Over the coming weeks we will be taking a position-by-position look at the Indianapolis Colts roster heading into the offseason, with our lens more so on what’s ahead and what’s needed at each position group.
Up next is the tight end room, but if you missed any of our other previews, follow the links below.
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end overview
As Chris Ballard said after the season and as our eyes told us all year: the Colts need a much bigger pass catching presence at the tight end position.
Here’s some numbers for you: the four tight ends on the Colts’ roster last season totaled 467 receiving yards. Across the NFL, there were 25 individual tight ends who had more receiving yards than that.
When the Colts dropped back to pass, defenses likely weren’t all that concerned about the tight end position. This then put an added stressor on the other pass catching options and the quarterback.
There is also something to be said for having a well-rounded skill set with the offense at that position. When there is a versatile tight end–someone who can move around the formation–and someone who can pass catch and run-block, there’s an added layer of unpredictability that the offense has. Defenses can’t necessarily get a beat on what type of play is coming or what role the tight end may have in it.
A good tight end can also be a matchup problem, which not only creates opportunities for themselves but for others within the offense as well.
Everything just described is not a dimension that this Colts offense has. Finding that element would make things more difficult for opposing defenses.
Positional need this offseason
It’s very high–as we all know. Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox are free agents, so from a pure numbers standpoint, more depth is needed. But beyond that, and for the reasons already discussed, an upgrade in talent is also very much needed at this position group.
Currently under contract for the 2025 season at tight end are Jelani Woods, Andrew Ogletree, Will Mallory, and 2024 practice squad players Sean McKeon and Albert Okwuegbunam.
Who are the top free agent options?
As I highlighted recently, when it comes to addressing this need, the draft may end being the best avenue for the Colts to do so. On ESPN’s top 50 free agent rankings, only one of those players is a tight end.
With help from Over the Cap, here are the top available free agent options at the position this offseason:
Juwan Johnson
Tyler Conklin
Zach Ertz
Austin Hooper
Mike Gesicki
John Bates
Luke Farrell
Johnny Mundt
Jordan Akins
Nick Vannett
What about the NFL draft?
A favorite–and I mean favorite–selection for the Colts in many–and I mean many–mock drafts is Penn State’s Tyler Warren. That pick makes all the sense in the world for the Colts and would add a lot of those missing elements to the offense.
However, as Daniel Jeremiah’s recent work illustrates, it’s possible that Warren isn’t even on the board when the Colts are picking at 14th overall.
So who are the other top tight ends in this year’s class? Here are the best prospects, according to PFF’s big board:
Tyler Warren, Penn State
Colston Loveland, Michigan
Harold Fannin, Bowling Green
Gunnar Helm, Texas
Elijah Arroyo, Miami
Benjamin Yurosek, Georgia
Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Mason Taylor, LSU
Caden Prieskorn Ole Miss
Jake Briningstool, Clemson
