It's NFL draft month. So between now and when the first round begins, we will be highlighting prospects who could be of interest to the Indianapolis Colts.
Next up is Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo, a potential Day 2 option for the Colts if they don't address this need in the first round.
Measureables
Height: 6-5
Weight: 250
Arm: 33"
Hand: 10"
Relative Athletic Score (RAS): N/A
Measureables via NFL.com
Stats to know
The 2024 season was a breakout year for Arroyo. After having just 16 total targets between the 2021 and 2023 seasons due to knee injuries, Arroyo caught 35 of 47 targets this past year and totaled 590 yards at an impressive 16.9 yards per catch with seven touchdowns.
Arroyo would rank second among all tight ends in yards per catch (16.9) and was first in average YAC. Of his 47 targets, 25 came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, while another 15 were 20-plus yards downfield, which was the fourth-most among tight ends.
Also, not to be forgotten about when discussing the tight end position in Shane Steichen's offense is the need to help out in the run game as a blocker. By PFF's grading system, with more opportunities in 2024, Arroyo did improve quite a bit in that area, although compared to the rest of his position group, he still ranked 85th in that category.
Fit with the Indianapolis Colts
As we know, the Colts need a much greater passing game presence from the tight end position, which Arroyo showcased last season that he can provide.
However, going beyond Arroyo's own potential production within the offense, his ability to stretch the field from that position and attack all four levels can create mismatches that not only he can exploit but for others in the passing game as well.
How the Colts evaluate Arroyo's ability as a blocker and, more importantly, how they believe he can further grow into that specific role will play a key factor in determining how high he ends up on their draft board.
The passing game contributions matter, but the ability to hold up as a steady run blocker is vital as well.
NFL draft profile
For more on Arroyo, here is what NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in his scouting report:
"He displayed a willingness as both a point-of-attack and move blocker, but his technique and play strength will need upgrading. He’s an average athlete who struggles to beat man coverage but appeared to get faster and more fluid as the 2024 season wore on. He plays with awareness in space and secures throws with sure hands in traffic. Arroyo is a move tight end whose medical and athletic testing need to check out to give him a legitimate shot at being a productive pro."
Highlights
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts 2025 NFL draft: Previewing Miami TE Elijah Arroyo
