Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard make AP All-Pro Team

The Colts are in the playoffs now, and some of their players are getting some end of the year recognition. And two rookies just made Colts history.

Since 1965, only one set of rookie teammates has made an All-Pro team. Those teammates were Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. That is no longer the case. The Colts have changed that course. Darius Leonard and Quenton Nelson were both named to the AP All-Pro team today.

Nelson has been outstanding all year long, not missing a single snap. He was also named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie as well. Everyone has seen the value that he brings to the offensive line and know that he is going to be a key cog on that line for years to come.

Leonard was an absolute beast this season as well. He led the league in tackles with 163, and that was with missing the New England game due to injury. But he was snubbed from the Pro Bowl, and he let everyone know how angry that made him.

All-Pro teams are more prestigious than Pro Bowls for this exact reason. Fans don’t get to vote for who makes the All-Pro team. It is just football writers who are around the game and who have watched all of the teams play. They know who is deserving.

This should not be the last All-Pro team that either player makes in his career. Both players look like they are stars already and should anchor the Colts for years. The Colts are lucky they are this good this early while under their rookie deals so they don’t eat up the salary cap.

That’s what makes this team so intriguing moving forward. They have a ton of cap space to use next year to improve on an already really good team. This team could be scary for the next few years.