Matt Goncalves

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among G contracts at this AAV tier, Matt Goncalves earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI). His rookie deal carries a $1.46M average annual value over four years—a cost-controlled salary befitting a 2024 third-round pick—and his B+ performance grade on the field suggests he's executing at a level above what you'd expect from a depth-piece contract. However, the CVI sits in middling territory because his conditional roster status introduces durability risk: he appeared in 16 games during the 2025 season, but the media narrative and recent Colts acquisitions at the guard and center positions signal organizational skepticism about whether he's a durable, reliable starter long-term. The second-year guard enters an offseason in a precarious competitive position, with the team having just signed fellow guards and linemen—moves that explicitly undermine his perceived roster security. His youth (age 25) and developmental stage offer upside potential, and his publicized offseason work shows professional commitment, but CVI reflects present contract value, not hope for future growth; a player fighting for a job while on a cheap rookie deal presents value only if he wins that battle and stays healthy. Over four years, Goncalves's deal remains cap-friendly and carries minimal downside risk for the organization, but without consistent performance and availability, he risks becoming a fungible depth piece rather than the franchise's answer at guard.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Matt's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Matt Goncalves is a second-year guard for the Indianapolis Colts, quietly emerging as one of the more reliable young interior linemen in the AFC South. At just 25, he earns a solid B+ grade, reflecting a player ahead of schedule in his development curve. His profile draws early comparisons to guards like Dalton Risner — dependable, technically sound, and ascending. Goncalves's availability has been his most impressive calling card this season, logging a 99.6 snap percentage against an NFL average of 72.0 — a figure that signals elite durability and coaching trust. For a second-year lineman to command that kind of deployment speaks volumes about his consistency and football IQ. The primary area to watch remains his ability to handle elite pass rushers in critical late-game situations, where young guards often show their developmental ceiling. With 33 career games already under his belt and a snap rate that rivals veteran starters, Goncalves is trending toward a legitimate long-term starter role in Indianapolis. If he continues refining his technique in pass protection, a jump to A-range grades is well within reach by year three. He's the kind of quiet cornerstone piece contending offensive lines are built around.

How Matt Compares at the Position

Matt Goncalves ranks 1st of 172 graded gs by performance. Matt grades out ahead of names like Ed Ingram (B).

Peers ranked by Performance grade among players at the same position. Tap any name for their full profile.

Current Sentiment

Recent headlines push Matt Goncalves's sentiment grade to a C, with Indianapolis's broader season shaping the read. The narrative around the 25-year-old second-year guard centers on a player fighting for roster relevance—one who's actively bulking up and publicly projecting confidence in year-two improvement, but whose position is under genuine threat from a recent Colts draft pick competing for the starting job. This creates a measured, cautiously optimistic local storyline, but it's far from the enthusiastic coverage reserved for proven commodities; media framing positions him squarely as a depth piece whose durability and availability have raised questions about his ability to capitalize on opportunities within the system. The gap between his B+ performance grade and C sentiment tells the real story: he's functional on the field, but the perception is one of conditional roster security—his modest two-game absence last season paired with reliability concerns have undercut what should have been a straightforward developmental arc. The Colts' recent offensive line signings (Josh Kreutz at center, Jalen Farmer at guard) only intensify that competitive pressure, signaling the organization isn't content betting heavily on Goncalves to hold down a starting spot. Bottom line: Goncalves enters 2026 as a player with something to prove, and the media is watching to see whether his offseason work translates into consistent production and health—without both, his narrative could slip from "developing prospect" to "fringe depth piece" rather quickly.