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PFF’s (Near) End of Year Evaluation on Ryan Kelly: ‘Safe, Solid Player at Minimum’

By Luke Schultheis

Nov 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) high fives center Ryan Kelly (78) during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) high fives center Ryan Kelly (78) during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to Pro Football Focus, the Indianapolis Colts Ryan Kelly graded out rather favorably, as part of their (near) season end evaluation of all of last year’s 31 first round draft picks.

Specifically, the Colts rookie center has only allowed 3 QB hits and still surrendered 0 sacks on the season–performing at least as one of the league’s better rookies overall:

"18. Ryan Kelly, C, Colts (Alabama)Snaps: 947PFF overall grade: 81.2Ryan Kelly still hasn’t surrendered a sack this season, and has only been the cause of Andrew Luck hitting the turf three times, with two of those three hits coming in the first four weeks. His run blocking has been a little more inconsistent, but Kelly has been—at minimum—a safe, solid player in his first season."

For a Colts franchise that has played musical chairs at center since drafting starting quarterback Andrew Luck in 2012–featuring the likes of Samson Satele, Mike McGlynn, A.Q. Shipley, Khaled Holmes, and Jonotthan Harrison, Kelly’s arrival has finally given the Colts much needed stability at the position.

Dec 24, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly (78) snaps the ball to quarterback Andrew Luck (12) during a NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly (78) snaps the ball to quarterback Andrew Luck (12) during a NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

While the Colts offensive line has collectively struggled this season in pass protection, it doesn’t appear as though that’s through any fault of Kelly’s play, as the rookie center has been rock solid for the team–starting in all 15 games this season.

The hope is that with Kelly anchoring the middle of their offensive line and continuing to grow and improve–as he’s only a rookie, that the Colts could eventually become one of the league’s better pass protecting units, especially if fellow rookies Joe Haeg and Le’Raven Clark can continue to develop.

There’s no question that the Colts have had great misfortune  with their recent first round picks including Bjoern Werner (2013), the Trent Richardson trade in 2014, and the verdict still out on Phillip Dorsett (2015). As such, Kelly appears to be the franchise’s best 1st round selection since Luck was taken with the 1st overall pick back in 2012–and it’s not particularly close.

Hopefully, his rookie season was simply a sign of even better things to come after such an impressive inaugural campaign for the Colts 23 year old starting center.

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