Colts sign a pair of free agent offensive tackles

We've talked a lot about the Colts and their offensive tackle situation over the past few weeks, so it seems fitting to talk about it some more today.  The Colts announced this afternoon that they have signed free agent offensive tackles Kevin Graf and Mitchell Van Dyk.

The moves add depth along the offensive line on the 90-man roster, an area that was really lacking in depth.  Despite the expanded rosters, the Colts had just eight linemen on the roster, so this move at least brings that up to ten.  They'll be adding more linemen through the draft and undrafted free agency, but they have the roster space to sign guys like Graf and Van Dyk as free agents to compete for depth spots.

Kevin Graf (6-6, 309 pounds) was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Southern California in 2014, and he spent time between their practice squad and active roster that year.  In 2015, he was with the team throughout the offseason and in training camp before being waived after the preseason ended.  At USC, he started in 38 games at offensive tackle, and in his senior season in 2013 he was named All-Pac 12 honorable mention.

Mitchell Van Dyk (6-7, 299 pounds) was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Portland State, but he was waived after shortly before the season started after working out with them in training camp.  In 2015, he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers but was injured in the preseason and was waived-injured, spending the entire year on the Steelers' injured reserve list.  At Portland State, he started 31 games and was named first-team Big Sky All-Conference as a senior in 2013.

The moves aren't the most exciting, but they are important in the sense that they add depth.  At the very least, they will be able to work with the team in the offseason and perhaps in training camp trying to fight for a roster spot, and for a team like the Colts looking for offensive linemen, it's never a bad idea to bring in more bodies to try to find guys who could stick around.