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With offseason programs now behind us, let’s take a position-by-position look at where things stand for the Colts. Next up are the tight ends.
With offseason programs now behind us, let’s take a position-by-position look at where things stand for the Indianapolis Colts. Next up are the wide receivers.
If you missed our other positional reviews, you can find them below.
Tyler Warren looks the part in the Colts’ passing game
By all accounts, Warren has been as advertised in the early going. Regardless of who the quarterback has been, he’s been “very active” in the passing game, particularly over the middle of the field, where his combination of size and athleticism makes him a difficult matchup.
“I think it’s a lot better being here a few weeks in a row, being able to stack the days on top and keep learning, so it’s not learning something new and going out that day, it’s repeat stuff now,” Warren said. “So it’s a lot more comfortable than when we first got here and thrown into the fire.”
Given the Colts’ need for an impact presence in the passing game from the tight end position, that phase of the game, when it comes to Warren, will garner much of the attention. However, his impact will go well beyond that facet.
Warren brings a do-it-all presence to this Colts’ offense, able to line up across the formation, including out of the backfield, along with being a very capable blocker. Having this well-rounded skill set at tight creates a level of unpredictability for an offense with that player able to fill a variety of roles and create mismatches that both he and his teammates can exploit.
Can Will Mallory carry established momentum into training camp?
Mallory was one of a few players who routinely flashed during offseason programs. A fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2023, Mallory’s playing time in his first two NFL seasons has been minimal. This includes playing just 93 offensive snaps in 2024 and totaling just eight targets, per PFF.
“Mallory has been a frequent target of both quarterbacks during the team’s offseason workouts, and Leonard hit him three times in four plays to start the second unit’s two-minute drill on Sunday,” Indy Star’s Joel Erickson. “Mallory has a knack for finding holes to sit in coverage, although he doesn’t have Warren’s ability to run after the catch.”
But with Kylen Granson in Philadelphia, and Warren filling the more traditional Y tight end role, there is an opportunity for Mallory to earn some playing time, specifically during more obvious passing situations.
As already highlighted, Warren will certainly impact the passing game, but he’s also going to be tasked with blocking as well, and with how often the Colts utilize two tight end sets under Shane Steichen, Mallory could be the second tight end on the field, specifically filling that pass-catching role.
He’s laid a strong foundation during OTAs and minicamp, now the key will be building upon that momentum in training camp when the pads come on and the intensity turns up.
What about Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree?
With Warren being the focal point at the tight end position, similarly to Mallory, Alie-Cox and Ogletree could carve out niche roles, but more so on run-first downs where they will be utilized as blockers.
Again, while the tight end position will run through Warren, the Colts’ heavy usage of 12 personnel still creates opportunities for others to see playing time as well, depending upon the opponent and what the in-game situation is.
Now, how those blocking-first reps are split between Alie-Cox and Ogletree remains to be seen. With Ogletree having more of a well-rounded skill set by comparison, I tend to think he might have the advantage. Of note, Alie-Cox’s contract doesn’t make him a roster lock this season.
What about Jelani Woods?
The big thing for Woods is staying healthy and on the field. If he’s able to, he could compete with Mallory for that pass-catching first role at the tight end position for the Colts. However, after missing the last two seasons with injuries, what the Colts will get from Woods is a bit of an unknown.
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