The NFL Draft is just one day away, and the pressure is huge for the Indianapolis Colts to perform well and add some playmakers to their roster. While this is something every team needs, of course, for the Colts, the seats are hot for numerous people: head coach Shane Steichen, general manager Chris Ballard, and quarterback Anthony Richardson. The 2025 season needs to be successful for the Colts, and despite several good free agent picks already made, Indianapolis still has roster holes needing to be addressed.
While there are numerous positions the Colts are undoubtedly interested in, most analysts assume tight end is the number one priority. The Indianapolis tight end room is notoriously bad, with only 39 receptions from all tight ends combined in 2024. So it's not much of a surprise that the Colts will look to take a tight end in the first round - but according to a new mock draft, they won't be willing to wait for the 14th pick.
ESPN's Peter Schrager has released his first and only mock draft, in which he predicted that the Colts would trade with the Chicago Bears.
"My first trade is a fun one. The Colts give up Nos. 14 and 80 to move up four spots in a deal with the Bears.Peter Schrager
Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard needs to do something to help his offense, no matter if Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones is the starting quarterback. So who does he pick?"
So with the #10 pick, Schrager has the Colts taking Michigan's Colston Loveland, noting that "[t]his pick would be about instant offense for a team that needs it."
Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren (Penn State) have both been linked to the Colts in mock drafts for months, and both would likely be great fits for the Indianapolis offense. This trade, however, doesn't seem to make much sense; moving up four spots to snag Loveland seems unnecessary; while Loveland is good, there isn't nearly as much buzz around him as there is Warren, and the Colts would probably still be able to get him at #14.
Trading up to get Warren, however, would make more sense - which is what The Athletic's James Boyd thinks might happen. He suggested the same trade scenario, but with Warren as who the Colts take at #10.
"Actually, last year, Ballard said the Colts tried to trade up in the first but were unsuccessful. So this year, they’re getting it done. The question is: For whom? And how far up will they move? With a glaring need at tight end, I’m saying the Colts don’t mess around. They move up to No. 10, trading picks Nos. 14 and 80 to the Bears for the right to draft former Penn State tight end and first-team All-American Tyler Warren. "James Boyd
To be fair, Schrager didn't have the Colts take Warren because he had the Jets take Warren at #7, so he wouldn't be available three picks later. But if that's the case, it seems unlikely that - with Warren already gone - the Colts would bother trading up just for Loveland.
Either way, every mock draft seems to make it clear that the Colts will have a new tight end on the roster in just over 24 hours. Unless, of course, Ballard chooses to go maverick with a pick no one sees coming.