Tyler Warren has been a favorite selection for the Indianapolis Colts in mock drafts this offseason, but could they go in a different direction at the tight end position?
Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network seems to think so.
In Sanchez’s recent mock draft, he has the Colts passing on Warren in order to take Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at pick No. 14.
“I believe that Loveland is one of the blue-chip prospects in this draft, and getting one of the best players at pick 14 is a win,” wrote Sanchez. “Loveland, combined with the skill-position group already in place, creates a fantastic situation for young quarterback Anthony Richardson to take the next steps forward.”
This past season, Loveland was again a reliable target in the Michigan offense and a big part of it, catching 68% of his 82 targets at 10.4 yards per catch with five touchdowns.
During the 2023 season, however, we more so saw his big play ability. That year, Loveland averaged 14.4 yards per catch and ranked fifth in yards per route run.
With nearly 50% of Loveland’s snaps coming from the slot over the last two seasons, he provides more of a pass-catching than blocking presence, which the Colts obviously need more of at this position.
For more on Colston, here is a snippet of what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft report:
“Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels. He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option.”
If in this scenario, would the Colts pass on Warren who does bring a more well-rounded skill set to the position? I’m not sure, but Loveland may still end up being in play for the Colts because as Daniel Jeremiah’s recent work illustrates, it’s not a given that Warren will be on the board when Indianapolis is on the clock.
