With being more than halfway through the College Football season, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Matt Goncalves.
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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Matt Goncalves (OT – Pittsburgh)
Matt Goncalves (OT – Pittsburgh)
6-foot-6 | 330 pounds
Background:
Started three games at left tackle as a freshman back in 2020 and appeared in four more at left guard and right tackle. Started five of 13 games played at right tackle the following year (plus one appearance with 72 snaps), finishing with 520 total snaps on the year and allowing three sacks. Flipped back and forth in 2022, with six starts at right tackle and seven at left tackle (no sacks allowed), then switched to left tackle full-time in 2023 after Carter Warren went pro.
Positives:
Has extensive experience at both left and right tackle. Very big, thickly-built right tackle who really looks the part. Brings a tough temperament and good awareness commensurate with his status as a senior. Relatively sound from a technical perspective. Fires out of his stance relatively low, given his size, and can collapse the edge when attacking the outside shoulder. The type of body-mover teams can run behind when they need tough yardage. Shows good leg drive and works hard to sustain through the whistle.
Has enough athleticism to get up to the second level and disrupt linebackers. Gets good width in his pass sets and has some knee bend as well. Gets enough depth to protect the edge with his kick slide, presenting rushers with a big obstacle to work around. Active hand-fighter who has pretty good accuracy with his punch and maintains separation after contact. Anchors effectively at the line against power. Shows good assignment-awareness.
Negatives:
Lateral agility is closer to adequate, and may struggle to handle speed at the pro level; occasionally has snaps where he abandons his technique against wide alignments. Can struggle to stick with quicker defenders. Needs to fully commit to protect the edge and can consequently have some trouble with inside moves, getting grabby. Strength is more thudding force than explosive power. Can be more of a repeated shover rather than someone whose vise grip locks up a defender for the duration of the play.
Summary:
A well-built, experienced, and tough throwback sort of offensive tackle who’s done a bit of everything in college but probably projects as a gap-scheme right tackle at the next level. May not be the most agile or explosive blocker in the class, but manages to get the job done with a combination of savvy, technique, and strength that should carry over to the next level relatively well.
Grade: Round 3
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