For the third year in a row, the Indianapolis Colts will be sporting the same starting offensive line thanks to the return of left tackle Anthony Castonzo this offseason, but adding to the offensive tackle position is likely in the cards during the 2020 NFL draft.
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Starters: Anthony Castonzo, Braden Smith
Backups: Le’Raven Clark
Level of need: High
Cap investment: $22.5 million (6th in NFL)
Quick review
The Colts have one of the top offensive tackle duos in the NFL with Castonzo and Smith. Castonzo is coming off of his best season as a pro while Smith continues to emerge as one of the game’s best young right tackles.
Where the concern is with the depth. Clark was re-signed to a one-year deal essentially because no one else in the room is a viable backup. This is likely to lead the Colts to invest pretty heavily in an offensive tackle during the draft.
Draft preview
Draft Wire Offensive Tackle Rankings
Class overview: This group of offensive tackles is really deep. The top-end talent is elite in the first round but the Colts won’t get a piece of that. Instead, they will be looking for developmental prospects that have the athleticism and traits the look for to be the eventual successor to Castonzo.
Best fit: Matt Peart, Connecticut
There are a few traits the Colts seem to like in their tackles. They have to be athletic (that’s a given regardless), they have to have length and they have to have an aggressive, mauler attitude. Peart checks so many boxes for the Colts it’s hard to see them not having interest. He needs work cleaning up and refining his pass sets, but he won’t have to start right away. He has high upside to be the next left tackle for the Colts and should be targeted on Day 2.
Prospect to avoid: Saahdiq Charles, USC
There are some intriguing qualities to like from Charles. He moves well and handles the speed rush with success. However, there are some character issues that might force teams to pause and given that there weren’t any face-to-face meetings, it makes it difficult for teams to truly know his side of the story. His technique needs to be developed, though that’s not a crushing trait given the time that would be allowed. Charles might be a steal if he falls and his character issues aren’t major, but there are plenty of other options the Colts can consider while being risk-averse.
Sleeper prospect: Jack Driscoll, Auburn
Going back to the Auburn well, Driscoll would be an intriguing Day 3 pick for the Colts if they decide to wait. It isn’t clear where he will line up given his arm length, but Driscoll is an excellent athlete with a high football IQ. He needs to add some strength and size, but he moves with quickness and would be a great fit for the zone scheme the Colts run.
Other prospects to consider: Ben Bartch, St. John’s | Lucas Niang, TCU | Alex Taylor, South Carolina | Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
Picks most likely to be used on an OT: Nos. 44, 75, 122, 160
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