One player to watch is Pitt’s Matt Goncalves. The Cowboys brought him in for a pre-draft 3-visit earlier this month, a surprise to many. Cowboys Nation is firmly under the belief that the Cowboys will take an offensive lineman early in the draft. However, as Will McClay said in Dallas’ war room last year, this team has invested a lot of early round capital in the offensive line. At some point, you need to draw from the well elsewhere. The Cowboys seem to have covered their base on that front with a Matt Goncalves contingency plan.
Matt Goncalves provides a unique quality to the Cowboys, something the others above do not, swing tackle experience and capability. He can play both left tackle and right tackle. Both of those positions currently hold question marks on the Cowboys’ roster.
General information: Hailing from New York, Matt Goncalves has made notable strides in his academic and athletic career. In 2022, he was recognized on the All-ACC third team and named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team, showcasing his balance of sports and scholarship. Goncalves talent was evident early on, as he was named a Freshman All-American by the FWAA in 2020. A versatile athlete, he played basketball in high school. Academically, he has already earned a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice and is furthering his education by pursuing a second major in communication.
Physical profile: Wore #76, Matt Goncalves stands at a solid 6’ 6″ and carries a heavier frame at 327 pounds, surpassing the average offensive tackle weight. His wingspan and arm length are within the standard range for his position, though his hands are on the smaller side. Goncalves showcases a quick 40-yard dash time, indicating good speed, and his vertical jump suggests above-average explosive ability. However, his agility as measured by the 20-yard shuttle is slower, and his bench press numbers, while respectable, fall short of the average, pointing to areas where he could improve his overall athletic profile.
Playing history: Goncalves’ journey at Pitt began with a redshirt year in 2018, where he did not participate in any games. In the following years, he became a significant backup presence, primarily at left tackle in 2020 and right tackle in 2021. His versatility was on display in 2022 when he started the season at right tackle and transitioned to left tackle by the fourth week, even returning to right tackle for two games later in the season. By 2023, Goncalves had…
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