Tyler Warren Or Colston Loveland?

The 2025 NFL draft is fast approaching, and with only a matter of weeks to go until the big day, one of the most unpredictable draft classes of recent history will be keeping plenty of teams up at night. But one position in particular which some teams will have trouble with is the tight end position, with two massively talented prospects, only split by a hair. 

The two big tight end names in this year's NFL draft are Penn State’s Tyler Warren, and the Michigan Wolverines Colston Loveland, but despite the consensus around Warren being the first off the board of all tight ends, Loveland is still making his case for the title of the best TE in the draft.

Loveland and Warren are definitely two first round level players, but with the tight end position not in as high demand as others, it is likely the gap between Loveland and Warren’s selection could be bigger than expected. But as we see every year, the difference between the pick they were selected, and the difference in their actual abilities are often leaps and bounds different, especially in this case for Warren and Loveland, as the argument over who is better is still at an even 50.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVNY--9E6FQ

But even with the two being elite players at their position, they both bring a pretty different style and feel to what they do for the team. Despite both standing at a staggeringly similar height of 6 '5 (Loveland), and 6' 6 (Warren), Loveland clearly has much better athleticism and speed for his size. A mix of bursting speed, strength when guarded, and elite level blocking when asked, Loveland can easily play a dual threat position at the tight end spot for any team, with catching ability better than a lot of elite tight ends in the league, his capabilities on the ball, and bursting speed ands acceleration after the catch will make him attractive to a lot of teams in need of a strong, explosive tight end. But similarly with Warren, his weight and height are the perfect combination for a successful NFL tight end, and can utilise his raw abilities in an aspect of the game. But with both possessing perfect abilities and understanding of their positions, it is clever both need some housekeeping in some areas.

Loveland has made his name off of his amazing route running and receiving ability for a big man in the NCAA, and has managed to accommodate his size with his explosiveness, creating a tough matchup for any defensive player in the league, but one thing he can lack is concentration. Regardless of his great route running and speed, his concentration and knowledge of reading defensive patterns in the secondary could be seen as a massive receiving weakness when jumping up to the elite level secondaries in the NFL, and could be a reason teams may pass, but similarly witn Warren concentration and knowledge is an issue in another department. Warren has had some clear problems regarding his run-blocking this past year, and has had some difficulty with transitioning from a blocker to a receiver. Warren’s lack of complicated block and release routes often created problems in some areas for Penn State last year, but with some improvement on his blocking to router running transitions, he could become a massive piece for any NFL franchise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQA1imJTd2Q

Despite having an amazing season in the stats column for Penn State last season averaging around 12 yards per reception, and clocking 1,233 yards on the season as a whole, Loveland has a higher ceiling than anyone in this draft, and arguably has the best potential of any player in the draft. The choice for teams like the Jets and the Saints over the potential of drafting one of the two phenomenons in the first round will be a daunting and challenging decision, but regardless of who ends up going off the board first, Colston Loveland, and Tyler Warren should 100% be two names everyone should keep their eyes on next season.