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The Indianapolis Colts announced on Tuesday that the team has officially signed their 5th round selection (149th overall pick), Ball State offensive guard Danny Pinter:
It begins. Colts sign 5th-round pick OL Danny Pinter. He's due a four-year, $3.643m contract with a $348,696 SB under rookie wage scale.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) May 12, 2020
The 6’4”, 306 pound redshirt senior started all 12 games at right tackle for the Cardinals last season—earning All-MAC First-Team honors and was awarded the John Magnabosco Team Award (which is given annually to Ball State’s most outstanding player).
The South Bend, Indiana native was a tight end his first two seasons at Ball State (where he caught 9 receptions for 56 receiving yards and a touchdown) but since has converted to right tackle, where he has started 24 games for the Cardinals over the past two years.
The big man even rushed for a touchdown last season.
With shorter arms than the ideal NFL offensive tackle, Pinter is expected to kick into an interior role at either offensive guard or center with the Colts, but has impressive quickness and athleticism to get to the second level of defenses—and excels as a run blocker.
He could assume a ‘Joe Haeg’-like versatility role next season for the Colts offensive line.
Pinter is the first of the Colts’ nine draft picks to officially sign—although one of their 6th round picks, UMass cornerback Isaiah Rodgers posted signing his rookie contract on Monday (via his personal Instagram account)—which may be only held up by mere formalities at this point: