Penn State star Tyler Warren goes to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 14

Penn State All-American Tyler Warren is officially the sixth tight end to go in the NFL Draft during the James Franklin era in State College. The Virginia native is also one thing the other five are not: A first-round pick. Indianapolis selected the 2024 Big Ten tight end of the year with the No. 14 overall selection on Thursday night. He is the highest-drafted Lions tight end since Kyle Brady in 1995. The former Nittany Lion watched the selection process at home with his family.

Warren is the second Penn State player to go in the first round. Abdul Carter joins him. He went to New York Giants at No. 3 overall. It marks the second straight year that the Lions have had two first round picks. And, it’s the third time that’s happened since 2014.

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Warren shined for the Lions during a breakout season a year ago. A former high school quarterback, he had a fine career before now second-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki arrived. But, the new play caller helped the tight end reach new heights. He caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. His previous season highs were 34-422-7. Kotelnicki also used Warren as a passer (he was 3 of 6 for 35 yards and a touchdown), rusher (26 carries for 218 yards and four scores), and blocker, of course. In the end, he shot up draft boards and solidified himself as not just an early round pick but an early one period.

What does Penn State star Tyler Warren bring to his new team?

The answer is a simple one: Versatility. He may not be the fastest tight end in the draft, not the biggest or best blocker. But he does so many things well that Penn State will not be the last place he is used as a Swiss army knife.

“Tyler Warren, big gangly kid from Virginia that we recruited as a basketball player and was committed to another school at quarterback, and he shows up here and will go down as one of the greatest tight ends in college football history,” Penn State coach James Franklin said earlier this year.

“Pretty cool to watch his total development, graduate from Penn State, just get better,” Franklin said of Warren. “Should be the first tight end taken in the draft. Just had a phenomenal experience. I’m proud of him because he’s up to like 27 words at Penn State. He hasn’t really said anything.”

That’s another thing fans should know: Warren is not a showboat kind of guy, and hates talking about himself. He is a team-first player who did whatever it took to win at Penn State. He will bring that approach to the NFL.

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