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Dan Orlovsky explains why Tyler Warren is one of his favorites in 2025 NFL Draft
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Tyler Warren is one of the most interesting prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class. The former Penn State standout looks like the next, big tight end who can do a bit of everything and help out an NFL offense.
That’s what makes him one of Dan Orlovsky’s favorite players in the entire pool.
“He is so similar to Trey McBride for me,” Orlovsky said, referencing the Arizona Cardinals’ 1,146-yard tight end. “I think his yards after the catch are so important. I think he owns the middle of the field. He’s a little bit different than (Michigan tight end Colston) Loveland because they didn’t use him in a lot of one-on-one situations. He makes some ridiculous, jaw-dropping catches.
“We’ve seen a lot of those from Travis Hunter. This guy has a lot of them, if not more from this past season. And the way he can handle so much between the hashes. … Tyler Warren, I think, is can’t-miss when it comes to that position.”
The NFL Live panel was discussing Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft, which projects Tyler Warren to be taken 10th overall by the Chicago Bears.
That would pair Warren with 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson in the Windy City. As the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator last season, Johnson’s top tight end was targeted 83 times for 726 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Warren feels like a first-round lock at this point, but actually nailing down a position feels slightly less clear, despite the buzz with Chicago. He could become the 13th tight end drafted in the top 25 since 2009. The previous 12 have been a mixed bag in terms of value added.
Hayden Hurst was the 25th pick in 2018 and has yet to produce a season with more than 600 receiving yards. Noah Fant was the 20th pick in 2019 and was traded after 3 seasons. The more recent examples — Brock Bowers (13th, 2024) and Dalton Kincaid (25th, 2023) — were immediate successes, though.
At DraftKings, the Indianapolis Colts are the favorites (+175) to draft Warren. Indy holds the 14th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After them, the Jets (+240) and Bears (+400) are viewed as the next most likely landing spots for Warren. The Jets hold the seventh overall pick.
The first round of this year’s NFL Draft takes place April 24, with coverage set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.