Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers, Justin Herbert, and Penn State TE Tyler Warren are a match made in heaven.
The Chargers will once again be tied to the tight end position during this year’s pre-draft process after not addressing the need earlier this year. On top of that, the team’s two bridge tight ends — Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst — are both in the midst of missing time with injuries.
Dissly has played well enough to warrant returning in 2025, but Hurst has rarely been available this season and when he has been healthy, his impact has been negligible. So with that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the latest first-round mock draft at ESPN by Field Yates has the Bolts taking one of the top playmakers at the position.
With the 24th-overall pick, Yates has the Chargers selecting Penn State’s do-it-all tight end Tyler Warren. Warren was this season’s Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year and surely will be a First-Team All-American when those teams get announced.
“The Chargers’ identity under Jim Harbaugh seems ideal for Warren,” says Yates. “He’s tough, physical, fast and explosive, and he does damage as a run blocker on top of his receiving production. I could make a case that Warren is among college football’s best players with the ball in his hands, with 615 of his 1,062 yards coming after the catch this season. The Chargers have leaned on Will Dissly as their top tight end, but Warren would offer more big-play upside.”
In his first four seasons at Penn State, Warren had totaled just 49 receptions, 606 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. In this 2024 season, alone, Warren is currently up to 88 receptions for 1,062 yards and six touchdowns. He’s also toted the rock 23 times for 191 yards and four more scores. Surprisingly, he had just SIX YARDS rushing in his entire career prior to this season.
When I pop on the film, I’m amazed. Plain and simple. This guy is a football player. I could honestly care less how he tests, if he does at all. The guy knows how to be an impact player, no matter what is asked of him. This is the type of player you’d kill to give Justin Herbert.
If this next draft is anything like last year’s, then the tight end position could be devalued enough to push Warren down the board and into the hands of the Chargers.
There may very well be other big needs for this team come next April, but shoot, I can’t help but feel like this is a home run if there are any in the current draft class in reach of the Chargers.
