When the Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Colts drafting Tyler Warren 15th overall in the 2025 draft, he did so with the usual customary addition of “insert position, insert university” that he does
with all picks. The words “Tyler Warren, Tight End, Penn State” caused a thunderous roar of approval from both Colts fans watching the draft, and from inside the Colts War Room itself.
However the 2nd part, “Tight End” is just a gross oversimplification of what Tyler Warren can do. Tyler Warren is like Cassian Andor’s friends in Andor or Roy Kent from Ted Lasso, he’s everywhere.
Versatility is lifeblood of the NFL. The more jobs, assignments, and roles you can do at a wider variety of spots, the more likely you are to get on the field. You can create more uncertainty in opposing coordinators and players, cause hesitation, and make a wider range of impact in a game.
Tyler Warren is the embodiment of this ideal in the NFL.
The era of Fullback dominance has long since passed, becoming a relic from a pair of bygone eras of black and white TV and the NES. Sure there are still a handful of designated full time fullbacks left in the NFL who rotate into their offense at times, most notably All Pros Patrick Ricard of the Baltimore Ravens and Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers. But beyond them the position is a role reserved for other players from other positions to wander into occasionally. It ain’t much, but it’s honest living.
Sure you can line Warren up as a traditional in-line Tight End next to a Tackle. From there he can perform strong blocks from the line on Edge defenders and linebackers, even come across as a puller to wham some poor defender into the turf. He can still work the middle of the field as well as a receiver from there with ease.
You can absolutely put him out wide/in the slot in the new age Flex role that modern Tight Ends have popularized. From there he can bully a nickel corner, a safety, or a linebacker playing away from the front, beat press or exploit off coverage, and execute devastating outside blocks in space.
But then he can line up at H Tight End and embrace the Fullback side. From this spot Warren combines the devastating power of the 3 yards and a cloud of dust mentality that the pre NFL and AFL-merger era of football was known for, as well as the 1980’s Bill Walsh led 49ers West Coast style that emphasized a Fullback who can be a route running weapon in the pass game.
As Zach Hicks and Jake Arthur of Locked On Colts note, Tyler Warren has been able to put the Colts already potent rushing attack into overdrive when he lines up in the backfield.
When you are generating nearly 7 yards per carry by blocking, picking up key short yardage yourself for conversions/TDs on nearly every one of your attempts, and winning as a receiver better than anyone else at that spot? Sounds like you are All Pro caliber.
“But wait! You can’t be an All Pro at two positions at the same time! Shouldn’t we be advocating for Tyler Warren to be an All Pro at his primary position Tight End instead?!” A reader might counter. Well Debbie-Downer, don’t ruin the fun, because it IS possible for Tyler Warren to be an All Pro at BOTH Tight End and Fullback. It just has only happened 3 times in the last decade and hasn’t happened in the 2020s… yet.
So to the Associated Press members who will be voting for the All Pro teams at the end of the season… you don’t have to vote for Tyler Warren as an All Pro Fullback as well.
But it would be cooler if you did.
