The Colts have already met with a top tight end prospect at this year’s NFL Combine.
Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts are among the teams that have had a formal meeting with Penn State tight end Tyler Warren at the NFL Combine.
Listed at 6’6”, 257 lbs, Tyler Warren was the CFP Semifinal Nittany Lions’ entire offensive identity this past season. Aligning everywhere on the field — in-line tight end, slot receiver, fullback, wildcat QB, and out-wide — Warren’s Mackey Award-winning senior campaign resulted in 1,233 receiving yards, 8 receiving touchdowns, 218 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, and a passing touchdown to serve as the cherry on top.
Below is Tyler Warren’s NFL.com draft profile:
Warren seems like the perfect tight end prospect for HC Shane Steichen’s offense, given his surefire hands, his physicality and willingness in the run game as a blocker, and his overall flexibility as an offensive weapon.
When it comes to what type of tight end the Colts are looking for, HC Shane Steichen provided his thoughts on the matter during his media availability at the NFL Combine on Tuesday evening.
Head coach Shane Steichen on the importance of a tight end being able to run block on top of being an effective pass catcher: “To be multiple at that position, to be able to run block and pass catch is huge. Being able to affect the game on third downs as a pass catcher is huge.”
The Colts just missed out on TE Brock Bowers in last year’s draft, and now more than ever, are offered an opportunity to right their wrongs. Not to suggest that Warren will be on-par with Bowers’ efforts as a day one NFL player, but this draft class in question is littered with potential difference-makers at the position.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard admitted during his end-of-season presser that last season’s tight end room left more to be desired. “We didn’t get enough production from them… I’ve got to be able to give Shane [Steichen] and them a guy that can really control the middle of the field, that teams have to account for and defend,” said Ballard.
The Indianapolis Colts need to afford as many weapons as possible on the offensive side of the ball so that there are no excuses for third-year QB Anthony Richardson moving forward. Not only would Tyler Warren serve as a security blanket at the position that the Colts have been missing since Jack Doyle retired, but he too would provide offensive-minded head coach and play-caller Shane Steichen with an enticing new chess piece to utilize however he sees fit.