Dalton Tucker

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Colts secured solid value with Dalton Tucker's three-year, $2.9M deal, earning a C+ CVI that reflects smart depth building at guard. At just $1.0M annually with minimal guaranteed money ($0.2M), Indianapolis is taking a calculated gamble on a young lineman who can compete for a starting role without breaking the bank. The contract structure heavily favors the team, with essentially no downside risk given the low guarantee — if Tucker doesn't develop, they can move on cleanly after year one. For a franchise still building its offensive line foundation, this represents the type of low-cost, high-upside bet that championship contenders make in the trenches. While Tucker may not be a franchise-caliber talent yet, the financial flexibility this deal provides allows the Colts to allocate resources elsewhere while still addressing interior line depth. This C+ CVI reflects a prudent investment in a position where competent depth often makes the difference between playoff runs and early exits.

Performance Analysis

Dalton Tucker grades out as a below-average guard at this stage of his career, a D+ performance mark that reflects the gap between his flashes of situational impact and the consistency required to hold down a legitimate starting role. The most compelling data point in his favor is availability — Tucker appeared in all 16 games this season, which matters enormously for an offensive lineman operating as a depth piece on a team that has been active in reshaping its roster heading into the offseason. His most notable moment was a clutch leverage penalty that directly contributed to a Colts victory, the kind of heady, technically sound play that earns genuine respect from coaches and beat writers alike, but isolated moments of craftiness do not offset the broader performance concerns that land him in this grade range. The critical weakness is durability reliability: a shoulder injury forced him off the field mid-game, and for an interior lineman whose value is predicated on physicality and staying power, that kind of exit raises legitimate questions about whether he can hold up as a full-time starter. At 26 and in just his second NFL season as an undrafted player, Tucker is exactly what the mediaFraming suggests — a feel-good depth story who has overperformed modest expectations rather than a lineman the Colts can confidently build around. Recent roster moves, including releasing guard Bill Murray and extending offensive tackle Luke Tenuta, hint at continued shuffling along the line, which could open a door for Tucker or just as easily signal the organization is searching for a more reliable answer at his position. The honest takeaway is that Tucker is a solid depth piece with some intriguing moments on his tape, but the shoulder concern combined with his performance grade makes projecting him into a cornerstone role an overreach at this point.