If fans had to pick one position the Indianapolis Colts have had the most trouble with, the number one response would be quarterback. But a close runner-up would be tight end, which is notoriously bad. No Indianapolis tight end has reached 500 receiving yards since 2018, and the entire unit had just 39 receptions total last season. That abysmal status is likely a big part of what led the Colts to seek out Tyler Warren in the draft, a signing that was applauded by virtually all analysts.
But Warren won't solve all of the Colts' tight end problems. Right now, Indianapolis has a crowded tight end room, with a lot of underwhelming players who should feel concerned about their position on the team heading into training camp. Mo Alie-Cox is the only one who shouldn't have anything to worry about, but the rest?
At SI, Jake Arthur argued that no one will be cut now, but after training camp? There could be some tight ends who are shown the door.
"The only tight end who has any trade value beyond a sixth or seventh-round pick right now is Tyler Warren, and you're obviously not trading him. I think the best-case scenario for the Colts' tight ends is that Warren looks the part in camp while either Jelani Woods or Will Mallory has a standout performance. That means you have Warren up top, Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree battling for one spot, and Woods/Mallory battling for one spot. The Colts could also perhaps carry four tight ends if they felt so inclined."Jake Arthur
That means there could be two tight ends axed after training camp. It seems unlikely that Ogletree could push Alie-Cox out, so he would be the most likely loser in that battle, unless the Colts decide to keep four tight ends. Jelani Woods and Will Mallory are both young players who have potential, but so far, have been inconsistent and under-performing.
There's no telling, of course, what Shane Steichen and Jim Bob Cooter will decide to do. But it seems more likely than not that the Colts' veteran tight ends should be fighting like their jobs depend on it during training camp - because at this point, they probably do.