Tyler Warren

[WarPanthers89]

1. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-6, 261)

Prospect grade: Top 10
Best-case comp: Rob Gronkowski
Best team fit: New York Jets
 

Clearly the most gifted pass-catcher in the 2025 NFL draft, Warren was understandably the focal point of Penn State's march to the College Football Playoffs last season and projects as a Day 1 standout in the NFL, as well. Entering last year, Warren's unique combination of size, strength, agility and remarkable body control already had him earning early first-round grades from scouts. 

And when his statistics exploded from 34 catches for 422 yards and seven scores in 2023 to leading the Big Ten with 104 grabs for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns this past year, Warren emerged as one of the few true blue-chip prospects of this class. There are few tight ends in today's NFL who offer Warren's all-around game, warranting comparison to a similarly-sized and talented future Hall of Famer in Gronk.

[mickeye76]

That's a no from me dawg.  Free agent TE's are usually reasonably priced and in the draft they are a tough position to hit on.  Not saying Sanders is the answer but the defense has way too many questions to pass on defense in the first. 

[PNW_PantherMan]

3 hours ago, Basbear said:

Warren is a white TE and boxes out defenders rather than getting open.

He’s good at getting open vs zone, which is what a TE needs to be able to do.

[jasonluckydog]

We need to go BPA on the d side and if all the Ds are gone we want, trade.

[Khyber53]

This is the guy I've been saying we need. If he's still there at 8 sprint to the podium and call his name.

We have a lot, a lot of needs on defense, and we aren't going to get it fixed in the first pick. Grab Warren at 8 and then go straight to defense from there on out, this is a deep class for DT and Edge. 

Warren will be a generational talent at TE, a game breaker, something we desperately need. And if we don't snag him, then New Orleans will with the very next pick and we will have to face the guy twice a year from here on out.

 

[Icege]

I'd suggest watching Tyler Warren's film before getting caught up on his position. TE is a versatile and important piece of an offense, especially a run-first offense that leans on play action.

We need talent all over the roster, not optimal positional value.

[jb2288]

25 minutes ago, Icege said:

I'd suggest watching Tyler Warren's film before getting caught up on his position. TE is a versatile and important piece of an offense, especially a run-first offense that leans on play action.

We need talent all over the roster, not optimal positional value.

I'm not sold on TE at 8 but I do agree with you. You really gotta think about him as a WR as well. He is a special type and would instantly give us the red zone threat we do not have

[d-dave]

Man, what interesting polarization here.  Some, hard pass while others would jump their own mom to make  the pick (ok, I just inserted that mental image, ha ha).

Warren produced despite being the main focal point of the Penn State offense.  I didn't watch Penn State, but that's what a lot of talking heads are saying so take that with a gigantic grain of salt here!  When I watch the highlights and listen to the analysis: dude is a bully.  He's big, strong and fast enough.  Not a home run threat of a guy, but someone who can use his size and strength to his advantage, like how Gronk did.  Does that make him a sure fire HOF player before he plays a snap?  No, of course not!

But I think it's also very important to look at what's happened to other high draft pick TEs.  Top 10 TEs rarely make an impact.  Look at Kyle Pitts in ATL.  He's a great athlete, but was he a worthy high draft pick?  TJ Hockinson.  He was suppose to be a can't miss product, and was traded to the Vikings.  Here's a handy list (despite the source, eww):

https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/gallery/nfl-draft-falcons-tight-end-kyle-pitts-hayden-hurst-atlanta/

There has been much better value drafting guys in the 2nd-4th rounds.  I have no idea if Warren will wash out or not, but I'd MUCH rather draft the best pass rusher, CB or even WR than a TE in the top 10.  Now if the Panthers traded down into the late teens or early 20s and they are sold on him being a difference maker...  I guess that's a different conversation.

It could also just be a smoke screen.  Since we telegraphed Legette last year, could be gaming some of the other teams.  Or we could have a hard-on for him.

I do enjoy the off season

[Icege]

The team needs a playmaker at the TE position, especially now that the only player under contract in the room is Ja'Tavion Sanders. The free agent pool isn't exactly brimming either...

Tyler Warren would fill an immediate need with elite talent.

 

 

Edited February 26 by Icege

[45catfan]

I've been screaming about a day 1 or day 2 TE for YEARS!  So obviously I'm okay with this.  If we were only better off defensively and we weren't in the top 10, I would LOVE this possibility. 

[Jon Snow]

There's not a TE in the nfl already I would give up a 1st round pick for so why would I spend one on a college TE? Bad ideas are bad.

[jayboogieman]

4 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

There's not a TE in the nfl already I would give up a 1st round pick for so why would I spend one on a college TE? Bad ideas are bad.

Hadn't been able to post that gif in a while.

[Tr3ach]

11 hours ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

He’s good at getting open vs zone, which is what a TE needs to be able to do.

Yea i don't get the white comment at all.  It's not really a knock on tight ends.  Look up the top 10 tight ends in receiving yards last season.  He's not making the point he thinks he is.

[CPcavedweller]

19 hours ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

We'd have to go HARD after defense in free agency for me to be able to justify taking a TE top-10. I like the player, but it's a hard sell for me.

You don't draft for need in the Top 10. You go BPA.

Warren is a generational talent at the position and sure, it's a luxury in many ways but he could also absorb the entire middle of the field and give the receivers a lot of help.