The Indianapolis Colts have shown their talent evaluation is through the roof given how many young contributors they have on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is no different in this regard.
Everyone has come to know the household name that is Quenton Nelson, the pancake master. But another young offensive lineman got some recognition from The Athletic on their “All-Under 25 Squad” entering the 2020 season.
Both Nelson and right tackle Braden Smith were the only Colts to make the list—Darius Leonard turned 25 years old before the cut off date in Week 1.
OFFENSIVE LINE
OT1: Orlando Brown Jr., BaltimoreOT2: Braden Smith, Indianapolis
OG1: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis
OG2: Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay
C: Erik McCoy, New Orleans
Our linemen have combined to play 127 of 128 possible games in their young careers. Nelson’s highlight videos are as good or better than the ones for players at the glamor positions. He and Brown have already earned Pro Bowl honors. Colts coach Frank Reich called Smith the “best-kept secret” in the league, a nod to Smith’s excellence while working in Nelson’s shadow.
Nelson has already made quite the name for himself after earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods in each of his first two seasons. What’s scary is it seems he’s only getting better.
But Smith is a name that mostly only Colts fans will know. He was drafted as a guard in 2018 but when the Colts needed reinforcements on the edge, he gave it a shot at right tackle. He impressed and has been the starter ever since that Week 5 primetime game against the Patriots.
Smith is one of the bright up and coming right tackles in the game and has a chance to truly break out in 2020 if he continues to develop his consistency as a pass blocker.
The Colts have a talented young squad entering the 2020 season and these two will be ushering a new era in Indy for the future.