The Indianapolis Colts selected Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft. Some said that this was too high in the draft to take any offensive guard.
On Saturday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Colts gave Nelson a new four-year deal averaging $20 million per year, with $60 million guaranteed. Some will say that this is too much to give any offensive guard.
These people have not watched this offensive guard.
Through four NFL seasons, per Pro Football Focus, Nelson has allowed a total of four sacks, 17 quarterback hits, and 53 quarterback hurries in 2,521 pass-blocking snaps. Even in a 2021 season that saw him dealing with his own injuries, and injury-related deficits along the Colts’ front five, he gave up just one sack, six quarterback hits, and eight quarterback hurries in 448 pass-blocking snaps. And that was with Carson Wentz and his theater of randomness under center. With Matt Ryan now entrenched as the Colts’ quarterback, and Nelson fully healthy, you can expect a return to form.
Before Nelson’s deal, Brandon Scherff of the Jacksonville Jaguars was the NFL’s highest-paid guard, with $16.5 million in gross contract income on a three-year, $49.5 million contract with $30 million guaranteed. Nelson’s deal sets a new market, but why is he worth this much scratch, as he was ostensibly worth the sixth pick in his draft? Through pro football history, only 12 players playing guard have ever been selected with the fifth overall pick or higher.
In Nelson’s case, it’s his ability to do everything required of his position, at an impossibly high level. When you have a player of this caliber at a crucial position, you want him wrapped up with what he deserves.