INDIANAPOLIS – It wasn’t difficult connecting the dots.
You know, the ones linking Tyler Warren to the Indianapolis Colts.
There was that formal get-to-know-you interview at the NFL Scouting Combine in late February.
“Just kind of got in, got straight to work, started going over install with them,’’ Warren said Friday afternoon.
Then, there was a return to Indy earlier this month for a top-30 pre-draft visit at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.
“This was the only place I had a 30 visit,’’ Warren said.
Why would general manager Chris Ballard bring in a versatile tight end prospect out of Penn State he already was sold on?
“I just wanted to visit with him,’’ Ballard said.
Things clicked, likely from the start.
“I mean, I think just the overall vibes I got from them really kind of just gelled quick,’’ Warren said.
Everything came together Thursday evening when Ballard invested the No. 14 overall pick on the versatile, productive player he described as a “fit.’’
Taking Warren, he insisted, “was easy. It was easy. There wasn’t a lot of discussion.’’
The notion of the 6-5, 256-pounder being an ideal fit in coach Shane Steichen’s offense was reinforced when Ballard compared drafting Warren to using the No. 6 overall pick in 2018 on perennial All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson.
Both ooze an intense, football-rooted persona.
Friday afternoon, Warren’s introductory press conference included his parents – Terry and Sandy – and brother T.J. and sister Kelly.
“Just being able to be here with my family, being able to do this and be a Colt now is really something cool to say,’’ he said. “I couldn’t be more happy to be here.
“I’m just really excited to start getting into the facility again and be a football player again on a team. So, that’s really what I’m most looking forward to.’’
Ballard was impressed with Warren starting and finishing his college career at Penn State at a time when the transfer portal facilitates and even encourages year-to-year movement.
“That’s where I wanted to be,’’ Warren said. “I consider myself a Penn Stater. That’s kind of where I made my commitment to and where I wanted to stay for my college career, however long that was.’’
Now, he’s a Colt.
Shortly after getting the call from Indy at his family’s draft party, Warren received calls from several Colts. The welcoming committee included Anthony Richardson Sr., Nelson and Kenny Moore II.
More than that, he’s viewed as a piece that’s been missing in the team’s tight ends room since Pro Bowler Jack Doyle retired after 2021.
Might Tyler Warren be Dallas Clark 2.0?
Leading up to Thursday, the Colts had taken only two tight ends in round 1. Ever.
Clark in 2003 and Reese McCall in 1978.
Like Clark, Warren was the recipient of the John Mackey Award as the nation’s tight end. Last October, the Colts added Clark – the 24th overall pick in ’03 – to their Ring of Honor.
As Warren walked through the halls of the complex on Friday, he undoubtedly saw a picture or two of Clark decorating a wall.
“I mean, he’s a great player and I remember growing up, that was kind of a name that you’d always hear when he was here with Peyton Manning and they were playing good football,’’ he said. “But I think it’s cool to be compared to a player like that, but obviously, everybody’s their own player.
“I’m going to try and be the best version of me, and I think anybody would say that. He’d probably say the same thing about himself. So, it’s not a bad thing to look at people and learn from them, but also being the best version of yourself.”
About that jersey number
Warren began wearing No. 44 in Little League tackle football at age 8 after his father showed him videos of Washington Redskins Hall of Fame running back John Riggins.
He switched to No. 10 as a quarterback at Atlee (Va.) High School before returning to No. 44 at Penn State.
That number with the Colts belongs to linebacker Zaire Franklin.
“I haven’t really looked into it too much, yet,’’ Warren said. “We’ll see.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
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