Tyler Warren can provide the Indianapolis Colts’ offense with that needed passing game presence from the tight end position. He is coming off a 2024 season at Penn State where he hauled in over 100 receptions and eclipsed 1,200 receiving yards.

But his impact on this Colts offense will go well beyond his contributions as a pass catcher. During his time at Penn State, Warren filled a variety of different roles within that offense, which of course, caught the attention of offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.

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“Obviously had a huge year last year,” Cooter said prior to rookie minicamp, “but has had a really productive career. Been in a really, really good tight end room there at Penn State with a bunch of really good players. Offense where they did a bunch of unique, cool stuff last year. To watch him line up in different spots, motion from different spots to different spots, and really execute a bunch of different tasks.”

Cooter would add that when it came to scouting Warren, it wasn’t only pass-catching and blocking tape that he had to watch, but there was also tape of him as a ball carrier and even some as a passer.

Warren comes to the NFL as a very capable blocker, someone who can motion pre-snap and line up across the formation. Along with lining up in-line or in the slot like most tight ends, Warren has experience outside and in the backfield as well.

This do-it-all presence can do wonders for an offense. For one, because Warren can handle a variety of roles and responsibilities, it allows Shane Steichen the flexibility to run a number of different plays from just a few personnel groupings, which can create mismatches for not only Warren to exploit but his teammates.

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Warren’s presence can also keep a defense off-balance and guessing because it becomes much more difficult to decipher what is coming simply based on who is one the field or where players are lined up.

There is almost an added level of unpredictability that an offense gains when there is a well-rounded tight end on the roster.

“He’s super versatile for them,” Cooter added. “We’re excited to get him out there and put him in some different roles. There’s a lot of tape of him doing a lot of different things but this league you always gotta prove yourself. So he’ll have a chance to go execute a bunch of different roles and we’ll get a great feel for him.”

During the Colts’ first OTA practice this past Wednesday, it was reported that Warren was “very active” in the passing game, regardless of whether it was Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones under center. Over the middle of the field is where Warren can be a major threat.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts’ Jim Bob Cooter shares early impressions of TE Tyler Warren