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3 undervalued Colts who will improve in 2022

By Jacob Mummert

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (16) warms up Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, before the regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (16) warms up Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, before the regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. /
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Indianapolis Colts guard Danny Pinter (63) against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts guard Danny Pinter (63) against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. G Danny Pinter

Danny Pinter is another under-the-radar player who is often undervalued having been drafted in the fifth round in 2020. Only entering his third season, Pinter showed promise last season filling in at times for an often injured offensive line. Pinter has been putting in the work and it paid off last year with more playing time and a potential starting position on the offensive line.

In his rookie season (2020), he played in 13 games but only registered 104 snaps (12% of the team’s offensive snaps that season). He spent 36 snaps on special teams which account for 10% of the team’s special teams snaps. During this season he was playing behind Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Mark Glowinski in the interior of the offensive line with Anthony Castonzo and Braden Smith on the outside. However, in his second season, he was asked to do much more.

Last season, Pinter was on the field for sixteen games starting three of them. He participated in 227 offensive snaps which accounted for 22% of the team’s offensive snaps. He spent more time on special teams as well getting 82 snaps there which accounted for 20% of the team’s special team snaps. With injuries across the line, Pinter had to fill in at multiple positions across the offensive line as the team tried to find a cohesive unit. Pinter’s status as a relatively unknown NFL lineman even allowed him to score a touchdown in his sophomore season.

The Indianapolis Colts again made changes to their offensive line heading into the 2022 season by letting Eric Fisher, Mark Glowinski, Chris Reed, Julie’n Davenport, and Sam Tevi walk in free agency. Outside of Nelson, Kelly, and Smith the team is rebuilding its starting unit and depth. Pinter is poised to be a key piece in that.

His versatility on the line last season will allow him to plug and play at various spots on the line this season. Right now as the depth chart sits, Pinter is slotted as the starting right guard next to Smith and opposite Nelson. Matt Pryor is set to fill in at left tackle but much will be decided during training camp and preseason games.

With the current lack of proven talent behind Pinter, he has a huge opportunity to produce in a starting role in his third season. Although the Colts drafted Bernhard Raimann and signed Ryan Van Demark as a UDFA, these two play on the outside and will compete with Pryor more than Pinter.

Will Fries is a rookie holdover from last season but will have to improve and produce tremendously in training camp to push for a starting job. Plus, it’s hard to argue with the production the Colts got from Pinter filling in last season. Many would like to see it play out over the course of a full season.

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