Colts tight end Kylen Granson is bringing his big-play mentality to the team’s offense in 2021

When talking with several Colts rookies Thursday afternoon, rookie tight end Kylen Granson didn’t shy away after being asked about his big-play ability.

“Oh, yeah. 100%,” Granson said. “Coming from a wide receiver standpoint, at SMU, that’s all I did was stretch the field, get the mismatch on the outside and on the inside.”

It’s easy to see why Chris Ballard and Frank Reich are excited about Granson’s abilities. Ever since the departure of Eric Ebron, the team has been in search for a tight end who can help create big plays and stretch the field vertically.

Granson’s production over his last two seasons at SMU speaks for itself, as he had a total of 78 catches for 1,257 and 14 touchdowns, per sportsreference.com.

Last season the Colts ranked 19th in passing plays of 25-plus yards with 27, according to the Washington Post.

Part of the reason for this stat being so low, in my opinion, has to do with the fact that Philip Rivers — who was as immobile a QB as the team’s had in years — was the starter last season.

With Carson Wentz at the helm, who’s far more mobile than Rivers, it’s likely the Colts’ offense could see a major boost in chunk plays this coming season.

Granson has often drawn comparisons to Trey Burton, a starting tight end for the team last season. I’d look for the former SMU Mustang to play a major role in the offense this coming season.

What stands out to most, though, is the level of confidence Granson has in himself. The fourth-round pick knows what he’s capable of, and he’ll be the first to tell you that he’s a mismatch for any opposing linebacker or safety.

“Line me up against a backer or safety; either way, they’re losing,” Granson said. “Just bringing that to this next level and the Colts organization. That’s definitely the role I’m going to fit into.”

Additionally, Granson knows that there’s still a lot to be learned, and over the last few weeks, he’s picked up on a few different things technique-wise from his tight end teammates, Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox.

“Coming into the room, I definitely realized the differences in body types between me, Jack and Mo Alie,” Granson said. “But what I’ve found out is that a lot things they did that made their game, their game, I can also utilize. Whether that’s footwork, the way the come in and out of routes, where they get off the line, there’s just a bunch of tools I hadn’t necessarily realized before.”

Granson’s not only learning from his fellow teammates, but he’s ready to make his presence known on game days. Given the tight ends production while at SMU, the Colts may have found their big-play tight end who can bring a unique element to the team’s offense that’s been missing for some time.