As the Indianapolis Colts look to bolster the competition throughout their roster this offseason, when it comes to which positions to address, there are quite a few different directions they could go.
But in a recent mock draft from PFF’s Trevor Sikkema and NBC Sports’ Connor Rogers on their show, the ‘NFL Stock Exchange’ had the Colts addressing two of their biggest needs right away in this 2025 NFL mock draft.
At pick 14, like many mock drafts, the Colts took Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. There’s a reason why Warren is such a popular pick for the Colts in most mock drafts–it makes all the sense in the world.
The Colts very much need a pass-catching presence at tight end and Warren was one of the best receiving threats at the position in college football last season.
However, in addition to that, and as Rogers noted when making the pick, Warren brings versatility and a well-rounded skill set to the NFL with his run-blocking ability as well. Having a tight end who can make an impact in a variety of ways adds another dimension to the offense that defenses have to account for.
“Good luck stopping a run game where you have Anthony Richardson as a threat as a runner, Jonathan Taylor a threat as a runner, and then Tyler Warren with the ability to play on the line of scrimmage, block in the run game, but also release off the line of scrimmage and run the seam for you,” said Rogers.
Then at pick 45, the Colts again tackle another major need, taking Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts.
“Just somebody who was always around the football, was always looking to make the biggest play,” said Sikkema who made the selection.
Watts has played all over the defensive backfield for Notre Dame, with 226 snaps in the box, 127 from the slot, and 340 as the free safety.
He’s recorded six pressures, made 52 of his 63 tackle attempts, and allowed a completion rate of 54% at 10.4 yards per catch with five interception and three interceptions.
Along with improved play being a need in the Indianapolis secondary, so is depth at safety with only Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and Marcel Dabo under contract for the 2025 season currently.
