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Colts Playmaker Primed to Be Rookie of the Year Candidate

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Mike Roberts | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 11:00 AM ET

Will Tyler Warren emerge as a Rookie of the Year candidate this season? The Indianapolis Colts’ tight end is immensely talented and primed to make an immediate impact.

No Colts tight end exceeded 200 yards last season. Needless to say, the team needed a playmaker at the position heading into the offseason.

Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, many Indy fans were hoping to land Warren. And they ultimately got their wish, as the team selected him 14th overall.

Dan Parr of NFL.com listed Warren as the Colts’ most pivotal rookie:

“If the Colts can’t get something at least resembling average quarterback play from Anthony Richardson and/or Daniel Jones, it’s going to be a long year in Indianapolis, but Warren is the type of player who can make life easier for his passer,” he wrote. “In fact, he might quickly become the No. 1 target for the team (and one of the best tight ends in the league) if he keeps wowing us with one-handed grabs.”

Warren was a big-time star in college. Yet, it remains to be seen how he’ll perform in the NFL.

The Colts’ Tyler Warren Is Primed to Be a Rookie of the Year Candidate

Looking Back at His Career

Tyler Warren starred at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia. He played football, basketball, and baseball. Warren, the school’s starting quarterback, passed for 1,149 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. He also rushed for 677 yards and 10 touchdowns. Initially committing to play at Virginia Tech, he ultimately chose Penn State.

Warren only recorded 49 receptions during his first four years with the Nittany Lions. However, he broke out last season, emerging as one of the best tight ends in the country. The Virginia native caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. Warren also had 197 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. As a result, he won the John Mackey Award and was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year.

In his NFL preseason debut, he snagged all three of his targets for 40 yards against the Baltimore Ravens.

Will It Happen?

Four tight ends played for Indy in 2024: Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, and Will Mallory. The unit combined for only 39 catches, 467 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns. So again, the Colts needed Warren, who is a major upgrade.

At 6’6” and 260 pounds, Warren possesses the ideal height and weight and is a high-level athlete. He is also a great route runner with a big catch radius. Plus, he’s an open-field threat who can create a lot of yards after the catch.

Warren could have a Brock Bowers-type debut season. Last year, Bowers caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. The Las Vegas Raiders tight end was beat out, though, by Jayden Daniels for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Daniel Jones is the Colts’ starting quarterback (for now). He’ll need all the help he can get to lead the team to the playoffs this year. Having a great tight end like Warren could certainly help him out.

Look for Tyler Warren to be an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate this year. He’ll likely compete with fellow first-round picks like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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