The main goal in Indianapolis this offseason was obvious— upgrade the tight end position.
And the Colts did that, selecting Tyler Warren 14th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. While the rookie is primed to plug right in as the No. 1 starter, the position group is more crowded and competitive than what first meets the eye.
Warren will definitely command most of the reps. But head coach Shane Steichen’s offense runs 12 personnel regularly, meaning incumbent Mo Alie-Cox will see plenty of snaps as well given his blocking expertise.
After those two, however, the competition heats up. Drew Ogletree has been a favored option in the red zone during his first three years with the Colts. Only 18 career catches, but 3 have been for touchdowns.
Indy’s former second-round pick, Jelani Woods, is back in the mix too after back-to-back seasons dealing with hamstring and toe injuries. He was one of the only positives in a forgettable 2023 season in which the Colts finished 3-12-1, logging 25 catches for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns as a rookie.
Entering a contract year, Woods has all the motivation he needs to prove himself as a viable option.
It’s worth noting that third-year man Will Mallory also impressed in minicamp earlier this spring, building momentum ahead of training camp.
The Indy Star’s Joel Erickson noted that Mallory was a popular target in minicamp.
“Mallory has been a frequent target of both quarterbacks during the team’s offseason workouts, and (Riley) Leonard hit him three times in four plays to start the second unit’s two-minute drill on Sunday,” he wrote.
While long shots to make the roster, Indy has three other tight ends rostered, Albert Okwuegbunam, Sean McKeon and Maximillian Mang. All three will have a chance to throw their names in the ring and potentially make things interesting
With two spots likely already locked up on the depth chart, it seems just one, maybe two more spots are available. Three players have a realistic shot at the final roster, meaning at least one is likely to miss out.
All this to say, the tight end position battle is a sneaky good one and worth keeping tabs on.
