Of what should be of interest to the Indianapolis Colts, this is shaping up to be a very good tight end class in the 2025 NFL draft.
ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid recently said on X: “I’ll keep repeating it: The 2025 TE class is good.”
Reid then listed off the top tight end prospects in this year’s class:
Colston Loveland – Michigan
Tyler Warren – Penn State
Mason Taylor – LSU
Harold Fannin Jr. – Bowling Green
Elijah Arroyo – Miami
Gunnar Helm – Texas
Terrance Ferguson – Oregon
Jake Briningstool – Clemson
Eli Stowers – Vanderbilt
Oronde Gadsden – Syracuse
Addressing the tight end position should be one of the top priorities for the Colts this offseason.
The impact from this position group in the Indianapolis passing game this season has been almost non-existent. Now 13 games into the NFL season, the Colts’ tight ends have combined for 30 receptions for 343 yards and two touchdowns.
The leading pass-catcher is Mo Alie-Cox with 11 receptions, 132 yards, and a score.
For some context around those figures, entering Week 15 there are 28 individual tight ends who have more receptions than the Colts’ entire tight end room and 25 who have more receiving yards.
Now, of course, blocking is another important component to playing this position. But having said, and while this certainly doesn’t fall squarely on the tight ends shoulders, the offensive line is very much responsible, but up until the New England game, the Colts rushing attack had struggled to get going over the previous month-plus.
In addition to that, when a defense doesn’t necessarily have to worry about the tight end in the passing game, that limits what the offense can do, not to mention that there is a numbers disadvantage in for the offense in play, particularly with how often the Colts utilize two tight end sets.
While a boost from this position in the passing game is a must, a more well-rounded skill set, as in someone who can impact both the run game as a blocker and be a pass catching threat would be the ideal fit for Shane Steichen’s offense.
Along with needing more playmaking at this position, the Colts will need tight end depth as well with both Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson set to be free agents in 2025.