The Indianapolis Colts caught a lucky break when Tyler Warren fell to their laps at No. 14. Most mocks had him going to the Chicago Bears four spots earlier, but they shockingly took Michigan's Colston Loveland instead.
Warren made an immediate impact and was one of the most important contributors to Shane Steichen's offense right out of the gate. Even in an impressive rookie tight end class, he managed to stay ahead of most of the pack.
That's why it was somewhat disappointing to see that he didn't make the cut for the league's top-100 list. He barely missed it at No. 110, and he should use that snub as motivation for his second year in the league.
Tyler Warren will play a huge role for the Indianapolis Colts
To be fair, there's nothing accurate or serious about the NFL's top-100 list. Not all players vote, ballots are weighed, and it's always been a bit of a popularity contest. Voting takes place during the previous season, so it's not much of a surprise to see that a rookie didn't make the final cut.
Whatever the case, Warren should use this as bulletin board material. He's already poised for an expanded role after Michael Pittman Jr.'s departure, likely as the Robin to Alec Pierce's Batman, but it never hurts to have some additional motivation.
The Penn State product was one of the brightest spots last season. He hauled in 76 receptions for 817 yards and four touchdowns, the fourth-most by any tight end in a single season in franchise history.
Of course, his production took a big hit once Jones got hurt. His heater ended after a 99-yard performance in Week 10, and he failed to get more than five receptions or 45 receiving yards in the final seven games of the season.
His final score came in Week 12 in a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans. It's hardly a coincidence that he hit the infamous rookie wall as soon as the Colts had to replace their starting quarterback with 44-year-old Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard.
Warren preached continuity and Daniel Jones' return as the primary reasons to feel excited about the Colts' offense in 2026. Progress and development are rarely linear, but he's a hard-working and uber-talented young man who will only benefit from improved quarterback play and a bigger target share.
He has the tools to be the prototype modern tight end, a big-bodied YAC specialist down the middle on the field who can be a perennial mismatch in the second level of the defense. And if he picks things up where he left them in the first half of last season, it won't be long before his peers give him his flowers.
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