The Indianapolis Colts have to address the tight end position this offseason, and if they’re going to, their best avenue for doing so may come via the draft rather than free agency.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen put together his list of the top 50 free agents this offseason, and only one of them plays the tight end position.
Coming in at No. 48 on Bowen’s list is New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson.
“Johnson posted the best numbers of his career in 2024, catching 50 of 65 targets for 548 yards and three touchdowns,” wrote Bowen. “He can work the interior seams with his 6-4 frame, and he gets loose on underneath throws (38.7% of his total yardage this season came after the catch).”
Perhaps the Colts will look to add Johnson and this doesn’t mean that the other free agent options out there can’t make an impact. A few of the other top options include Mike Gesicki, Zach Ertz, and Tyler Conklin.
But oftentimes when the market for a position group isn’t deep, the price for the free agents that are out there can be driven upward.
And with few high options available, the Colts best chance to add top talent may end up coming in the draft instead.
As we all know, Penn State’s Tyler Warren is a very popular pick for the Colts in many–and I mean many–mock drafts. However, as the recent work from draft expert Daniel Jeremiah illustrates, it’s certainly not a given that Warren will be available at pick 14, which means the Colts would have to look elsewhere.
Some good news is that after Day 1 of Senior Bowl practices on Tuesday, the tight end position was one of the stand out units at the event.
Along with needing a greater passing game presence at the position, a versatile and well-rounded skill set at the position can add a layer of unpredictability to the offense.
