WESTFIELD, Ind. – The thing that stands out the most about Tyler Warren is, ironically, his ability to blend in.
The rookie tight end looks the part – at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, Warren was clearly built to be a football player. He's big and strong, filling out his jersey even without any pads on. But even more importantly, Warren acts the part. He keeps his head down and works, focusing on nothing but football. He runs hard and fast and makes the catches he's supposed to, then turns around to do it all over again with no fanfare.
"He's one of those guys that, if you didn't tell me that he just got drafted, I wouldn't know," safety Cam Bynum said Thursday. "He operates as a veteran."
The Colts like just about everything about Warren, from his personality to his footwork and ability to make difficult catches. A reliable pass-catching tight end is something the Colts have been without as of late, and Warren provides the perfect opportunity for offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and head coach Shane Steichen to expand their offense.
"Looking at him for the draft, something we thought was a real strength was his hands, his ability to focus, concentrate, make those tough catches," Cooter said. "He's a very uniquely talented, uniquely skilled young man, and that's something he's done really, really well."
Even just in the first two days of training camp Warren has shown off his skills, with receptions from both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones in various team drills. What Warren has yet to show off, though, and what is arguably one of the most important and impressive parts of his game, is his physicality.
"We haven't even seen him in pads, which I think is going to be a real strength of his," Cooter said. "I think when he gets to play football in pads, the extra elements of his game are really going to come alive."
That alone says a lot about the kind of faith the Colts have in the young tight end; it takes a lot for a rookie to earn that kind of praise before he even puts the pads on in the first place. And it's not just the coaches that believe in Warren – it's everybody.
"Obviously, we haven't been in pads yet, but I can tell he can block just by his footwork," Bynum, a fifth-year veteran, said. "Just the intent that he has, but also his route running and yards after the catch is going to be elite, and I can tell that from him now."
Of course, no one – including Warren – is under the impression that he doesn't still have a lot to work on. He is still a rookie, after all. But that's where Warren's personality comes in and his dedication to the craft shines through. He's learned how to take on the responsibility to better himself outside of practices and meeting, and looks at every opportunity for competition as a good thing.
"Everybody's a pro, right," Warren explained. "Everybody's really good, and it's tougher competition, but that's a blessing, right. Great competition is a gift, so just being around really good players is only gonna make me better."
There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Warren will be able to rise to the challenges of the NFL. After all, he already looks like he belongs and it's only two days into training camp.
Just wait until he puts the pads on.
