If the Indianapolis Colts don’t address the tight end position early on in the 2025 NFL draft, could this prospect be an option for them on Day 3?
Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus recently selected one Day 3 prospect fit for each team, and for the Colts, he selected Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
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“If Fannin isn’t scooped up on Day 2 of the draft, the Colts should leap at the opportunity to snag one of the most underrated tight ends in the class on Day 3,” Cameron wrote. “He’s a bit of a stiff mover, but the Bowling Green standout is a bona fide weapon in the receiving game, having earned the highest PFF grade (94.9) in the class from an in-line alignment.”
From strictly a passing game perspective, we can see why Cameron paired the Colts and Fannin. The Colts obviously need help through the air at the tight end position, and Fannin is coming off a monster season.
Fannin would catch 117 passes during the 2024 season and totaled a whopping 1,555 yards at 13.3 yards per catch with 10 touchdowns. Fannin is good after the catch, and his ability to attack different levels of the field can not only help him create opportunities for himself to exploit, but for others in the offense as well.
However, as Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft report, Fannin “won’t block much.” He also lined up in the slot or outside on over 60% of his snaps, according to PFF, which on the Colts, would mean less playing time for Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Michael Pittman throughout the season.
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While, yes, the Colts need a much greater passing game presence from the tight end position, when discussing which prospects might be on their radar, we cannot overlook the importance of that player being able to hold his own as a blocker in Shane Steichen’s offense–it’s a must in a system that features Jonathan Taylor at running back.
“You gotta be multiple in the pass game,” Steichen said at the NFL’s annual league meeting via the team site. “Obviously you would love the guy that can block. I think those guys, it’s hard to find the true blocking tight ends anymore, but a guy that can battle in the run game is good. Great hands, can come in and out of the breaks, big and strong after the catch as well. There’s a lot of good ones in this draft. It’ll be interesting.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL draft: PFF picks TE Harold Fannin as best Day 3 fit for Colts