Report: Colts Rumored to Be Interested in Alabama Center Ryan Kelly

According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, the Indianapolis Colts are strongly interested in University of Alabama center Ryan Kelly and plan to take a center early in this week’s upcoming NFL Draft:

"Indianapolis Colts: The love for Alabama’s Kelly is real, according to decision-makers I’ve talked to in Indianapolis,” writes Miller. “Sources on the coaching staff tell me they’re not set on taking an offensive tackle at any point in this draft and instead expect to go center and edge-rusher in some order with the first two picks.”"

The 6’4″, 311 pound center anchored the Crimson Tide offensive line, as a 3-year starter with 35 career starts. This past season, Kelly was named the Rimington Trophy Award Winner, which is given annually to the nation’s top center. Additionally, he was a consensus 1st-Team All-American selection.

There’s no question that Kelly was instrumental in paving the way for Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry‘s 2,219 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns at running back this past season.

Not only can Kelly play football at a high level, but he’s also seemingly smart. Specifically, he’s a 3x member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and finishes his time in college with a 3.75 GPA in Graduate Studies.

Currently, Kelly is rated as NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock’s #1 top rated center, as he’s among one of the best center prospects to come out in the past couple of years (via his NFL.com draft profile):

"DRAFT PROJECTIONRounds 1 or 2"

"NFL COMPARISONBryan StorkBOTTOM LINETenacious leader and three-­year starter for highly successful Alabama program that puts a heavy emphasis on physical and mental toughness. Kelly might not be a combine warrior, but when the pads are strapped, he plays with enough strength and athleticism to thrive in both gap and zone running schemes. While he could use more mass on his frame, Kelly has the necessary skill­ set and football intelligence to step in and challenge for a starting position right away."

For all intensive purposes, Kelly wouldn’t be a “sexy” pick for the Colts at #18 overall, but he would likely be a long-term starter for the team at offensive line while being able to step in and start from Day 1–which is a rare commodity:

Of course, since starting quarterback Andrew Luck‘s debut in 2012, the Colts have struggled finding stability at the center position. The team has shuffled through the likes of Samson Satele, A.Q. Shipley, Khaled Holmes, and Jonotthan Harrison, while even signing Phil Costa–who signed then abruptly retired.

Not to mention, the team passed on Dallas Cowboys stalwart center Travis Federick in the 2013 NFL Draft, who was taken at #31 overall by his current team, in favor of pass rushing bust Bjoern Werner at pick #24.

The former has gone on to become a 2x Pro Bowler and 2nd-Team All-Pro respectively, while the latter is still looking for an NFL job after his release earlier this offseason.

With centers such as Holmes and Harrison recently failing to solidify the position, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said that improving the interior offensive line was a “focal point“–specifically mentioning at center:

"“We want to shore up the middle there,” said Pagano at the NFL Combine. “We feel really good about Jack Mewhort and where he’s at and obviously his ceiling is still really high, and he’s got a lot of room to grow. He’s going to do nothing, but get better.”“Again, the interior of that offensive line, the center and two guards spots is the focal point.”"

Again, it’s not the flashiest pick, but Kelly may have the chance to make the greatest impact for the team in the short-term by being able to contribute and start immediately. Kelly is likely the equivalent of a sure-fire triple, even if he’s not quite a home run at pick #18 overall.

For a team that has burned 2 of its last 3 first round picks on the likes of Werner and Trent Richardson, that may not be a bad thing.

Kelly could really help anchor the Colts offensive line for the next decade.

Specifically, by giving the team the equivalent of the continuity and special play that their last great quarterback to center combination of Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday did for such an extended period of time:

Most importantly, it’s an opportunity for the Colts to make one of their weakest positions over the past few seasons into one of their core strengths while righting a previous wrong.