The NBA and the NFL are very different leagues. The drafts themselves are a microcosm that epitomize this. The NBA drafting process is fairly straightforward. All 5 positions on the hardwood more or less hold equal value. They even have similar shelf lives. Hence, not accounting for team fit, the draft becomes a linear hierarchy of the best prospects in descending order. The best player goes 1st, next best goes 2nd and so on. The NFL Draft, on the other hand, isn’t a meritocracy. It’s more nuanced because of certain positions being more valuable. Under normal circumstances, front offices can’t quite justify drafting, say, a tight end over an EDGE. However, certain players are so good that they become exceptions to the norm. That’s the case with TE1 in this ‘25 draft class, Tyler Warren.
As hyperbolic as it sounds, Tyler Warren was Penn State’s best offensive player last season. For a team that made a deep playoff run, that says a lot. His production at tight end was far and beyond any of his contemporaries in the Power 5. Warren put up north of 1200 yards, which came on just shy of 12 yards/reception. This is a special, blue-chip prospect. As aforementioned, justifying a tight end going high in the draft is difficult due to their upside. However, Brock Bowers dispelled this notion last year, and the Raiders reaped the rewards. His instant impact on that offense and franchise as a whole raises the tide for all tight ends. Not that Tyler Warren needed the vicarious boost. But it’s probably baked into why Todd McShay projects him to be a top-10 pick. When you see the franchise, it makes even more sense.
If there’s one offense that’s been supercharged this offseason, it’s the Chicago Bears. Getting Ben Johnson from divisional rival Lions isn’t just a statement of intent; it could change the course for this entire franchise. The Bears have been perennial bridesmaids in the grand scheme of the NFL, stuck in purgatory. Ironically, similar to the Raiders until Brock Bowers. Pairing up Caleb Williams with Johnson is a concoction that’s got championship pedigree written all over it. But think of how vital a cog Sam LaPorta was to the operation Johnson was running in Detroit. Tyler Warren could just be the cherry on top of what’s already looking like a mouth-watering cake.
Todd McShay is one of the more plugged-in draftniks in the business. Paraphrasing here, but he said, “If I’m putting my name on a mock this close to the draft, I’m talking to people in the league before slating players,” while revealing the latest iteration of his mock last week. Now, he’s doubling down on things. Guesting on the Mina Kimes- ESPN Youtube Channel, the namesake host presented him with two routes the Bears could head down with the 10th overall pick on draft night. EDGE Mike Green out of Marshall, or of course, Tyler Warren. Conventional wisdom suggests a top-end EDGE takes priority. However, McShay didn’t hesitate in picking Warren. Same as he did in his mock draft. He proceeded to elaborate on why the Bears should get Warren.
“I know they’ve got Cole Kmet…but let’s take the best football player [remaining on the board]. I’ve got Tyler Warren as my fifth-best player [in the class],” remarked McShay. “I’ve got a quarterback in Caleb Williams. We’re tracking towards giving him the tools…Let’s continue to aid him in his development,” he added. McShay also spoke about the idea of Ben Johnson “being in the lab” cooking something devilish as he tends to do with his offensive scheming. “My favorite potential [play-caller]-skill player pairings…That would be a blast,” he exclaimed.
Tyler Warren unlocks a dimension that Cole Kmet, as great as he is, probably can’t offer. Plus, you can run 2-tight end sets as well. The more you give Ben Johnson, the more he can do. Caleb, too, could do with the dynamism this would bring. With the Bears having bolstered their O-line in free agency, there is room for a more luxurious pick to add a skill-position guy, which is why they’ve been linked with RB Ashton Jeanty as well, if he were to be available at #10. Speaking of which, there’s a real chance Warren is also off the board when the Bears are on the clock. Another franchise picking earlier is in the mix. One with a head coach Ben Johnson’s all too familiar with.
Tyler Warren is at the crux of a cold war between two former colleagues
Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, two peas of the same pod, are seemingly chasing the same player. The uncanny parallels make this an intriguing development. Glenn took over the NY Jets’ head coaching capacity after leaving his position as DC with the Lions. Johnson, of course, came over to Chi-town from being the OC. There’s no love lost between the pair when it comes to Tyler Warren. The Jets, like the Bears, have been heavily linked to him.
Aaron Glenn comes from a bit more of a place of need. The Jets just lost Tyler Conklin in free agency. So, unlike the Bears with Cole Kmet, there’s a real void in the TE room out in New Jersey. This really fans the flames of why they could snag Warren 7th overall.
The Bears are stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. By the time Roger Goodell calls them to the stand, both their top targets could be off the board. There is building momentum behind the chances of Jeanty being available, but Warren is a bit more unlikely. They’d keep their fingers crossed the pieces fall in their favor. They haven’t historically over the years, and this fanbase has seen more than its fair share of heartbreak. Maybe the new regime can force a turn of fortunes. Either way, Tyler Warren can rest on his laurels, knowing he’s pretty much a lock in the upper echelons of the draft, same as his Penn State teammate Abdul Carter.
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