Indianapolis Colts Rookie Forecast 2025

Colts Rookie Forecast 2025

Solid Starter

J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State – Round 2

A year ago, the Colts selected Darius Robinson late in the first round and started to reshape the defensive line for new head coach Jonathan Gannon. Arizona continued the revamp by adding more young talent in Nolen. Prior to the draft, Nolen was a highly debated prospect. In speaking with sources at five teams, the opinions were very split on Nolen. A couple felt that Nolen’s excellent physical talent and improved play at Ole Miss could lead to him being a top 20 pick. Sources at three teams said character concerns and bad tape, especially from his time at Texas A&M, had them projecting Nolen to day two. One playoff team said they had Nolen as a mid-rounder. Hence, Nolen emerged as a real love/hate prospect. But it only takes one team to fall in love, and Nolen ended up being the pick for Arizona in the middle of the first round.

On the positive side, Nolen can be a disruptive defender at the point of attack. Nolen is an athletic defender who gives a good effort as a rusher and uses his hands and feet at the same time. In the pass rush, Nolen is more disruptive than productive. He is quick to fire his gap as Nolen has a good burst off the ball, and he gets into offensive linemen faster than they expect. Nolen uses his speed to push upfield and create some interior pressure. However, he can get tied up after his initial burst. He needs to improve his pass-rushing moves to shed those second-effort blocks and get home more often. Nolen has a good skill set and upside to improve if he works hard at his craft.

As a run defender, Nolen is inconsistent. There are times when he anchors and holds his ground well against downhill runs. There are also plays where he darts into the backfield, blowing up the run and causing critical disruption in the backfield

The Colts banked on the upside with Nolen, and he has plenty of untapped potential. Perhaps learning from Calais Campbell will be a great benefit for helping Nolen to know how to become a pro. The inconsistency and character issues keep me from thinking Nolen will be a boom pick, but I do think he could become a solid starter early in his pro career.

2024: Adonai Mitchell, WR
2023: Julius Brents, CB
2022: Bernhard Raimann, OT
2021: Kwity Paye, DE
2020: Michael Pittman, WR
2019: Rock Ya-Sin, CB
2018: Braden Smith, G
2017: Quincy Wilson, CB
2016: Ryan Kelly, C
2015: Henry Anderson, DE
2014: Andrew Jackson, LB
2013: Hugh Thornton, G

Most Likely To Bust

Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State – Round 4

Travis is a massive edge blocker at 6-foot-8, 339 pounds. As a fourth-rounder, Travis could have the potential to develop into a swing tackle backup. That would be a nice value for a fourth-rounder, but I think he could be limited to grow beyond that role. Travis is going to have to work on not playing too high and maintaining leverage through bending at the knee. I think pro speed rushers could give him too many problems to be a three-down starter, and through four rounds of picks, I think Travis is the most likely not to work out for Indianapolis.

2024: Tanor Bortolini, C
2023: Josh Downs, WR
2022: Nick Cross, S
2021: Kylen Granson, TE
2020: Julian Blackmon, S
2019: Bobby Okereke, LB
2018: Kemoko Turay, LB
2017: Tarell Basham, DL
2016: Hassan Ridgeway, DT
2015: Clayton Geathers, S
2014: Jack Mewhort, G
2013: Khaled Holmes, C

Potential Boom Pick

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State – Round 1

Indianapolis entered the draft with a need at tight end, and it was a surprise that Warren fell into their lap at pick 14. Most projections had Warren off the board before the Colts, and it was a shock when the Chicago Bears took Michigan tight end Colston Loveland instead of Warren. The Colts were happy as Warren could be a plug-and-play upgrade for Indianapolis.

For the NFL, Warren (6-6, 260) is a dangerous receiver and mismatch weapon. There is no doubt that Warren is a dynamic athlete with speed and agility. He has the skill set to be a dangerous receiver down the seam and in the red zone, like he was in college. Warren has enough quickness to get downfield and a burst to accelerate into the open field, but he is not a supremely fast tight end who will burn defenses deep downfield. Warren has excellent hands and is very skilled at going up high to make receptions over defensive backs. His athletic ability can be seen as he has excellent body control and uses his size well to shield the ball from defenders to make receptions. Warren has leaping ability to go along with his size, and he is very dangerous on 50-50 passes.

With good play strength, Warren uses his power to disengage from defenders to get open after contact is initiated. Warren runs good routes, gets to soft spots in zone, and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Warren has a burst to hit the open field and uses his size to bounce off of tacklers. He should be an effective contributor in the NFL in the red zone, given his receiving skills and blocking ability. Warren has the skill set to be a dangerous receiving tight end that produces lots of receptions, yards, and touchdowns.

As a blocker, Warren gives an effort, but he has major room for improvement in the NFL. He has a tendency to let his hands get wide, and he grabs too much. He could have some issues with holding penalties until that technique is cleared up. Warren could stand to improve his pass protection and blocking the c-gap to ensure that he is an effective three-down starter. Warren has the size and ability to block, and needs to be coached up to maximize his potential.

Assuming he can learn the offense, Warren should be a plug-and-play starter for the Colts. He will be a valuable weapon for Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson as a receiving target.

2024: Laiatu Latu, DE
2023: Anthony Richardson, QB
2022: Alec Pierce, WR
2021: Dayo Odeyingbo, DE
2020: Jonathan Taylor, RB
2019: Parris Campbell, WR
2018: Quenton Nelson, G
2017: Malik Hooker, S
2016: Le’Raven Clark, OT
2015: Philip Dorsett, WR
2014: Donte Moncrief, WR
2013: Bjoern Werner, DE

Future Depth Player

Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame – Round 6

The Colts will have a quarterback battle for the starting job between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. While Leonard does not figure to be real competition to be the starter, he looks like a safe bet to be the No. 3 quarterback. Leonard has good size, a quality arm, and running ability. He has a similar skill set to the starting competitors, so Leonard is a great scheme fit as the No. 3. Leonard may not ever become a starter in the NFL, but I think he could turn into a solid backup.

2024: Jaylin Simpson, S
2023: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT
2022: Jelani Woods, TE
2021: Sam Ehlinger, QB
2020: Jacob Eason, QB
2019: Khari Willis, S
2018: Nyheim Hines, RB
2017: Marlon Mack, RB
2016: Antonio Morrison, LB
2015: David Parry, DT
2014: John Ulrick, OT
2013: Montori Hughes, DT