Interest from the Indianapolis Colts in more offensive line depth is crystal clear.
are clearly in the market for offensive line depth after a scheduled Zoom meeting with Memphis Tigers tackle Travis Burke. This is the second time the team has met with Burke, which proves the Colts could be gearing up to pick him next week.
This will be the Colts' second meeting with Burke, who they held an NFL Combine formal with.Burke played three seasons in FBS, starting his career with Florida International in Conference USA for two years. He'd find his way to the Memphis Tigers to conclude his collegiate career.
Burke is absolutely monstrous. Based on his NFL Combine profile, he stands a mountainous 6'9' and weighs 325 pounds. It just so happens he's also a freak athlete, proven by his Relative Athletic Score. This, of course, is the calling card for what general manager Chris Ballard seeks in draft prospects.
Travis Burke is a OT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.03 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 157 out of 1606 OT from 1987 to 2026.
Burke played 11 games for the Tigers in 2025 and put up excellent grades per Pro Football Focus, displaying his versatility as a lineman. The Tigers' enforcer in the trenches posted an offensive grade of 84.5, a run-blocking grade of 84.2, and a pass-blocking grade of 81.5. Burke also allowed three sacks on 429 pass-blocking snaps. This equates to one sack every 143 passing snaps played, which is a positive metric.
The Colts are heading into the NFL draft next week with big needs at defensive end, linebacker, wide receiver, and potentially safety. However, if we take a look at the depth tackles behind Bernhard Raimann and Jalen Travis, it could use a boost from a player like Memphis' Travis. Blake Freeland, Jack Wilson, Luke Tenuta, and Bayron Matos occupy the depth offensive tackle positions. Freeland has been underwhelming when on the field in a relief role, and is also coming off a brutal leg fracture in the preseason that took away his 2025 campaign. Tenuta filled in nicely in very limited action while filling in for Raimann. However, he left a lot to be desired as a run blocker in an offense that needs to establish the ground attack. As for Wilson and Matos, they've never played meaningful snaps and can't be entrusted as insurance policies on the edges of the offensive line.
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Memphis offensive lineman Travis Burke speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images Burke is projected as a Day 3 pick, which is perfect for Indianapolis. Given Ballard's past draft trends, it's highly likely that he trades back, possibly twice, to recoup more than seven picks. Seeing how Raimann and former Colts tackle Braden Smith sustained injuries, it's critical to have reliable backups in place for offensive line coach Tony Sparano, Jr. to turn to when it matters most. Burke is perfect for this role, and adding him would mean that he can compete with the likes of Freeland and Tenuta to develop, and possibly become a reliable swing tackle.
Anything can happen on draft day, especially with a team like the Colts, who need to fill several different roster holes. We'll see if the interest from Indianapolis in Burke transitions into a selection next week when the time comes.Drake Wally is a co-deputy editor of Indianapolis Colts on SI. His works have also appeared on Bleacher Report, MSN, Yahoo, and SBNation. He also co-hosts the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2026 NFL draft, position by position: Why offensive line help is critical for the EaglesThree of the five players along the line have long-term injury concerns or could be nearing retirement. If healthy, the O-line is still a force, but it's time to start considering backfills.
Read more »
Iowa Hosting Towering WCC Transfer Andrew McKeever on Official VisitSaint Mary's transfer Andrew McKeever could be Ben McCollum and Iowa's first transfer acquisition of the offseason.
Read more »
Seahawks Met With Potential Day 2 Offensive LinemanMore competition on the Seahawks' offensive line would benefit the unit.
Read more »
Why ASU Offensive Line Recruiting Quietly Becoming EliteArizona State’s O-line recruiting is rising fast under Dillingham and Tuitele, quietly building a tough, elite foundation in the trenches.
Read more »
Broncos 2026 NFL Draft position preview: Offensive line is a sneaky needParker joined The Denver Post in September 2022 after covering the Broncos for USA Today. Before that, he spent five years covering Nebraska football and athletics for the Lincoln Journal Star. He's a New Glarus, Wisconsin native and a University of Wisconsin graduate.
Read more »
Cardinals Eying Alabama OT With Pre-Draft MeetingThe Arizona Cardinals are doing some serious homework along the offensive line.
Read more »