Barring a trade, the Indianapolis Colts will have the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Who will they take?
Last year, some Colts fans wanted the team to trade up and land either wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. or tight end Brock Bowers. Indianapolis never traded up. Harrison Jr., the son of Colts legend Marvin Harrison, was selected overall by the Arizona Cardinals. Bowers went to the Las Vegas Raiders (13th overall).
Meanwhile, the Colts kept the 15th overall pick and drafted defensive end Laiatu Latu. He went on to have a solid first year, with 32 tackles (five for loss), four sacks, and 12 quarterback hits. The former UCLA star also made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
It’ll be interesting to see who the Colts will take with the 14th pick this year. Here are two options that make a ton of sense.
The Two Best Options for the Indianapolis Colts in the First Round of the 2025 NFL Draft
Malaki Starks (Safety, Georgia)
The secondary is hands-down one of the Colts’ biggest weaknesses. This past season, the struggling unit ranked near the bottom in completion rate, pass deflections, and yards per pass attempt. That is one reason the Colts parted ways with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
Georgia safety Malaki Starks would be an ideal selection for the Colts. He can fill a do-it-all role on the back end of Indy’s defense. He’s versatile and very effective against the run and passing games. During the past two seasons, he has allowed a completion rate of only 58% on 90 targets.
Colts safety Julian Blackmon will be a free agent this spring. He tested the waters last offseason before ultimately re-signing with Indianapolis on a one-year deal. If he signs with another team this year, Starks could be a great replacement, teaming with fellow safety Nick Cross.
Recently, Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said the team is a playmaker away from becoming an all-time unit, via NFL.com.
“We got Pro Bowlers at this point, playmakers at all three levels: myself, DeForest, and Kenny Moore,” Franklin said. “So, adding another dynamic playmaker to that mix, whether it’s secondary, D-line, or linebacker room, is only going to add to that and help make this an all-time unit.”
Starks may not turn the Colts’ defense into an all-time unit. Yet, his addition could certainly help make the secondary better than it was last season.
Tyler Warren (Tight End, Penn State)
Indianapolis used four tight ends in 2024: Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, and Will Mallory. The unit combined for only 39 receptions, 467 yards, and two touchdowns. Granson led the group with just 14 catches for 182 yards and zero touchdowns. That’s not going to cut it. It was the worst production by a Colts’ tight end room since way back in 1994. Yeah, that was a long time ago.
So, it’s no secret that the Colts need a tight end. Wait, let’s rephrase that: They need a tight end badly. Therefore, Penn State’s Tyler Warren might be the perfect pick. The 6-6, 257-pounder would be a huge upgrade over Granson and Co. In 2024, Warren caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns. He would be another legitimate weapon in Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen’s offense for quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Main Image: Joe Rondone – USA Today Sports
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