The Colts have a competition to watch at their starting right guard spot this training camp and preseason.
The Indianapolis Colts officially kick off team training camp in a few weeks at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, and there are at least a few training camp positional battles to watch.
We’ll take a look at starting right guard here.
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Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
The Favorite – Matt Goncalves
While the Colts haven’t formally named Goncalves the starting right guard yet, it appears as though he’s the clear frontrunner—and it’s currently his job to lose.
The former 2024 3rd round pick of the Colts held his own as a rookie this past season, as the team’s top swing-tackle, starting in 8 starts in relief at both left and right tackle.
Per PFF, he earned a +65.9 overall grade as a rookie in 2024.
Even though Goncalves arguably may be most comfortable at right tackle, the Colts need him at the starting spot right next to it, right guard, after the unfortunate absence of departed breakout starter Will Fries to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.
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Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
The Challenger – Dalton Tucker
The former 2024 undrafted rookie free agent signed by Indianapolis out of Marshall was one of the pleasant surprises of last year’s training camp and preseason—and ultimately ended up making the Colts final 53-man roster.
Because of Fries’ early season-ending injury, Tucker started 7 games for Indianapolis this past season—all at right guard. While he initially showed some promise, the more Tucker played, the more he was eventually exposed—as he appeared to eventually hit a rookie wall.
Tucker was eventually benched as Indy brought back ex-longtime starter Mark Glowinski to provide a solidifying veteran presence at right guard down the season’s stretch run.
Verdict – Matt Goncalves
Tucker provides decent depth, but Goncalves appears to be squarely in the driver’s seat for this one and is the more talented and polished offensive lineman of the two 2nd-year pros.