And then you get to the Colts at 14.”
While tight end may be the biggest perceived need that the Colts have to address in the draft, it’s certainly not the only need. Linebacker, along with adding to the offensive and defensive lines, among other needs, are all other positions that have to be addressed.
However, by trading up, the Colts’ already somewhat slim amount of draft capital is going to be reduced. For example, using Jimmy Johnson’s trade value chart, moving up to pick No. 7 would cost the Colts picks 14 and 45. So now, in this scenario, the Colts are down to six total picks and just two in the top 100.
Although tight end may be a pressing need, this isn’t a roster that’s only a tight end away from competing.
So, with all of that said, would Warren be an excellent fit in Shane Steichen’s offense? Absolutely. But are the Colts in a position to give up draft capital to go and get him? I’m not so sure about that one.