The Indianapolis Colts took Tyler Warren in last year's draft out of Penn State, and did they ever draw the jackpot. Warren didn't look like a rookie playing his first season in the NFL, but instead looked poised and ready for the job, and he excelled at it quickly.
With 817 yards and four touchdowns, that's an excellent year for a seasoned veteran tight end, nevermind a first-year rookie. It helped, of course, that while Michael Pittman Jr. is. good reciever, he's not great, so the Colts' offense relied heavily on their tight end schemes. The favor fell largely to Warren, and it's why the Colts have their starting tight end for the foreseeable future.Â
That said, with the Colts set to lose at least one of their backup tight ends to free agency (Mo Alie-Cox) and possibly another (Drew Ogletree), Indy will be in the market to replenish a position group in need. There is a bevy of tight ends hitting the free agent market this summer, but cost and youth should be on the Colts' radar over anything else.
Former Patriots veteran leads the list of tight end free agents the Indianapolis Colts should make a run at
Austin Hooper
Hooper has spent the past two seasons with the Patriots after stops with the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and his first NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons. Hooper has always been a serviceable tight end option on each of his stops, but will be looking for a new home this summer, and the best part is, he won't be expensive.Â
GM Chris Ballard is expected to focus on cost and getting younger this offseason, and while Hooper doesn't exactly meet the "youth" requirements, he would be affordable.
According to Spotrac, Hooper is expected to land a deal worth approximately $2.4 million this offseason, which fits the Colts' cost-effective mindset. Even at a one-year deal, Hooper could fit in nicely behind Warren, giving the Colts' offense another reliable option at tight end.Â
Cade Otton
Depending on what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decide to do with Otton (they could bring him back, depending on the price), he presents the Colts with another affordable tight end option this summer. Otton had another productive season for the Bucs and is likely to be in the market for a multi-year deal with a new team.Â
The Colts could cater to a multi-year deal for someone who won't command a significant price, and Otton could fit that bill. That said, considering his time in Tampa being better than not, he should be looking for a raise. Additionally, Otton is young, with a lot of upside, and would provide the Colts offense with another solid pass catcher and blocker to pair alongside Warren, who is also young.Â
Tyler Conklin
Conklin's one-year experiment with the Los Angeles Chargers did not pan out, and he was even benched during the regular season. That said, the 30-year-old could be an inexpensive target for the Colts, if they can look past his down season, and focus on what he's done in the past. Conklin has always proved to be a productive pass catcher,Â
While his blocking skills are not on the elite or even great spectrum, he can line up either in-line or from the slot, making him versatile in an offensive scheme that emphasizes tight end usage, as Shane Steichen likes to do. Conklin would be affordable and a solid secondary option behind Warren, who is the Colts' established No. 1 tight end.Â