Giants' Theo Johnson Opens Up About Tyler Warren

The New York Giants won’t be drafting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in Round 1. He’s generally viewed as a strong prospect, among the top pass-catchers in the 2025 NFL Draft. One of the few concerns on his scouting report, though, is his lack of production before his senior season.

For that, a Giants tight end is to blame. Theo Johnson continued a long line of Penn State tight ends to head to the next level. He and Jacksonville Jaguars’ youngster Brenton Strange blocked Warren from producing early in his college career.

Nevertheless, he broke out in 2024 to the tune of a conference-leading 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. All but locked into the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft, he’ll look to become a game-changing chess piece with his combination of formidable run blocking and consistent receiving chops.

Johnson reflected on his former teammate as Warren transitions to the next level.

“I've always had nothing but good things to say about Tyler,” Johnson said during Monday’s offseason workout. “I have a ton of respect for him. He's one of my closest friends. We keep in contact a bunch. We've been talking a whole bunch through this process for him.

“I think he's going to be a stud in this league. Whoever gets him is going to get a tremendous tight end that's going to play for a long time. He handles his business the right way. He's already a pro, and he's not even a pro yet.”

New York won’t be in the Warren business, but the New York Jets might. If one or both of the top tackles in the class come off the board before No. 7, Warren becomes a viable option to lead off the Aaron Glenn-Darren Mougey administration.

“I'll be juiced up if he's over here,” Johnson said. “Truly, I'll be super thrilled. Playing next to him made my job a whole lot easier. We made each other better every single day. I'm a better player after having played with him. So, I'm super excited to see where he ends up.”

While he waits for a potential new roommate, Johnson is hoping to improve upon a modest 2024 campaign. His rookie season was cut short due to injuries and held back by poor quarterback play. After logging just 29 catches for 331 yards and a score, 2025 will provide him the runway to claim a more productive role in the offense.

For the next few days, Johnson’s attention will be on his former understudy.

“I'm not sure where he's going to end up, but I'm super excited to see where he ends up, and he's going to do really well. I'm excited for him.”