The Indianapolis Colts are in one of the most unenviable positions in the NFL today. They have nailed free agency so far by bringing in two of the best defensive backs on the market, but those signings aren’t enough to balance out the turmoil.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson’s future with the team has been in question since he was benched midseason, and quarterback purgatory is where no team wants to be. Additionally, the Colts only have seven picks in this year’s draft, so if that’s the route they choose to bolster their roster, they are going to need an almost perfect draft. If they follow the thinking of a recent mock draft, they’ll be in good shape to do so.
Tyler Warren
Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports recently gave his four-round mock draft, and it had Indianapolis making splashes in the first two rounds. In the first round, Easterling has the team taking none other than Penn State tight end, Tyler Warren.
This comes as a surprise to no one because the First Team All-American has been mocked to the Colts for months now. The team has been trying to find a permanent solution at tight end since Dallas Clark left after the 2011 season. Jack Doyle had an impressive two-year run, but outside of that, there has been minimal production from the position for nearly 15 years.
Warren proved to be quarterback proof in Happy Valley, accumulating over 1,000 last season to go along with 8 touchdowns, with subpar play from quarterback Drew Allar. Though he is listed as a tight end, standing at 6’6 and 250 pounds, the John Mackey Award winner may be the most versatile player in the draft, which is impressive for a class that includes cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter.
Warren is a Swiss army knife who played a non-insignificant number of snaps at the X receiver, slot receiver, running back, and even quarterback. In the new-age NFL, versatility is king, so the Penn State tight end could provide several uses for a Colts team that is in dire need of a blue-chip prospect.
JT Tuimoloau
Easterling’s mock draft had Indianapolis selecting star edge rusher JT Tuimoloau. With a superstar in the middle of the defensive line like DeForest Buckner, you would expect the surrounding edge rushers to dominate their one-on-one blocks every now and then. However, Kwity Paye was the only Colts edge rusher to have over five sacks, and even he only had six-and-a-half.
After recording six sacks in 12 regular season games, Tuimoloau was possessed in the College Football Playoffs, posting six-and-a-half sacks through the four games. The Ohio State edge rusher would be able to feast next to Buckner, and the hope would be that with so much focus on one side of the defensive line, the other side would be freed up to make plays.
If the draft board in real life falls how it does in this mock, the Colts would take another major step toward playoff contention.