In the coming weeks, we will be taking a closer look at each of the Indianapolis Colts’ unrestricted free agents and making a prediction as to whether or not they will return for the 2025 season.
Up next, let’s take a look at tight end Kylen Granson. If you’ve missed any of our other free agency predictions, you can find them below.
Will Fries
Julian Blackmon
Grant Stuard
Ryan Kelly
Dayo Odeyingbo
Mo Alie-Cox
Trey Sermon
Ashton Dulin
Mark Glowinski
Taven Bryan
Sam Ehlinger
Ronnie Harrison
EJ Speed
Kylen Granson has spent the last four seasons with the Colts after being a fourth-round selection in 2021.
In the previous two seasons–2022 and 2023–Granson’s production had increased. He saw more targets, had more yards, and generated some bigger plays, going from 9.7 yards per catch to 12.3, according to PFF.
However, this past season, his production in the passing game dipped drastically. After being targeted 47 times in 2023, Granson had just 30 targets in 2024. He would also catch only 47% of his passes and totaled only 182 yards.
For what it’s worth, Granson’s run-blocking grade from PFF did make a big jump in 2024. And while blocking is a key component to playing the tight end position, on a roster that already includes Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogltree, the Colts needed more from Granson–and the unit as a whole–in the passing game.
In fact, after the season, GM Chris Ballard was straight forward in saying that the Colts need a greater passing game presence from the tight end position.
To put the Colts’ tight end production in the passing game into context, that unit totaled 467 receiving yards in 2024. Compared to the rest of the NFL, there were 25 individual tight ends who had more yards than that.
With Ballard wanting to emphasize competition this offseason, as I said about Mo Alie-Cox, the tight end room is one that needs a fresh start. It just wasn’t nearly good enough.
Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory are both under contract yet in 2025, but in free agency and/or the draft, Ballard needs to be aggressive with this group and bring in some outside talent to elevate this unit. Maintaining the status quo here just won’t do.
Prediction: Kylen Granson signs elsewhere.