No. 44 | Matt Peart | OT | Connecticut
There are many intriguing offensive tackle prospects for the Colts in this draft, and you better believe Ballard will be keeping an eye on the class. Even with Anthony Castonzo returning for the next two seasons, the depth and future of the position remains a high priority.
Peart is one of the top prospects at the position for the Colts. He has the size, length and athleticism that the Colts like on the edge. The 20-yard shuttle is a bit of a concern, but his tape has shown a mauler who has a high ceiling given his arm length and mentality.
From Zach Hicks of Stampede Blue:
The Colts are looking for a developmental tackle in this class and Peart is the best overall fit for the team. An excellent run blocker, he is a mauler in the open field as he finishes blocks with ease. He is a people mover and already has a great baseline with his athleticism and proficiency in run blocking. The struggles come in pass protection as he needs to develop a bit more and refine his technique in that area. The Colts should fall in love with his demeanor, long arms, and Senior Bowl appearance to go along with his already translatable traits. If the Colts go tackle on day two, I expect Peart to be high on their radar.
The Colts might be able to wait to get an offensive tackle like Peart in the third round, but with the way the board looked, it didn’t appear he would have made it to No. 75.
With this pick, the Colts get a high upside prospect at left tackle to provide depth while working behind one of the game’s best in Castonzo.