The Colts are still kicking the tires on potential options at starting right guard—with 2nd-year swing-tackle Matt Gonvalves among potential in-house candidates.
According to longtime general manager Chris Ballard, the Indianapolis Colts starting right guard spot remains a priority after rock solid starter Will Fries departed in free agency:
“It’s an area that’s a priority,” Chris Ballard said via the IndyStar’s Joel Erickson at the NFL’s annual league meeting on Monday.
“If we had to line up and play today, we could. From Bort to Pinter to French, who have all started at center. Gonc, who’s started; Freeland, who’s started. The cupboard is not bare.”
While the Colts have seemingly ruled out veteran right tackle Braden Smith as a possibility, who is a converted collegiate offensive guard from Auburn, 2nd-year swing-tackle Matt Goncalves could become Fries’ successor:
“We think a lot of Gonc,” Ballard added. “If he ends up being the right guard, I don’t know yet, time will let that play out. Let’s get through the rest of the offseason and go.”
However, head coach Shane Steichen seems to think Goncalves is more natural at right tackle—and he’s admittedly probably right at this stage of the former 2024 3rd round pick’s early pro career:
“We’ve got to have flexibility inside and outside,” Steichen said. “Matt’s had the one single snap or whatever it was inside at guard, but he’s good at tackle. We’ll explore those options.”
The Colts appear poised to still address the starting right guard spot through either free agency or the NFL Draft—maybe even both, although it’s a weaker class regarding the latter early on in this year’s positional class.
That being said, the Colts found both projected starting center Tanor Bortolini (4th), as well as Goncalves in the middle rounds of last year’s draft and could look again for right guard.
At any rate, the Colts don’t appear to be done addressing the starting right guard position:
“We’re working through that right now, (Chris Ballard) and his staff, just looking at what’s out there, obviously, through free agency, possibly the draft,” head coach Shane Steichen said.
It would be surprising if the Colts didn’t add some external viable options for a starting competition—with Goncalves currently as the frontrunner among in-house candidates.