It's the lying time of the NFL offseason, when teams don't necessarily want other teams to know what they're thinking as far as the upcoming NFL Draft. But when the Colts come out and say they're looking to add a game-changer at tight end, it's worth paying attention to.
"Do we need a game changer?" says GM Chris Ballard at the team website. "Absolutely we do. Will it happen? I can't dictate the draft."
When head coach Shane Steichen ran offenses for the Chargers (2019-2020), Hunter Henry was a top-12 tight end in PPR leagues both seasons. He then moved to Philadelphia, and Dallas Goedert was a top-12 player at the position both years he was there.
But with the Colts, he hasn't had that kind of player. Indianapolis the last two seasons hasn't had a player rank in the top 30 at the position; Kylen Granson (33rd in 2023) was their top performer, and he's in Philadelphia now. They've got a few on the roster (Will Mallory, Jelani Woods, Sean McKeon, Drew Ogletree and Albert Okwuegbunam), but no one who looks particularly likely to be a factor in fantasy leagues. Even if the Colts don't add anyone else.
Last season, Colts tight ends combined to catch a total of 39 passes all season. That was 7 fewer than any other team. (Table sorted by receptions.)
| TIGHT END TEAM TOTALS, 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | YPG | Tgt | No | Yards | TD |
| Kansas City | 77.8 | 192 | 144 | 1323 | 8 |
| Las Vegas | 84.9 | 198 | 143 | 1443 | 5 |
| Arizona | 79.7 | 178 | 137 | 1355 | 4 |
| Cincinnati | 65.5 | 155 | 129 | 1114 | 4 |
| New Orleans | 68.8 | 159 | 113 | 1170 | 5 |
| Miami | 61.9 | 151 | 112 | 1053 | 8 |
| Cleveland | 56.1 | 166 | 111 | 953 | 8 |
| New England | 68.8 | 144 | 108 | 1169 | 8 |
| Baltimore | 75.4 | 138 | 106 | 1281 | 18 |
| Jacksonville | 50.4 | 137 | 102 | 857 | 3 |
| Tennessee | 51.1 | 129 | 98 | 868 | 6 |
| Pittsburgh | 54.9 | 121 | 96 | 933 | 10 |
| Dallas | 48.4 | 136 | 95 | 823 | 1 |
| Seattle | 70.8 | 110 | 89 | 1203 | 9 |
| San Francisco | 47.6 | 114 | 86 | 810 | 5 |
| LA Chargers | 47.6 | 108 | 83 | 810 | 2 |
| Minnesota | 50.3 | 117 | 82 | 855 | 5 |
| Washington | 45.1 | 109 | 79 | 766 | 8 |
| Tampa Bay | 47.2 | 107 | 75 | 803 | 6 |
| Detroit | 49.9 | 100 | 74 | 848 | 9 |
| NY Jets | 35.4 | 108 | 74 | 601 | 5 |
| Buffalo | 47.1 | 118 | 72 | 800 | 4 |
| Houston | 39.5 | 110 | 70 | 672 | 3 |
| Philadelphia | 47.7 | 87 | 69 | 811 | 4 |
| Green Bay | 46.8 | 86 | 62 | 796 | 7 |
| Carolina | 35.0 | 86 | 60 | 595 | 3 |
| Chicago | 30.1 | 70 | 56 | 512 | 4 |
| Atlanta | 38.4 | 87 | 55 | 653 | 4 |
| Denver | 28.4 | 72 | 51 | 483 | 5 |
| LA Rams | 27.0 | 83 | 51 | 459 | 3 |
| NY Giants | 28.6 | 64 | 46 | 486 | 2 |
| Indianapolis | 27.5 | 75 | 39 | 467 | 2 |
Maybe the Colts are locked in on Penn State's Tyler Warren, or perhaps Michigan's Colston Loveland. LSU's Mason Taylor (son of HOF pass rusher Jason Taylor) could also be a consideration. (Or maybe the Colts will swing a trade for Goedert, who's rumored to be on the block.)
Whatever the case, seems likely the team will be making a significant move at the position. Steichen's history suggests that player could be a factor in 2025.
--Andy Richardson