Colts NFL draft: Exec weighs in on Day 2 tight end prospect

USA Today

09-04-2025

Colts NFL draft: Exec weighs in on Day 2 tight end prospect With tight end being a big need for the Colts, one NFL exec recently weighed in on a Day 2 prospect at the position.
We know tight end is a major need for the Indianapolis Colts, but what if they don't address the need on Day 1 of the NFL draft? Then what?
In that instance, a name to know on Day 2 of the NFL draft is Oregon's Terrance Ferguson. But does he fit with what the Colts are looking for at the position?
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler recently got some additional insight into Ferguson, along with several other NFL draft prospects from NFL executives and scouts.
"Good athlete, probably not as physical as you'd like," an AFC executive told Fowler. "Not quite as finesse as [Mike] Gesicki but not as physical as you'd hope. Though I think he has worked to answer that in the pre-draft process and the Senior Bowl."
Ferguson measured in at 6-5 - 247 pounds and posted an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.30, which featured a 4.63-second 40, a 39-inch vertical, and 10-02 feet on the broad jump.
Ferguson has been an active part of the Oregon passing game and could help provide the Colts a needed boost in that facet of the game. In four seasons, he caught 73% of his 183 targets, averaged 11.5 yards per catch with 16 touchdowns.
The 2024 season was a career-best for Ferguson, who caught 43 passes, totaled 591 yards, and averaged almost 14 yards per reception. He was extremely effective with the ball in his hands picking up YAC, according to PFF's metrics.
However, as we know, the blocking component cannot be forgotten about in Shane Steichen's offense. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com would write in his scouting report that there is an "alarming lack of tenacity and fire when it's time to run block."
In addition to that, nearly half of Ferguson's snaps in 2024 came from the slot, and with the Colts having Josh Downs on the roster, Ferguson is going to be asked to line up in-line more often if in Steichen's offense.
"You gotta be multiple in the pass game," Steichen said of the tight end position at the NFL's annual league meeting via the team site. "Obviously you would love the guy that can block. I think those guys, it's hard to find the true blocking tight ends anymore, but a guy that can battle in the run game is good. Great hands, can come in and out of the breaks, big and strong after the catch as well. There's a lot of good ones in this draft. It'll be interesting."
Whether or not Ferguson is an option for the Colts could very well come down to how they evaluate him as a blocker and what the area of opportunity for growth in that facet of his game looks like.
Yes, the Colts need more passing game help, but the ability to impact the run game is still going to be a priority when addressing this need.