2025 Rookie Thoughts (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

Do you give any weight to Loveland based on the age difference between him and Warren?

I could probably be convinced to put either one at TE1 in this draft, so that sort of thing might be a tiebreaker.

With more potential development in the tank, there might be an argument that he has higher latent potential.

My thoughts on the 2 year difference in age is, do I care about 7 years from now when Warren is 30 and Loveland is 28? I want to know who will help my fantasy team the most in the next 5 years. IMO Warren has the better path to more touches in the next few years and we know what his yards after catch will look like. I know being a Colts homer gives my opinion bias, so I will own that.

 

[beef]

Do you give any weight to Loveland based on the age difference between him and Warren?

I could probably be convinced to put either one at TE1 in this draft, so that sort of thing might be a tiebreaker.

With more potential development in the tank, there might be an argument that he has higher latent potential.

My thoughts on the 2 year difference in age is, do I care about 7 years from now when Warren is 30 and Loveland is 28? I want to know who will help my fantasy team the most in the next 5 years. IMO Warren has the better path to more touches in the next few years and we know what his yards after catch will look like. I know being a Colts homer gives my opinion bias, so I will own that.

To balance your bias I'll add mine. I don't like the Colts at all. NFL could demote them to the XFL and I wouldn't care.

I believe Warren has a much higher floor and just as high, if not a higher, ceiling. He's a multi-tool weapon that can play every role a TE is ever asked to play and never needs to come off the field. I also don't care about 2 years. Looking beyond 5 years is silly. Even looking out 5 years can be foolish with how fast things change in the NFL.

 

[SayWhat?]

The two years should be a consideration, but not because it’s a two year longer shelf life for Loveland over Warren. But rather, because Loveland was drafted over Warren as a 21 year prospect that has *in theory* more room to grow/improve/develop than a 23 year old Warren does.

Does that mean that Loveland pans out and turns into a better dynasty asset than Warren? Of course not, but the reasoning and argument is there and at least reasonably valid to consider.

 

[Hendo]

I’m taking Warren 10/10 times, better college tape, more polished, better skill set to be on the field on every play, and is useable all over the field on draws, screens, slants and stretch plays. His RAC is much much more desirable in the NFL, I’m not worried about his QBs. That offense will run through him.

 

[JohnnyU]

I’m taking Warren 10/10 times, better college tape, more polished, better skill set to be on the field on every play, and is useable all over the field on draws, screens, slants and stretch plays. His RAC is much much more desirable in the NFL, I’m not worried about his QBs. That offense will run through him.

I also think the Colts passing offense will run through Warren, but the Pittman owners give me crap over that

 

[Pickle Rody]

I hope the Colts passing offense runs through Warren. I haven't had any faith in Colts WR's for a number of years and do not this year either. They have talent, just not enough to help elevate their QB. Warren can fix that. Warren might end up being the leading receiver for the Colts.

 

[Hendo]

Ironically I think Warren could be the glue to hold that all together

 

[EBF]

The two years should be a consideration, but not because it’s a two year longer shelf life for Loveland over Warren. But rather, because Loveland was drafted over Warren as a 21 year prospect that has *in theory* more room to grow/improve/develop than a 23 year old Warren does.

Does that mean that Loveland pans out and turns into a better dynasty asset than Warren? Of course not, but the reasoning and argument is there and at least reasonably valid to consider.

Right. The main argument for taking the younger player isn't that he's worth more because he has more peak years left, but that he might have a higher trajectory since they're regarded as comparable talents despite a 2 year development gap.

I'll stand by my initial take that Loveland is the better overall athlete and safer prospect while Warren has more boom-bust potential. Loveland is a pretty generic "WR-as-TE" type in the mold of a Heap, Eifert, or Kittle. The hit rate on those guys has been pretty good for the most part. The floor is probably a Kincaid type of outcome where you have a player who is frustrating, yet still useful. The ceiling is to become a top 3-5 FF TE.

Warren is like a Hayden Hurst+. They move him around and get the ball to him in a variety of ways. He's not as fast-twitch as Loveland, but he plays with more power and is more frightening in RAC situations. He becomes almost like a FB or big RB with the ball in his hands. Will the bully ball stuff translate to the NFL? We can think of star players like Derrick Henry and Rob Gronkowski who have thrived with physicality. On the other hand, the NFL can be a punishing environment if you are a step slow (see: Ron Dayne). When we think of the "move" TE, Warren's athleticism is probably below the elite level of Dustin Keller, Kellen Winslow Jr, Eric Ebron, Dallas Clark, and Evan Engram. There's a layer of risk becaus he's not a true freak athlete. However, he's still very mobile for his size and has better play strength and power than most of that group. He's also a better pure receiver. The premise if he hits is something like the intersection of Clark and Witten, which could make him a star. The bear case is that much of his athletic advantage may evaportate in the NFL.