Colts 2025 NFL Draft Targets: TEs fans should get to know from first round prospects to day three sleepers in this year's class
With the draft just over a week away, I'll be sharing players to watch, from early-round options to sleeper day-three prospects that I believe the Indianapolis Colts could add at positions of need before the 2025 NFL Draft comes to a close. One of the top positions linked to the Colts ahead of the 2025 NFL […]
With the draft just over a week away, I'll be sharing players to watch, from early-round options to sleeper day-three prospects that I believe the Indianapolis Colts could add at positions of need before the 2025 NFL Draft comes to a close.
One of the top positions linked to the Colts ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft is tight end. This TE class is full of talent, and there are multiple options that look like solid fits on paper to join the Colts. So, let's dive into some players I think it would be wise for you. to get to know.
Colts TEs targets to know in the 2025 NFL Draft
First Round TE Options:
Colston Loveland, Michigan
Ahead of the 2024 season, Colston Loveland was seen as the consensus top TE in the 2025 NFL Draft class. But Michigan's terrible QB situation led to the entire offense failing to meet expectations. Loveland was the only player who still rose to the occasion and put up a strong year on that side of the ball for the Wolverines. He only appeared in 10 games and still recorded 582 yards and five touchdowns, only 67 yards shy of his career high in 2023, despite playing in five fewer games.
Loveland is the most natural route runner at TE in this draft class, and as a result, I think he has the best chance to hit the road running during his rookie year. Colts head coach Shane Steichen shared at the combine that he would want an early-round TE to be someone who is a winner on third downs and used the word separator for the team. That sounds a lot like Loveland if you ask me, so I wouldn't be shocked at all if he was the Colts' first-round pick.
Tyler Warren, Penn State
The TE most commonly linked to the Colts this draft cycle is, without a doubt, Penn State's Tyler Warren. Warren is a do-it-all TE who would need an entire closet to hold all the hats he wore in Penn State's offense this past year. He led the whole Big 10 with 104 receptions and turned them into 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns, which earned him the 2024 John Mackey Award, which is given to the nation's top TE.
The concern with Warren, though, is that he is essentially a one-year wonder, with him combining for 603 yards and four touchdowns in his previous four years at Penn State from 2020 to 2023. His 2024 season was phenomenal, and it has helped him jump ahead of Loveland as the consensus top TE in the 2025 NFL Draft class. I think it will depend on the team's offensive scheme and play caller for how the two are ranked on a team's board. For the Colts and Shane Steichen's offense, my money would be on Warren being their top TE in the class.
Day Two TE Options:
Mason Taylor, LSU
If the Colts don't target TE in the first round, LSU's Mason Taylor has been a popular second-round selection for the team in mock drafts. Taylor is an intelligent player who impacts the game in multiple different ways. His high football IQ leads to him breaking his route to find openings and give his QB the best chance to convert first down. Growing up around the NFL probably plays a major factor, with his father being Miami Dolphins legend Jason Taylor. The Colts had the chance to speak with Taylor at the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine, and per source, he impressed multiple teams with how he carried himself in those interviews. If the Colts elect to bypass TE in round one, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of them trying to trade up in round two to land Taylor.
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Though it's a deep TE class, most of the group opted out of the majority of on-field testing at the Scouting Combine. Of the small group that did test, though, Oregon's Terrance Ferguson was the most impressive. He finished the week with the fasted 40-yard dash time of any TE in the 2025 class with a 4.63 and showed off his next-level explosion with a 39' vertical and a 10'02" broad jump. This led him to receive an impressive 9.32 Relative Athletic Score, which is the 92nd highest out of 1332 TEs in the database from 1987 to 2025. Ferguson is an intriguing option for the Colts to consider, and if they still haven't addressed the TE position by the time the third round rolls around, I would expect him to be a top option the team considers.
Day Three TE Options:
Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
If the Colts get to day three and still haven't taken a TE, I think a lot of the fan base will be fuming with anger. And while I don't think it would be a wise decision, there are some intriguing options that could make sense for the team to target. The first is Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden II, who began his college career as a WR. Gadsden II doesn't have the same story as the typical TE who converted from WR because he had real success at the position. During his sophomore year at Syracuse, he put up 975 yards and six touchdowns before switching to TE in 2023. He only appeared in two games due to injury in 2023 but was able to show his worth at his new position in 2024 by recording 934 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. Like Mason Taylor, Gadsden has been around the league for quite some time. His father, Oronde Gadsden, was an NFL pass catcher in his day.
Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska
If the Colts miss out on Tyler Warren in the first round, Nebraska's Thomas Fidone II could make sense as day three fit. Like Warren, Fidone II was trusted to have a lot of different roles in his offense. He is a strong and willing blocker and has very reliable hands. He also showed that he is one of the most athletic TEs in this class, and he performed stellarly at the Scouting Combine, recording a 4.70 40-yard dash, 35'6" vertical, and a 10'6" broad jump.
Jake Briningstool, Clemson
Last, I have Clemson's Jake Bringintstool as a potential TE target for the Colts on day three of the 2025 NFL Draft. Briningstool is one of the most underrated receiving threats in this TE class. He recorded 531 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He is a very intelligent route runner who outsmarts defensive backs to find openings against zone coverage. He also possesses solid speed for the position, which should make him a mismatch against most LBs around the league. If the Colts wait till day three to address TE, Briningstool would be a player who, I think, has the best chance at making a real impact on the offense as a rookie, which would lead to solid production.
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