Tag: Tanor Bortolini

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Monday that they officially signed fourth-round pick Tanor Bortolini. Over the Cap now has the details on what Bortolini’s rookie deal will look like.

Bortolini earned a standard four-year rookie contract that totals $4.799 million with a signing bonus of $799,868.

Bortolini will receive the full signing bonus up front, but from a salary cap perspective, that $799,868 can be pro-rated over the life of the contract. Or, in short, the cap hit in 2024 from that bonus is just $194,967.

That pro-rated signing bonus amount plus a base salary of $795,000 makes up Bortolini’s cap hit for this season, which totals $989,967.

Moving forward, beyond 2024, a $194,967 cap hit from the pro-rated signing bonus will be on the Colts’ books all four years of the contract, along with Bortolini’s base salary increasing each year as well.

In 2025, Bortolini’s base salary will be $960,000. In 2026 it increases to $1.075 million, and then $1.190 million in 2027.

Here is a look at what Bortolini’s cap hit will be each season:

2024: $989,967
2025: $1.154 million
2026: $1.269 million
2027: $1.384 million

The addition of Bortolini to the Colts’ offensive line brings added interior versatility with him able to play both guard positions as well as center.

With the Colts returning all five starters from a unit in 2023 that ranked top 10 in pass rush rate and yards per carry, Bortolini likely provides depth and helps elevate the competition early on.

However, looking ahead to 2025 when both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries are set to be free agents, he could take on a much larger role as a starter.

“To me, with Wisconsin, you know you’re getting,” said area scout Tyler Hughes, “smart, tough, reliable offensive lineman. He’s a guy that started at four different positions for them. (He) He played guard last year, then once (Joe) Tippman left, he bumped inside to center.

“The best thing about him, I’m sure you guys saw his personality, he’s outgoing, a jokester, but his nickname is ‘Badger,’ and that’s kind of the staple of their program. So when you get the nickname Badger, he represents the program extremely well and what we want in our locker room.”

The Indianapolis Colts made it official, announcing that they’ve signed fourth round pick and offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini.

The contract specifics for Bortolini have not yet been released, but for an idea, Aaron Wilson reported that third-round pick Matt Goncalves’ four-year rookie deal is worth $5.839 million with a signing bonus of $1.066 million.

Bortolini put together one of the more impressive performances at the NFL Combine, and not just among the offensive line group, but of all prospects. He posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.78, which included a 4.94-second 40, along with elite broad, vertical, and agility testing.

Bortolini brings interior versatility to the Colts’ offensive line, able to play either guard position or center. Over the last two seasons, he allowed 17 pressures and two sacks. This past year, he ranked 28th among 200-plus centers in pass-blocking efficiency and 70th in PFF’s run-blocking grade.

Along with Bortolini’s athleticism and versatility, the Colts really like his fit within the locker room.

“To me, with Wisconsin, you know you’re getting,” said area scout Tyler Hughes, “smart, tough, reliable offensive lineman. He’s a guy that started at four different positions for them. (He) He played guard last year, then once (Joe) Tippman left, he bumped inside to center. The best thing about him, I’m sure you guys saw his personality, he’s outgoing, a jokester, but his nickname is ‘Badger,’ and that’s kind of the staple of their program. So when you get the nickname Badger, he represents the program extremely well and what we want in our locker room.”

With Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Will Fries all returning for the 2024 season, in the short-term, Bortolini likely provides improved depth and increases the competition along the interior. Looking ahead to 2025, he could potentially see a much larger role, with both Kelly and Fries set to be free agents.

Second-round pick Adonai Mitchell and fourth-round pick Anthony Gould are the only draft picks for the Colts who remain unsigned.

Chad Reuter of NFL.com hand-picked 15 Day 3 selections from this year’s draft that he believes could be in line to start as rookies. At the top of that list was the Colts’ fourth-round pick, Tanor Bortolini.

Here is what Reuter had to say:

“Bortolini was a center for the Badgers in 2023, but the Colts identified his position as guard when the pick was announced. He started at least one game at every O-line spot except left tackle during his college career, so he knows his way around multiple positions. Bortolini could wind up the heir apparent to center Ryan Kelly, who is due to become a free agent after the 2024 season, but as a rookie Bortolini could compete at right guard with Will Fries, who’s also in the final year of his deal.”

If an injury were to happen. Bortolini has the ability to step in at any one of the three interior offensive line positions, playing 658 snaps at guard while at Wisconsin and 1,058 at center.

The Colts are returning their entire starting five along the offensive line from last season. This was a unit that ranked 10th in yards per rush and had the ninth-lowest pressure rate surrendered.

However, as Reuter mentions, if there is one spot along the interior where perhaps Bortolini could make a push, it’s at right guard, competing with Will Fries.

Fries, a 2021 seventh-round pick, allowed four sacks and 30 pressures last season. He ranked 20th out of 50 eligible guards in pass-blocking efficiency and 29th out of 54 guards in PFF’s run-blocking grade.

With that said, Fries should absolutely be considered the favorite start over Bortolini come Week 1. His experience alone, both in the NFL and in Shane Steichen’s offense, should give him a big leg up in any potential competition that ensues.

Along with Bortolini, the Colts also have Wesley French, Danny Pinter, and Josh Sills as other interior options–although the addition of Borotlini certainly does increase the level of competition inside.

Next offseason, both Fries and center Ryan Kelly are set to be free agents, which could lead to a much larger role for Bortolini at that time.

Rounding out the top-five on Reuter’s list were cornerback Decamerion Richardson with the Raiders, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders with the Panthers, linebacker Cedric Gray with the Titans, and wide receiver Troy Franklin with the Broncos.