When the 2025 NFL Draft begins in a little less than two months from now, Penn State's Tyler Warren not only has a good chance at being the first tight end selected, but he could also go somewhere in the top 10, a rare feat for a player at his position.
The 6-foot-6, 261-pound tight end put together a record-breaking campaign for the Nittany Lions this past season. Warren became the first player in school history to top the 100-catch mark in a season, while his 1,233 receiving yards set a program record for tight ends. In addition to shattering these Penn State records, he also set the Big Ten single-season record for receptions and receiving yards.
Due to his dominance this past year, Warren's media session at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine was among the most popular.
The talented prospect was asked who would be in his top five tight ends currently playing in the NFL, a common question players face at the Combine each and every year. His answer, on the other hand, may have taken a few people by surprise.
"I'd say Kittle and Kelce probably are up there," Warren told reporters. "Pat Freiermuth if I had to pick. Then I'm probably going with Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson."
Those last few names might not find their way onto many people's top five players at the position. Not yet, at least.
But for Warren, he made it abundantly clear how highly he thinks of Johnson, his former teammate.
The two arrived at Penn State in 2020 and spent four seasons in Happy Valley together before Johnson declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Of course, the Giants selected the 6-foot-6 tight end in the fourth-round of last year's draft, and Johnson would go on to have a solid rookie year. While Warren enjoyed more success in his final season at Penn State than Johnson did, the future first-round pick praised his former teammate's game and credited him for helping him get to this point.
"We have some similarities, we have some differences," Warren said about comparing his own game to the young Giants tight end's. "Theo is as athletic of a tight end as you'll find, can run great routes, and he's a really fast guy. So, he might be a little higher up on that scale, and I do a little bit more of everything. But he helped me out a lot and I couldn't say enough good things about Theo and what he's meant to me through my process of being a football player."
View photos from media sessions as some of the top prospects speak to reporters from the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
QB Shedeur Sanders
DB Travis Hunter
QB Cameron Ward
QB Jaxson Dart
TE Tyler Warren
QB Cameron Ward
DL Mason Graham
QB Shedeur Sanders
RB Ashton Jeanty
DL Adbul Carter
DB Shavon Revel
QB Dillon Gabriel
QB Quinn Ewers
DB Travis Hunter
WO Tai'Shar Felton
LB Jalon Walker
TE Luke Lachey
LB Carson Schwesinger
DB Travis Hunter
DL Jack Sawyer
DB Cobee Bryant
LB Jihaad Campbell
DL Princely Umanmielen
DB Denzel Burke
DL Shemar Stewart
DB Zy Alexander
DL JT Tuimolau
DL Oluwafmi Oladejo
DB Will Johnson
LB Cody Simon
DL Adbul Carter
DL Bradyn Swinson
DL Shemar Stewart
DL Savion Jones
DL Jack Sawyer
DL Nic Scourton
DL Donovan Ezeiraku
DL Princely Umanmielen
DL Nic Scourton
LB Pooh Paul
LB Pooh Paul
DL Nic Scourton
LB Jalon Walker
LB Pooh Paul
LB Jalon Walker
LB Cody Lindenberg
LB Carson Schwesinger
LB Jeffrey Bassa
LB Barrett Carter
LB Jeffrey Bassa
LB Carson Schwesinger
DL Mason Graham
DL Mason Graham
DL Howard Cross
LB Jihaad Campbell
DL Howard Cross
DL Howard Cross
DL Mason Graham
DL Mason Graham
DL Adbul Carter
LB Carson Schwesinger
DL Adbul Carter
DL Adbul Carter
DL Jordan Burch
DL Mike Green
DL Jordan Burch
DL Savion Jones
DL Shemar Stewart
DL Shemar Stewart
DL Kyle Kennard
DL James Pearce
LB Pooh Paul
DL Nic Scourton
DL Nic Scourton
LB Jalon Walker
LB Smael Mondon
DL James Pearce
LB Jalon Walker
LB Jay Higgins
LB Jihaad Campbell
DL Mason Graham
DL Mason Graham
LB Jihaad Campbell
DL Mason Graham
LB Pooh Paul
DL Mason Graham
DB Jaylen Reed
DB Jaylen Reed
DB Malaki Starks
DB Malaki Starks
DB Malaki Starks
DB Jonas Sanker
DB Malaki Starks
DB Jaylen Reed
DB Malaki Starks
DB Malaki Starks
DB Sebastian Castro
DB Lathan Ransom
DB Nick Emmanwori
DB Craig Woodson
TE Terrance Ferguson
DB Xavier Watts
DB Craig Woodson
TE Tyler Warren
DB Malaki Starks
DB Craig Woodson
TE Tyler Warren
TE Tyler Warren
TE Tyler Warren
DB Jaylen Reed
DB Sebastian Castro
DB Jonas Sanker
DB Malaki Starks
DB Jonas Sanker
DB Sebastian Castro
DB Malaki Starks
DB RJ Mickens
DB RJ Mickens
DB Malachi Moore
DB Lathan Ransom
DB Malachi Moore
DB Xavier Watts
DB Xavier Watts
DB Drew Mukuba
DB Lathan Ransom
DB Drew Mukuba
DB Nick Emmanwori
TE Luke Lachey
TE Terrance Ferguson
TE Tyler Warren
TE Gunnar Helm
TE Terrance Ferguson
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
TE Thomas Fidone
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Travis Hunter
DB Cobee Bryant
DB Cobee Bryant
DB Will Johnson
DB Cobee Bryant
DB Cobee Bryant
DB Jahdae Barron
DB Jahdae Barron
DB Jahdae Barron
DB Jacob Parrish
DB BJ Adams
DB Jahdae Barron
DB Zy Alexander
DB Shavon Revel
DB Travis Hunter
QB Shedeur Sanders
QB Will Howard
QB Brady Cook
WO Tez Johnson
QB Will Howard
QB Will Howard
WO Jimmy Horn
WO Matthew Golden
WR Pat Bryant
WO Emeka Egbuka
WO Matthew Golden
WO Matthew Golden
QB Kyle McCord
WO Matthew Golden
QB Jaxson Dart
WO Matthew Golden
WO Matthew Golden
QB Quinn Ewers
RB Ashton Jeanty
RB Corey Kiner
QB Quinn Ewers
QB Shedeur Sanders
RB Corey Kiner
