The Indianapolis Colts have selected tight end Tyler Warren in the first round of the NFL Draft, a pick that will be both a blessing and a potential curse for quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Warren has been linked to the Colts since draft speculation started, but there were concerns that they may not be able to take him. The monster tight end from Penn State attracted serious interest from around the league, leading to concerns that he might not last until the 14th pick. But shockingly, Warren was still available, and the Colts were able to land one of the most coveted prospects in this year's draft class. The Bears ended up picking Colston Loveland, another top tight end, at #10, leaving Warren still available by #14.
In some ways, this is great news for Richardson. While Richardson himself has had no shortage of struggles, his problems were not entirely self-inflicted. The Colts tight end room has been notoriously bad, with just 39 receptions total last season. And towards the end of 2024, dropped passes became appallingly common, meaning that even when Richardson was making accurate passes, they still got counted as incompletions, through no fault of his own.
1 whole minute of Anthony Richardson getting no help from his receivers against the Texans. pic.twitter.com/CJXu7mnzgk
— Jeremiah (@itsJebediah) October 27, 2024
Yet with the signing of Warren, Richardson is out of excuses. As mentioned, Warren is a beast. He can block, he can catch, and he's been successful at every scheme Penn State has placed him in. While it's technically possible that he could be a bust, Warren is considered to be an instant starter, someone who can be immediately added to an offense and begin making a difference on Week 1.
Warren's skill set will be a positive for Richardson and the Colts; as a dual-threat QB, Richardson will have more lanes to run in, and a dynamic tight end who can give him another reliable option to throw to - one without the butterfingers that plagued the Colts offense throughout 2024. Despite his struggles, Richardson is known for his ability to make explosive plays, and Warren will undoubtedly add to that.
The downside, however, is that if Richardson continues to struggle, he won't have any more excuses to fall back on. With an improved offense and (hopefully) better play-calling from Shane Steichen, Richardson will need to prove he has what it takes to be a starting quarterback. Steichen is a big part of Jalen Hurts' success, and he will undoubtedly want to replicate that. With Hurts and Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, Steichen called an offense that thrived. Despite struggling last season, Richardson does have a lot in common with Hurts - their physicality, athleticism, and ability to make big plays. Now, with Warren on board, Richardson's do-or-die season has become even more serious. He won't have anything to fall back on anymore.