Mike Renner of CBS Sports put together his top 50 big board for the upcoming 2025 NFL draft, and included were only two tight ends, which is of course, a big need for the Indianapolis Colts.
On Renner’s big board, he had Michigan’s Colston Loveland ranked as his top tight end in this year’s class and the 23rd overall prospect. The second-ranked tight end is Penn State’s Tyler Warren at 25th overall.
Now, how GM Chris Ballard and the Colts view the tight end position could obviously vary quite differently, but if in the same ballpark as Renner, that puts an added emphasis on addressing the tight end position right away.
In this scenario, if the Colts don’t or unable to add to the tight end position with the 14th overall pick, when they are back on the clock with the clock with the 46th overall pick in the second round, it’s fair to wonder if taking a tight end at that slot is the right pick in terms of value or if it’s a bit of a reach at that point if Warren and Loveland are off the board.
Although Warren has been an extremely popular pick for the Colts with their first pick, it’s worth noting that on Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft, Warren was long gone before the Colts were on the clock.
And for what it’s worth, there haven’t been many mock drafts where Loveland is going as early as pick 14.
In this dooms-day scenario for the Colts, it might not be until the third round that they could address what is arguably their biggest need.
As GM Chris Ballard said at the end of the season–and as we all saw–the Colts need more passing game production from the tight end position. There were 25 individual tight ends across the NFL who had more receiving yards than the 467 total yards that the Colts four tight ends combined for in 2024.
That missing element is something that opposing defenses don’t have to much account for when defending the Colts. There is also something to be said for the unpredictability that’s added to an offense when a tight end is capable as both a blocker and pass catcher.
