Colts' move fans slammed is quickly turning into a masterstroke
Indianapolis Colts’ fans haven’t had all that much to cheer about since Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement after the 2018 season. One of the more pleasant stories in those drab days concerned Will Fries.
Fries was selected in the seventh round of the 2021 draft. The end of the seventh round, just ten spots away from being Mr. Irrelevant. The last of 13 guards taken that year. Nonetheless, Fries was starting at right guard by his second season and was firmly entrenched by his third. He did it with hard work, toughness, and smarts. It was the kind of make-good story everyone loves.
When he got hurt in 2024, it put both the player and the team in a bit of a bind. Fries’s rookie contract was up. He was scheduled to be a free agent. What would the market be? A steady young guard on the rise. An injury. Could Chris Ballard afford to re-sign him? That’s the standard blueprint, isn’t it? Identify a quality player in the draft, develop him, and lock him up long term. Then repeat the process at another position.
Matt Goncalves is making Indianapolis Colts’ fans forget all about Will Fries
In the immediate aftermath of the 2024 season, many publications urged Ballard to make retaining Fries a priority. Many fans agreed. Sign him, and the team is set at guard for the foreseeable future. But it soon became clear that despite his injury, the price tag for Fries was going to be high. Ballard had a tough decision.
In hindsight, two things probably impacted what the GM chose to do. The first was the reality of roster construction in the salary cap era. The second was the presence of Matt Goncalves.
The Colts were already paying left guard Quenton Nelson commensurate with what a future Hall of Famer still in his prime deserves. Shelling out major dollars to the right guard would throw the roster balance out of whack. Few teams can afford to have so much of their cap space devoted to two interior linemen.
Ballard needed to extend left tackle Bernhard Raimann, and that was going to be very difficult if he was to equal the market price for Fries. Minnesota ended up signing Fries to a five-year, $87 million deal, roughly half of which was guaranteed. Though bonuses reduce his cap hit this season to a little under six million, it will balloon in subsequent years into the $20 million range.
Meanwhile, Matt Goncalves was about to enter his second year. The 2024 third-round pick out of Pittsburgh still had three years left on a rookie contract that owed him a little over a million dollars per season. Clearly, he was a better bargain. The question was, could he play?
Goncalves entered the league as a tackle. In his rookie year, that’s where he took his snaps. When Fries went down last year, another rookie – UDFA Dalton Tucker – picked up some of the slack. Late in the season, the team brought Mark Glowinski back to town to provide some veteran play. But neither Glowinski nor Tucker looked like a viable option to start in 2025.
A plan emerged to shift Goncalves inside to right guard. Shifting a college tackle to guard is fairly common in today’s NFL. The Cowboys' Tyler Smith made the transition and then made the Pro Bowl. One of the veterans Ballard was urged to sign this offseason – the since-retired Brandon Scherff – was a college tackle who became an All-Pro guard in the NFL.
So far, the move has worked even better than most fans could have hoped. Despite a relatively poor game against Arizona in Week 6, Goncalves currently grades out as the 24th-best guard in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That has him ranked ahead of the aforementioned Tyler Smith as well as Carolina’s Robert Hunt – both Pro Bowlers in 2024.
Even more significantly, he is ranked twelve spots ahead of Will Fries.
PFF rankings are not perfect. Matt Goncalves, rankings aside, may not be better than Will Fries. But that ranking, combined with the eye test, is a pretty good indicator of the fact that Ballard made the right decision. Goncalves is pairing with Nelson (second in the PFF rankings) to give Indianapolis one of the best guard tandems in the league.
And at just 24 years old, he has nowhere to go but up.
BREAKING: Panthers Activate Jalen Coker, Austin Corbett From IR
In a bold move to bolster their lineup, the Carolina Panthers have activated wide receiver Jalen Coker and offensive lineman Austin Corbett from injured reserve ahead of their Week 7 clash with the New York Jets. These key roster changes, announced by ESPN’s David Newton, signal the Panthers' commitment to strengthening their roster as they look to build on their recent success. With Carolina sitting at .500 after winning three of their last four games, the team is hoping the return of Coker and Corbett will be the difference-maker in their quest for playoff contention.
Jalen Coker's Return Brings Explosive Potential to Panthers’ Offense
Coker, who impressed as an undrafted rookie out of Holy Cross last season, will finally make his return to the field after being sidelined for the first six games of the season due to a quad injury. A standout performer in 2024, Coker tallied 32 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns, providing a deep threat for the Panthers’ offense. His absence has been keenly felt, as the team has struggled to find consistent production from the slot position.
The Panthers temporarily signed veteran Hunter Renfrow to fill in for Coker, but his contributions have been modest at best, with just 15 catches and two touchdowns in six games. His average of 5.9 yards per catch has been disappointing, especially considering Coker's ability to stretch the field. If Coker can pick up where he left off last season, he has the potential to give quarterback Bryce Young an explosive weapon, complementing standout rookie Tetairoa McMillan and potentially transforming Carolina’s aerial attack.
Austin Corbett’s Return Strengthens Offensive Line
Meanwhile, Austin Corbett’s activation marks a significant boost to the Panthers' offensive line. The fourth-year lineman was placed on injured reserve after suffering a left MCL sprain in a Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Injuries have plagued Corbett throughout his tenure with Carolina, limiting him to just 11 games since 2023.
Before his injury, Corbett was slated to start at center, but Cade Mays has stepped up in his absence and performed admirably. Pro Football Focus currently ranks Mays as the eighth-best center in the league, and his play has been instrumental in Carolina’s recent success in the running game, particularly in the back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances the Panthers have put together. Corbett, an experienced guard, could be a candidate to replace left guard Damien Lewis, who is dealing with a shoulder injury. This could allow Mays to continue anchoring the line at center, with Corbett providing stability on the interior if Lewis is unable to go.
Defensive Shakeup with Boogie Basham’s Elevation
In another move, the Panthers have elevated outside linebacker Boogie Basham from their practice squad ahead of the game against the Jets. Basham, who was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills and later played for the New York Giants, will be looking to make a significant impact after a quiet start to his Panthers career. He made his debut in Week 4, logging 17 snaps and contributing two tackles in the loss to the Patriots. Basham’s elevation comes after the news that starting outside linebacker Patrick Jones will require season-ending back surgery, leaving a significant hole in Carolina’s defense.
The Panthers have been forced to adapt with injuries, but these latest moves show a clear focus on ensuring they have enough depth to compete through the season's second half. Basham will have an opportunity to showcase his skills, and with the Jets coming to town, the Panthers will need all the help they can get.
A Crucial Game Ahead for the Panthers
As the Panthers prepare for their upcoming matchup with the Jets, these roster moves demonstrate their commitment to building a complete team. With a 3-3 record and a challenging schedule ahead, every move matters. The activation of Coker and Corbett gives the Panthers both offensive and defensive reinforcement, and with the elevation of Basham, the team is poised to make the necessary adjustments to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Jets, a team with a formidable defense, will test Carolina’s revamped lineup, but with Coker and Corbett back in the fold, the Panthers are hoping to give their fans something to cheer for as they continue to fight for relevancy in the NFC.
