INDIANAPOLIS – Did the Colts trade up?
Hearing such term, particularly on Day 1 or Day 2 of the NFL Draft, is uncommon during the Chris Ballard era.
The 2024 Draft marked Ballard’s eighth as Colts general manager.
Ballard’s move up for Pittsburgh offensive guard Matt Goncalves was only his fourth in the first three rounds of a draft.
So, evidently, the Colts had Goncalves targeted for a specific reason.
“He was one of our favorite offensive lineman in the draft, and that includes all of them,” Goncalves adds.
“We didn’t want to lose him.”
While Goncalves was a highly sought-after prospect for the Colts, it is unclear where he will play at this level.
At Pittsburgh, Goncalves started 13 games at right tackle and 11 at left tackle, with little action in the interior. The Colts slotted Goncalves at right tackle to begin rookie minicamp over the weekend.
However, the Colts are open to numerous options for the 6-6, 327-pound Goncalves.
“He’s got a lot of position flexibility,” Ballard says of the team’s 3rd round pick in 2024. “He’s started at left tackle, started at right tackle. We think he can play guard. We’re not so sure he can’t play center. So, excited to get him.
“You can never have enough good linemen. I think he’ll come in and he’ll compete. He’ll compete and put some heat on guys. I think guys get better when there’s great competition. We have some really good players upfront, but he just adds to the group.”
Goncalves’ final season at Pitt ended after only three games due to a season-ending foot injury. Several draft analysts predicted Goncalves to go later than he did at No. 79 overall, more so than many other Colts round picks. Even Goncalves anticipated a third or fourth-round selection.
Chad Henry, a Colts area scout, lives in Pittsburgh and was already familiar with the massive offensive tackle.
Furthermore, the Colts received direct information from Pitt’s coaching staff, since former Panthers assistant Charlie Partridge joined the Indianapolis staff as defensive line coach earlier this offseason.
“It’s funny because I actually got to see him play at left tackle because their right tackle got hurt the year before when he was the starting right tackle and kicked to left tackle,” Ballard explained. “So, you got to see him play left tackle, so that was good because we go back and watch junior tape, younger tape too. We have a good feel for who he is.
“That was probably one of the most fun calls I’ve had now. He’ll fit in now.”
On that draft conversation, Goncalves used a lot of expletives.
Part of that off-field fire is why Henry dubbed Goncalves “the blueprint” during the draft process, ticking all of the Colts’ key offensive line characteristics.
Still, it’s unclear where Goncalves will line up at this level, even if the Colts do something unusual for the Ballard era.