The Indianapolis Colts announced the signing of free-agent offensive tackle Julién Davenport on Monday, a move that was expected to be made for over roughly a week.
With Davenport officially a member of the Colts roster, it will be interesting to see how he fits in the depth chart and in the rotation on the offensive line.
How Davenport fits on the depth chart
This is a big question and one that doesn’t have an answer right now. Davenport comes in likely as someone competing for the starting role or a depth role depending on what the Colts do during the 2021 NFL draft.
If the Colts use a Day 1 or 2 pick on an offensive tackle, there is a good chance that prospect is starting at left tackle as the replacement for Anthony Castonzo. But if the Colts like Davenport a lot, they may wait a bit and have him compete for the starting role.
That wouldn’t be ideal, but it wouldn’t come completely out of left field. As it stands, though, Davenport and Sam Tevi are the two candidates to battle at left tackle until another addition is made.
How Davenport fits athletically
The Colts harp on athleticism on the offensive line, which makes this move a bit of a question mark. Davenport isn’t a terrible athlete but it’s certainly not one of the stronger parts of his game. He has size and length but his movement skills will probably leave Colts fans wanting more.
How Davenport impacts the draft
The signing of Davenport shouldn’t kee the Colts from investing the No. 21 pick on an offensive tackle. The class is deep enough to get a starter at the position while Davenport could provide solid depth behind a rookie.
But the question remains how the Colts truly feel about Davenport. Do they believe he can be the starter right away, and they can take a developmental tackle later, or is this more of an insurance policy in case the rookie they intend to draft doesn’t pan out.
All things considered, Davenport isn’t the kind of player that will keep Chris Ballard from investing heavily in an offensive tackle, which means No. 21 is still very much in play.
How Davenport impacts the cap
Davenport is joining the Colts on a one-year deal so he shouldn’t have a massive impact on the salary cap. The Colts are still among the leaders in salary-cap space as they look to extend some of their own so this move shouldn’t have any impact at all.
Conclusion
Davenport is most likely a depth piece for the offensive line and will be working as the backup left tackle if Indy drafts one in the first or second round.
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