Danny

Pinter

Pinter suffered the injury during Thursday’s preseason finale against the Eagles. Pinter had been filling in for starting C Ryan Kelly this summer, who is just now returning from a foot injury. The 27-year-old’s loss will be a big hit to the Colts’ interior depth. He has made seven starts over the past three seasons, being active for 46-of-50 games in the process.

“That’s what you work for, and that’s what you want in this league. I’ve just got to earn it,” Pinter said. “There’s obviously an opportunity there, and that’s just kind of my approach: opportunities are what you make of it.” A fifth-round pick back in 2020, Pinter has mostly worked as the backup center, making three starts at that position last year, but the team is reportedly confident he can step up at guard following the departures of Mark Glowinski and Chris Reed in free agency. Even so, it would not be a surprise if the team adds some competition in the draft.

Pinter (6’4/306) was a two-year starting right tackle at Ball State after transitioning from tight end earlier in his collegiate career but he has been announced as a guard. Pinter’s tight end athleticism showed up to the NFL Combine where he tested in the 94th percentile with an impressive 4.94-second 40-yard dash. Pinter’s overall technique and awareness need development, but he earned first-team All-MAC honors in his second year on the offensive line and has the athletic traits to be a worthwhile project. Unfortunately, Pinter will already be 24 years old when his rookie season kicks off. The position change will be another obstacle to overcome.

Pinter (6’4/306) was a two-year starting right tackle at Ball State after transitioning from tight end earlier in his collegiate career but he has been announced as a guard. Pinter’s tight end athleticism showed up to the NFL Combine where he tested in the 94th percentile with an impressive 4.94-second 40-yard dash. Pinter’s overall technique and awareness need development, but he earned first-team All-MAC honors in his second year on the offensive line and has the athletic traits to be a worthwhile project. Unfortunately, Pinter will already be 24 years old when his rookie season kicks off. The position change will be another obstacle to overcome.

Pinter (6’4/306) was a two-year starting right tackle at Ball State after transitioning from tight end earlier in his collegiate career but he has been announced as a guard. Pinter’s tight end athleticism showed up to the NFL Combine where he tested in the 94th percentile with an impressive 4.94-second 40-yard dash. Pinter’s overall technique and awareness need development, but he earned first-team All-MAC honors in his second year on the offensive line and has the athletic traits to be a worthwhile project. Unfortunately, Pinter will already be 24 years old when his rookie season kicks off. The position change will be another obstacle to overcome.

In his list of potential tackles who will move to guard, many of the candidates are based on the quickness. In Pinter’s case, it’s based on his measurements, as the 6-foot-4, 306-pound offensive lineman just doesn’t have the length you typically see in starting bookends. “Pinter switched from tight end to offensive tackle only a couple of years ago and still retained some of those movement skills despite packing on the mass,” Renner writes. “He has no problem cutting off linebackers at the second level or leading out to the edge.” The analyst does note that his play strength isn’t elite, but that has improved “dramatically” in the past few years. Expect to see Pinter off the board late on Day 2 or early on Day 3; with Renner giving him a Round 4 grade.

Compared to many of the other tackles in this draft class Pinter (6'4/306) was a late-comer, as has only been two seasons since he made the switch from tight end. The athleticism is there, but the inexperience at tackle makes Pinter more of a developmental prospect at this point in his career. “He faces an uphill battle, but has developmental potential that could interest zone-scheme teams at either guard or center,” Zierlein wrote about Pinter, who could be a late-Day 3 selection next month.

Pinter (6'4/306) came through with the second-fastest 40 among combine linemen running on Friday, trailing only Iowa athletic superhero Tristan Wirfs (4.85 seconds). The Ball State tackle additionally logged 24 reps on the bench press, 29.5 inches in the vertical jump and 9-foot-2 in the broad jump. The former tight end remains raw on the technical front, but could potentially squeak in as a Day 3 pick in April for a pro team looking for a developmental dart throw.

Pinter (6'4/255) managed a career receiving line of 9-56-1 in two active years with the Cardinals. Just how far along he is in his positional switch remains to be seen, as he entered the spring as a limited participant. His 2017 season was cut short by an undisclosed injury sustained against Central Michigan on Oct. 21, hence the cautious approach from the team.