In terms of adding to the tight end position, the latest mock draft from Ian Valentino of the 33rd Team is the worst-case scenario for the Indianapolis Colts.
In just about every mock draft, the Colts have the opportunity to land one of Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland, the far-and-away top two tight ends in this year's class. But in Valentino's mock, both Warren and Loveland were off the board by the time the Colts were picking.
Warren would go seventh overall to the New York Jets and Loveland 10th overall to the Chicago Bears. The good news for the Colts is that this year's tight end class is fairly deep, so the opportunity to find some immediate help still exists in Round 2, but the general consensus is that there is a dropoff after Warren and Loveland.
So, with those two off the board, who did the Colts select? Valentino instead had Indianapolis addressing the defensive line by taking Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
"Considering the Colts are entering the season with two 31-year-old defensive tackles starting, this is a good landing spot for both the Colts to get younger and Nolen to learn from veterans," wrote Valentino.
Listed at 6-3 - 305, the 2024 season was Nolen's first at Ole Miss after playing two seasons at Texas A&M. He finished the season with 35 pressures, including six sacks, and was one of the best run defenders in college football by PFF's metrics--ranking second in run defense grade and third in run-stop rate.
Although perhaps not a pressing need with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart inside, defensive tackle does still need to be added to.
In short, the play behind those two last season wasn't close to good enough with Taven Bryan and Raekwon Davis. The hope is that Adetomiwa Adebawore can take a step forward and Neville Gallimore can provide a boost, but those are two things that shouldn't be assumed either.
In what is a very strong defensive tackle and defensive tackle draft class, the Colts should look to load up at those two positions.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL draft: Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland both gone before Colts pick
