The Indianapolis Colts announced their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL season. With so much intrigue surrounding this young team, there is one unit that will be intriguing to watch develop throughout the year. The Colts have four tight ends listed on their initial roster with one being placed on season-ending injured reserve. Their 6-foot-7 third-year tight end, Jelani Woods suffered a season-ending toe injury during the preseason.
This will make two straight seasons in which Woods will miss the entire year. Woods began this year as the favorite to be the top tight end. However, with this unfortunate injury, there is no clear top tight end on the Indianapolis Colts roster. Therefore, fans will see a rotation of tight ends each week with one, hopefully, rising to the occasion of being the top guy.
A Look Into the Indianapolis Colts Tight End Room
Mo Alie-Cox
Mo Alie-Cox is the lone veteran in the Colts’ tight end room as he is entering his seventh year, all with the Colts. Throughout the first six years in Indy, Cox has 34 starts. Within those starts and games played, he has accumulated over 100 receptions, over 1200 yards, and 14 touchdowns. His best year was in 2020 with Philip Rivers as his quarterback. In that season, he finished with 394 yards on 31 receptions and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, he has not been able to duplicate that level of production yet.
Over this offseason, Cox has emerged as a viable candidate to be the top tight end on this Indianapolis Colts roster. This is significant because, over the years, there has been discussion about whether he would be cut by the Colts due to lack of production in recent years. Cox has the upside to be a consistent playmaker in this league and could be looking for some redemption in 2024.
Kylen Granson
Kylen Granson was the most productive tight end on the Indianapolis Colts roster last year. He is entering his fourth year in the league and is coming off his most productive season. In 2023, he finished 30 receptions for 368 yards and caught his first touchdown. last season was a breakout year for Granson as the Colts were rotating tight ends which in turn, allowed Granson to shine. He certainly took advantage of his opportunities and made a name for himself on this roster.
Granson is the smallest tight end with a 6-foot-3 frame. He is also not particularly fast, but is a good route runner and has a good feel for defenses. The biggest negative for Granson is his run-blocking ability. With his small frame, it makes it tough for him to block big defensive linemen. Pro Football Focus gave Granson a low 48.2 run-blocking grade. If he wants to take the next step as a tight end for the Colts, he will need to step up.
Will Mallory
Will Mallory is entering his second season in the league. As a rookie, he played in a rotation role and each time he stepped on the field, he produced. In 2023, he had 18 receptions for 207 yards. He had a catch percentage of 69.2% as well as a receiving success rate of 50%. It should also be noted that Mallory scored the highest, according to PFF, in run blocking amongst his teammates with a 67.5. Mallory exhibits all of the skills to be a potential dark horse on this Indianapolis Colts roster. However, he still needs more reps and room to develop and this season could propel that.
Drew Ogletree
Lastly, Drew Ogletree is entering his second year with the Indianapolis Colts and is looking for a breakout year. In his rookie year, Ogletree finished with nine receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns. While Ogletree’s numbers are minimal compared to his teammates, he displayed a high level of productivity when the ball was in his hands. Going into 2024, the Colts will certainly look to take advantage of Ogletree’s productivity. Whether he can climb the ladder and become a top guy on the roster remains to be seen.
Main Photo: Christine Tannous/USA TODAY NETWORK
