Colts Star Next to 'Break the Bank' and Reset Market
· Yahoo Sports
The Indianapolis Colts are a team that believes in drafting and developing its own talent, relying on rookie contracts and sensible free-agent deals to fortify its roster, but with a few spikes around for star players.
When it's time to reward their building blocks, they do it.
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One of those players who has been rewarded previously is left guard Quenton Nelson, who was made the highest-paid guard in the league in 2022. Now 30 years old, it may be time for the Colts and Nelson to reset the market once again as Nelson enters the final year of his contract.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently listed the top player in the NFL at each position based on average annual value, and looked at who is up next to rival or best that figure. While examining the guard position, Barnwell looked at two options in the AFC South. First is Peter Skoronski of the Tennessee Titans, whose rookie contract is entering its final year. The other option is Nelson.
"If the Titans don't rush to pay Skoronski, though, Nelson should be able to beat his younger divisional opponent to the punch," Barnwell wrote. "Entering the final year of his four-year, $80 million extension, Nelson, 30, should be able to reset the guard market for a second time as a pro.
"The Colts are in a bit of a difficult cap situation after paying quarterback Daniel Jones and receiver Alec Pierce this offseason, but Nelson's ability to overwhelm defenders at the point of attack and pull as part of a diverse run game makes him absolutely essential for Shane Steichen's offense.
"Nelson is one of 16 players to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons. Every Hall of Fame-eligible player to accomplish that feat has already been enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Nelson will follow them one day. The Colts aren't in a position to let a player like him leave the building."
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As Barnwell mentioned, the Colts have already doled out a pair of high-priced internal contracts this offseason to Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, but there is hardly any issue paying others.
The Colts currently hold the seventh-most salary cap space at $31.6 million, according to OverTheCap.com. They're projected to have the seventh-most entering next offseason as well, with $69.8 million, and are still projected to have the 10th-most in 2028, with $165.3 million.
If the Colts want to do a mega extension with someone such as Nelson, they can do it.
Nelson, who already has one of the most decorated careers in Colts history with six All-Pros (three First-Team) and eight Pro Bowls, spoke about his contract situation last week.
"It's really out of my control," Nelson said. "You know, that's with the people in this building and my agent, and worrying about it or thinking about it isn't going to help me accomplish any of my goals. So, I leave that to them, and I'm just here. I'm all ball."