INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts have made their first move at offensive tackle this offseason, but the need to find a definite starter at left tackle remains.
On Monday night, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Colts are signing veteran OT-Sam Tevi (44 career starts in 4 years).
This move though should be viewed as a depth signing, and a potential answer in the search for better swing tackle depth.
In 2020, Tevi ranked as the 77th best offensive tackle (out of 83) according to Pro Football Focus. Tevi is 6-5 and 315 pounds. He was a 6th round pick of the Chargers in 2017, out of Utah.
So while the 26-year-old Tevi brings ample experience—which is something the Colts seriously lacked in their offensive line reserves—the Colts cannot expect him to be the starter at left tackle, especially if they want to continue to have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL.
As Jim Irsay said last week, the ideal path for the Colts to find their left tackle of the future remains in the draft. In 2021, the draft offers a pretty good class of offensive tackles, which is something the Colts need to tap into.
But where the Tevi signing does make sense is in the goal to have better offensive line depth this season.
It was a mistake Chris Ballard made last season, and something he regretted following last year. When the Colts entered training camp in 2020, none of their backup offensive linemen had played even one offensive snap in the league the previous year.
That showed as the year went along.
With Le’Raven Clark and Chaz Green still free agents this offseason, the Colts needed another body to throw in with Will Holden as potential depth answers.
But let’s be very clear, the search to find the man taking over for Anthony Castonzo remains.
