Colts add competition to offensive line, sign tackle Austin Howard

Stephen Holder | IndyStar

The Indianapolis Colts continued their sustained effort to bolster the offensive line Wednesday, signing free-agent offensive tackle Austin Howard, two league sources confirmed to IndyStar.

The move sets up a scenario where the Colts could have their most competitive offensive line in many years.

Howard spent 2017 with the Baltimore Ravens, where he started all 16 games. He has also spent time with Oakland (2014-2016) and the Jets (2011-2013). The 31-year-old Northern Iowa grad was signed as an undrafted free agent by Philadelphia in 2010 and saw action in four games during his rookie season. Terms of his deal were not disclosed.

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The 6-7, 330-pound lineman will join what looks to be a crowded group competing for the right tackle position in camp. Joe Haeg, Denzelle Good and Le'Raven Clark could also compete for the spot.

Any free agents signed from this point forward do not affect compensatory picks. The Colts have been deliberately postponing free-agent moves until the window for calculating compensatory picks closed, part of a strategy aimed at accumulating additional draft picks for 2019.

It’s anyone’s job at right tackle entering camp. Howard should compete with Joe Haeg, Denzelle Good and possibly Le’Raven Clark https://t.co/fsFuh1ONzX — Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) May 9, 2018

The Colts drafted offensive guards with two of their first three picks in April's NFL draft, selecting Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson sixth overall and Auburn's Braden Smith with the second of their four second-round picks.

If Nelson, Smith and Howard each ascend to the starting lineup this fall, the Colts would have three new starters out of five offensive-line spots. That's significant turnover, even in the ever-changing NFL, but it ensures quarterback Andrew Luck should have his best chance at being adequately protected for the first time in his career.

Follow Colts Insider Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.

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