Tyler Warren leaves first impression with Colts; gives thoughts on Anthony Richardson

“(Anthony Richardson) is definitely one of a kind and a heckuva athlete at the quarterback position,” Warren said. “He’s a great quarterback too, so that would be really cool.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Projected first-round tight end Tyler Warren formally met with the Indianapolis Colts at the NFL Scouting Combine last Wednesday. Despite choosing to not participate in the on-field workout inside Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts aimed to discover how one of the most coveted college prospects processes the game.

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Warren is a well-rounded pass catcher who dedicates his team-first mindset by giving maximum effort on each snap. Penn State aligned Warren in formation alongside the offensive line, in the backfield, the slot and out wide. Perhaps the most complete candidate of the 2025 draft class, Warren’s best traits include his jack of all trades versatility and ability to consistently haul in contested catches in traffic.

“I think when you come to Penn State to play tight end, that’s going to be the first thing if you want to get on the field,” Warren told reporters Thursday inside the Indiana Convention Center. “You are going to have to be a willing blocker and play with that mentality.”

Warren went berserk as a fifth-year senior, leading Penn State to the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis and the program’s first ever College Football Playoff berth. He led all Power Four conference tight ends with 104 receptions for 1,230 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns. Warren earned First-Team All-American honors and the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding tight end.

The Penn State product is the most intriguing prospect to track in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft because he’s an immaculate fit for Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s run-pass-option scheme. With a massive 6-6, 256-pound frame, Warren could become the rookie opposing defensive coordinators have to stress over and pay attention to where he lines up before each snap. Warren racked up 693 yards after catch, 67 first downs and 19 missed tackles forced, which also led all Power Four conference tight ends.

“I’ve been in Indy before,” Warren said. “I like (Lucas Oil) Stadium a lot and kind of the area. Just the opportunity to have a chance to play in the NFL, and if it was here, that would be awesome.”

Pro Football Focus ranked Warren as the No. 5 overall college football player from the 2024 season. Warren could ultimately become the reliable possession receiver the Colts have been missing, evidenced best by his phenomenal 62% contested catch rate against a miniscule 2.8% drop rate last season.

One of the biggest issues Indianapolis faced in 2024 was an inability to sustain drives. Part of the problem was due to the downright abysmal production from the Colts’ tight end unit.

“We didn’t get enough production from them,’’ Colts GM Chris Ballard said at his end-of-season press conference in January. “I will say this, they did a very good job blocking in the run game. They’re excellent blockers, but our inability to control the middle of the field, which we have got to be able to do. I’ve got to be able to give Shane a guy that can really control the middle of the field, that teams have to account for and defend. I just haven’t been able to do that.

Tight end will not be the only offensive skill position the Colts intend to get more production from. Last Tuesday, Ballard publicly acknowledged quarterback Anthony Richardson will have to earn his starting spot in an “open competition” before the 2025 season. If the Colts objective is to maximize the potential of the offense and get the best out of Richardson in his third NFL campaign, securing the nation’s top tight end prospect should be high on the agenda.

“(Anthony Richardson) is definitely one of a kind and a heckuva athlete at the quarterback position,” Warren said. “He’s a great quarterback too, so that would be really cool.”

Warren may plan to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts at Penn State’s pro day on March 28. If Warren’s 98 production score, per Next Gen Stats, can translate to the NFL, the Colts have to seize the opportunity to create a more dynamic offense in April’s draft.