The Indianapolis Colts will have the 14th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they have a lot of work to do. After a season filled with turmoil, which showcased the many holes on their roster, the draft is the chance to address these glaring needs.
However, the best pick for the Colts has been almost uniformly agreed upon. Despite the major problems on defense, most analysts have agreed that #1 priority for the Colts needs to be giving quarterback Anthony Richardson reliable tools around him on offense. There has been one name consistently given as who the Colts should target, and Mel Kiper, Jr. has fallen in line with everyone else with his first-round pick prediction: Tyler Warren.
"If the Colts want to maximize quarterback Anthony Richardson, they should be adding to his supporting cast this offseason. Warren catches everything, hauling in 104 of his 135 targets this season for 1,233 yards and eight scores. Penn State used him all over the place -- slot, out wide, in-line, in the backfield -- and he produced no matter the alignment. He could slide right into the Colts' lineup, with Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox both set for free agency."Mel Kiper, Kr.
Warren is exactly the tight end that Indianapolis needs. He can block, he can catch, and he would be a great fit for Richardson. Kiper does acknowledge that the Colts need help on defense, but that it can wait until the second round.
"I also considered going cornerback or safety here -- Indy needs both. If Starks is still available, I like that fit. Maybe South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori works his way into the conversation, too. But Warren could be awesome in this offense, and the value is much better."Mel Kiper, Jr.
Malaki Starks is also someone who has been recommended as a good fit for the Colts, as he is able to make explosive plays, and is known to be a tough, aggressive player. That's a quality sorely lacking on the Colts defense right now.
Still, given that Richardson is one of the biggest struggles in Indianapolis at the moment, it seems likely that their preference would be to draft Warren.