Colts select Pitt OT Matt Goncalves with 79th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
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By: Chris Shepherd
The Colts add more help on offense in the third round after trading up—only this time on the offensive line.
The Indianapolis Colts, with the 79th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft have selected Tackle Matt Goncalves from Pittsburgh.
True to his word, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is focusing on protecting Anthony Richardson by taking Goncalves, who is a 6’6,” 327 pound offensive lineman:
Fresh beef for the O-Line.
Welcome to Indy, @MattGoncalves77! pic.twitter.com/JLScWb2Mv7
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 27, 2024
Goncalves started 24 games at Pittsburgh at both right and left tackle. He missed most of 2023 due to a toe injury. Some believe that he might slide inside to guard in the NFL, but time will tell. Goncalves was a team captain and was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had the following to say about the newest member of the Indianapolis Colts:
“Beefy lineman with experience at both tackle spots who should be able to transition inside if needed. He’s not a natural knee-bender and lacks leverage as a projected guard but has the mass and power to execute blocks inside. He’s a decent athlete for his size but is limited as a move blocker. He’s sound in pass protection, with the only real issue being his inability to change direction quickly against counters and twists. Goncalves might get a shot to prove himself at tackle early in his career but limited foot quickness will shrink his margin for error. The physical traits and two-position potential could make him a middle-round pick with eventual starter potential.”
As a tackle, Goncalves’s RAS score is much lower than what the Colts have targeted in the past coming in at just 7.69 out of a maximum of 10.0. Though if you change his position to offensive guard, it jumps to 8.54, which is much closer to the kind of elite RAS scores we’ve become accustomed to seeing from Colts draftees.
Some highlights from the internet:
If not for an injury this season, Matt Goncalves would have had a lot more buzz. Love him in the run game with his physicality and can give the Colts a strong anchor at RT pic.twitter.com/4Ysow9MjdQ
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) April 27, 2024
#Pitt OT Matt Goncalves, started at both tackle spots in his career (11 LT, 13 RT) and has some upside as a depth tackle. Powerful hands, has lateral mobility, though he has a soft shoulder to pass pro at times.
Missed most of ‘23 with an injury, has skill set to inside to OG. pic.twitter.com/ioyfr193L1
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) April 19, 2024
#Colts add another key piece to their offense in OL @MattGoncalves77 from @Pitt_FB
If not for injury late in his season, I think he’d have easily been a top-50 pick
⬇️Crushed interviews with NFL teams at @ShrineBowl, showcased why he’ll develop into a plus future NFL starter… https://t.co/SiiCKwWJLN pic.twitter.com/o94Rwh0k6K
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 27, 2024
This one is a little tougher to follow but an OL cutup all the same:
Matt Goncalves – OT – Pitt#steelers #predraftvisit pic.twitter.com/cLmo3ZcdqQ
— Chris_G (YouTube: ChrisG_Steelers) (@CGillis2021) April 23, 2024
Ballard has picked yet another unlikely draft target. This time, he selected an offensive tackle prospect that likely would have been drafted higher if not for the time he missed during his final season of college football. Given his size, athleticism and position versatility, it stands to reason this is a low risk pick for Ballard and his staff, who now add depth and competition to an already good offensive line.
Time will tell how things will play out in 2024, but no one will be able to claim that Ballard isn’t serious about how his teams play on both the offensive and defensive lines. We might just see Goncalves opening holes for Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson, soon enough.
Originally posted on Stampede Blue – All Posts