NFL Rookie Watch: Colts' Tyler Warren poised to become the NFL’s next elite tight end

Coming out of Penn State, expectations were sky-high for Tyler Warren when he was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This came after a historic season in which he was named a First-Team All-American, won the John Mackey Award, and became the first Big Ten tight end ever to record over 100 receptions in a single season.

Yet through just four games, Warren has already surpassed those expectations and established himself as one of the top five tight ends in the NFL. He has posted at least 70 receiving yards in three of his first four games and leads all NFL tight ends with 263 receiving yards, the most ever by a rookie tight end through four games in the Super Bowl era, according to ESPN. His 19 receptions also lead all rookies, edging Tampa Bay’s Emeka Egbuka by one catch.

So what is driving Warren’s elite start? It begins with the Colts offense, which has been revitalized under Daniel Jones, who is finally starting to look like the former sixth overall pick. Indianapolis has done an excellent job maximizing Warren’s skill set, frequently scheming him into open space against zone coverage and even giving him 13 snaps out of the backfield this season.

What makes 2025 NFL Draft pick Tyler Warren elite

While Warren landed in an ideal situation, that should not overshadow the elite skill set he brings to the table. His tape shows a player with outstanding body control and reliable hands, consistently adjusting to make tough catches whether the ball is thrown behind him or low, something he specialized in at Penn State.

He has also proven capable in traffic. Warren has caught 43 percent of his targets in tight coverage this year. For comparison, Brock Bowers, the only other tight end drafted in the first round over the past three years, has hauled in just 25 percent of such targets. While Warren’s sample size is small at seven contested targets, according to Pro Football Focus, his concentration and toughness stand out.

Another major strength is his versatility. Warren has lined up as a traditional in-line tight end, in the slot, out wide, and in the backfield. That flexibility makes it nearly impossible for defenses to key in on him since they never know where he will line up next.

"Tyler Warren, obviously, he’s a unique guy. Everybody talks about obviously his production as a receiver and as a runner, but it’s also as a blocker. It helps that he’s 6’6″. He’s essentially 260 pounds. He’s able to block you like a traditional in-line tight end, or from the hip position. He’s smart enough to line up at the number one receiver, the number two receiver, the number three receiver, in the backfield as a fullback or H-back. However you want to describe it. He’s able to line up and play the quarterback position, take snaps under center as well from the gun. He’s able to throw the ball. He’s a former quarterback."

Penn State head coach James Franklin

While Warren is clearly a better receiver than blocker, he is far from a liability in the run game. His hand placement and physicality have helped the Colts average 136 rushing yards per game, which ranks eighth in the NFL.

Four games into his career, Tyler Warren already looks like one of the league’s premier tight ends, and with his work ethic and versatility, it is only a matter of time before he becomes a perennial Pro Bowler.