In Gennaro Filice's latest 2025 NFL mock draft for NFL.com, the Indianapolis Colts chose Michigan's Colston Loveland over Penn State's Tyler Warren.
"Many folks have the Colts taking a tight end, just usually not this one," wrote Filice. "Tyler Warren is the popular pick, but I’m bucking that trend with the belief that some teams could value Loveland’s route artistry at the position over Warren’s throwback skill set. Shoot, the Michigan product is running whip routes at nearly 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds!"
Having the ability to choose from both Loveland and Warren at pick No. 14 feels like a dream scenario for the Colts. However, if presented with that option, I feel like the team would choose Warren instead.
When it comes to deciding between Loveland and Warren, it ultimately comes down to which type of tight end the Colts want in their offense.
Prior to the NFL combine, Daniel Jeremiah was asked about Loveland, Warren, and where their games differ. As Jeremiah described, Loveland falls under the Travis Kelce tight end tree, while Warren is more so from the Rob Gronkowski tight end tree.
"I look at tight ends, and you kind of look at the Gronk tree and the Kelce tree," Jeremiah said. "If you are stylistically the differences between those two guys, it's well-represented in this draft who you have Tyler Warren who represents more of the Gronk type that's going to be better on the move, crossers, seams, get the ball in his hands and make people tackle him.
"Whereas when you look at Loveland," added Jeremiah, "it's a little more Kelce, it's a little more option routes, getting in and out of breaks, a little more fluid and someone who can make you miss after the catch, but not quite as physical a player there as you have there with Tyler Warren."
While the Colts certainly need more pass-catching help from the tight end position--which Warren can provide--not to be forgotten about either is the importance of the tight end being able to be a reliable blocking presence in the running game within Shane Steichen's system.
When an offense has a player who can impact the game in both ways, it adds a layer of unpredictability to an offense, which keeps defenses guessing and can create opportunities, not only for the tight end to exploit, but others within the offense as well.
Now, this isn't to say that Loveland can't be a factor in the running game--he has continued to improve in that area throughout his career. But if the Colts face the choice of choosing one over the other, I think Warren is the better overall fit for what Steichen wants to accomplish.
"You gotta be multiple in the pass game," Steichen said at the NFL's annual league meeting via the team site. "Obviously you would love the guy that can block. I think those guys, it's hard to find the true blocking tight ends anymore, but a guy that can battle in the run game is good. Great hands, can come in and out of the breaks, big and strong after the catch as well. There's a lot of good ones in this draft. It'll be interesting."
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