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."

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."