RB Ashton Jeanty
QB Cameron Ward
RB Tahj Brooks
RB Ashton Jeanty
QB Cameron Ward
QB Shedeur Sanders
WO Tai'Shar Felton
QB Shedeur Sanders
QB Jaxson Dart
QB Shedeur Sanders
WO Tez Johnson
QB Quinn Ewers
QB Shedeur Sanders
QB Jaxson Dart
QB Shedeur Sanders
QB Will Howard
WO Traeshon Holden
QB Shedeur Sanders
QB Shedeur Sanders
QB Shedeur Sanders
Warren told reporters he stays in constant contact with Johnson, who has been a big help to the top tight end prospect both during their time at Penn State and in the pre-draft process.
Surprisingly, Johnson wasn't the only New York Giant mentioned by Warren during his media session. One of the most talented tight ends to ever play for the franchise served as somewhat of a mentor for the Penn State tight end.
"Another guy I saw this summer was Jeremy Shockey and the way he played," Warren said. "His mentality running the ball was something I kind of liked and kind of did a little bit this year."
Johnson's impact at Penn State went beyond the tight ends room. In fact, two safeties that will hear their names called in April both saw plenty of Johnson at practice every day.
Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr., who referred to Johnson as "resilient," credited his former teammate, along with Warren, for helping him develop into the player he is today.
"Theo Johnson is a great player," Winston said. "He's a tall guy, faster than a lot of people know. He's deceivingly fast, super fast, and he's showed that a lot of times in the league and even in his 40. Playing against a guy like that, Tyler Warren, Theo Johnson, competing with them day in and day out, I loved that. That's what made me such a great player. The things that I've learned from them, practicing with them and competing with them every day, I learned so much to make me a better player."
Fellow Penn State safety Jaylen Reed goes way back with Johnson, as the two grew up playing against each other in 7-on-7 youth football before both landed at Penn State.
"Me and Theo were beefing at practice," Reed joked. "I went against Theo every single day, you know, tight ends and safeties. Going against Theo every day, he was a great teammate. I kind of grew up with Theo. He's from Canada and I'm from Detroit, so our 7-on-7 teams played against each other each and every weekend. Playing against Theo growing up and then coming to Penn State with him, I treat him like a big brother. He's always checking on me back while I'm going through this process. He's going to do great things in the NFL."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his latest ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Marcus Mbow, T, Purdue
No. 49 Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
No. 48 Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
No. 47 Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
No. 46 Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
No. 45 Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
No. 44 Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
No. 43 Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
No. 42 Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
No 41. Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi
No. 40 Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
No. 39 Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
No. 38 Josh Conerly Jr., T, Oregon
No. 37 Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
No. 36 Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
No. 35 Josh Simmons, T, Ohio State
No. 34 Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi
No. 33 TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
No. 32 Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
No. 31 Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
No. 30 Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
No. 29 Kelvin Banks Jr., T, Texas
No. 28 Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
No. 27 Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 26 Derrick Harmon, DT, Michigan State
No. 25 Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
No. 24 Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State
No. 23 Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
No. 22 James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
No. 21 Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
No. 20 Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
No. 19 Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
No. 18 Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
No. 17 Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
No. 16 Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
No. 15 Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
No. 14 Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
No. 13 Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
No. 12 Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
No. 11 Armand Membou, IOL, Missouri
No. 10 Cam Ward, QB, Miami
No. 9 Will Campbell, T, LSU
No. 8 Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
No. 7 Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
No. 6 Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
No. 5 Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
No. 4 Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
No. 3 Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
No. 2 Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
No. 1 Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
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