ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid updated his top 50 NFL draft big board following the college All-Star games. Of interest to the Indianapolis Colts is that there are four tight ends listed.
Tight end, of course, is a massive need for the Colts. As general manager Chris Ballard said after the season, Indianapolis needs a greater pass-catching presence at this position.
Between the Colts’ four tight ends on the 53-man roster last season, they combined for 467 receiving yards. To put some context around that figure, there were 25 individual tight ends in the NFL last season who had more yards than that.
There is also something to be said for what a well-rounded skill set at the tight end position can do for an offense. When a tight end is able to be moved around the formation and is capable both as a blocker and pass-catcher, there is a layer of unpredictability that is added to an offense.
The four tight ends that made Reid’s top 50 list include Penn State’s Tyler Warren, Michigan’s Coltson Loveland, Miami’s Elijah Arroyo, and LSU’s Mason Taylor.
Understandably so, Warren is a very popular pick for the Colts in mock drafts. He brings that do-it-all skill set and was one of the most productive pass catching tight ends in college football last season.
However, as we’ve discussed before, it’s not only the Colts that could benefit from having Warren’s presence in their offense, so it is possible that he is long gone before Indianapolis is on the clock.
Loveland will bring more of a pass-catching ability to an offense. Arroyo, meanwhile, had a breakout season in 2024 and really caught everyone’s attention with how he was able to impact the passing game.
Taylor has been a steady presence in the LSU offense for three seasons now, bringing a well-rounded skill set to the NFL level.
If the Colts are going to land any of these players, they’ll have to do so with one of their first two selections. A challenge for Ballard this offseason is that there are quite a few positions he could justify adding to and only so many resources–draft picks or cap dollars–to go around.
