When he was at the University of Pittsburgh, Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Matt Goncalves shifted easily between right and left tackle. That versatility made him a very attractive NFL swing tackle with definite starting potential. His size, power, and leadership skills earned him third-round status in the 2024 draft.
As a rookie, Goncalves made good on that swing tackle promise. When starters were injured, he played quite a bit on both sides. In all, he logged more than 500 offensive snaps as a rookie.
But heading into his second year, Indianapolis was set at tackle. They needed help at guard. So Matt Goncalves moved again, but this time to starting right guard. Some talent scouts had predicted a move inside would benefit the young lineman, but it was still a bit of a gamble. Goncalves had played tackle almost exclusively up to the 2025 season.
Matt Goncalves is the forgotten man on the Indianapolis Colts’ first-rate offensive line
If a recent ranking by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) is your guide, the experiment appears to be working. Goncalves just placed 30th in their league-wide ranking.
If that doesn’t appear like a major honor, consider that the Colts also have the third-highest-graded guard in veteran Quenton Nelson. That means that of the 64 starters across the league, Indianapolis has two guards rated in the top 30.
The stats bear out the quality of the Colts' line play in 2025. They moved into the top ten in both yards-per-play and total first downs, significant improvements on their 2024 production. And, most importantly.
Their scoring percentage – a calculation of the percentage of drives that result in a score of some kind – shot up from 20th in ’24 to first in the league in 2025. Their rate last season of 49.4% is truly elite.
Of course, this is not the work of just one man or one position group. Daniel Jones and Tyler Warren were new to the offense last year, and both had a major impact. Next to Goncalves on the line, center Tanor Bortolini emerged as a genuine rising star.
But Goncalves was right in the middle of all that improvement, and his ability to lock down the right guard position was essential. He enters his third season as a 25-year-old rising player with a full year of starting under his belt. There is no reason to expect he will not continue to improve.
Still, he has had a hard time getting recognition on the Colts’ line. Bortolini has been tabbed as one of the best young centers in the league. Left tackle Bernhard Reimann just inked a huge new contract. And fellow guard Quenton Nelson should have a bust in Canton one day.
Most of the talk this offseason has been about whether Jalen Travis can step into longtime right tackle Braden Smith’s shoes. No one is talking much about Matt Goncalves.
Except when they note that the only offensive player chosen by general manager Chris Ballard prior to the last round of the 2026 draft happens to play Goncalves' position. Is it possible that the selection of Kentucky’s Jalen Farmer in round three signals dissatisfaction with the incumbent right guard?
Not likely. Farmer is an excellent prospect, and Ballard needs to supply more depth on the line. Farmer is probably on hand to learn from the likes of Nelson and Goncalves as he develops over the course of his rookie season. But there is one other fringe benefit involved in the pick.
If Jalen Travis does indeed struggle at right tackle. Goncalves may be the logical choice to take over. He played an entire game at right tackle in Week 16 last season. Veteran Dalton Tucker stepped in at right guard.
In camp, Tucker has also been taking snaps at center, perhaps to take over Danny Pinter’s backup role. Regardless, Farmer may be viewed as having a higher upside than Tucker at guard. His selection merely makes it easier for the Colts to slide Goncalves back out to right tackle if Travis struggles. Farmer then takes Goncalves’ right guard spot.
This is all speculation at this point. It will remain that way until Indy begins actually playing games. Then we will get a better picture of the plan along the offensive line. But you can be pretty sure that whatever those plans turn out to be, Matt Goncalves, the Colts’ most anonymous offensive starter, will be a key part of it.
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