Chris Ballard says Colts already have their answer at left tackle
Indianapolis Colts general manager, Chris Ballard, says the team is not currently in the market for a starting left tackle.
After the Indianapolis Colts traded for Matt Ryan, many begin to turn their attention to Indy’s other needs on the roster. On the offensive side of the ball, that’s receiver and left tackle.
Indy has been working to find a left tackle since Anthony Castonzo retired in 2020. The Colts signed Eric Fisher for one-year last offseason but he struggled in pass protection and he and the team were unable to work out a new deal.
Because of that, many felt Indianapolis would be aggressive in the left tackle market, going after veterans like Terron Armstead or Duane Brown. However, fans recently learned that Indy has already signed their starting left tackle.
In a Tuesday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Colts general manager, Chris Ballard, shared with the public that offensive linemen, Matt Pryor, will get the first opportunity at left tackle.
"You can acquire players between now & October that can help you win.. it's not just a 2 week period in March that determines the outcome of a season" ~Chris Ballard#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/UJND5qBLdn
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 22, 2022
Matt Pryor will be the left tackle for Colts
Pryor was one of Indy’s earlier signings in free agency when they re-signed him to a one-year deal worth just over $5 million. At just 27 years old, he now gets a one-year tryout to be the long-term left tackle in Indianapolis.
The Colts first acquired Pryor in August, right before the season, in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Pryor is a versatile lineman that can play both, guard and tackle on both sides.
That came in handy last season when Pryor saw action in every game and started five, filling in for whatever starter went down on Indy’s offensive line.
As Ballard expressed, during his time on the field, Pryor was able to impress and as a result, he gets the chance to become a full-time starter this season.
That’s something that Pryor hasn’t been in his three-year career. He did start 10 games his last season in Philly but it was for similar reasons he started five games for the Colts last year. He has always been a reserve that could step up when needed.
Indianapolis believes that he is now ready to be much more and Pryor will be given that opportunity. Hopefully, he can capitalize on this moment. Not only will it benefit his career, but Indy desperately needs an answer at left tackle. Solving that problem can help the Colts go a long way.
