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Colts: Power ranking 5 most important players to Indy’s Super Bowl hopes

By Kristen Wong

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 27: Jack Doyle #84, Marlon Mack #25 and Quenton Nelson #56 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrate after Mack ran for a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 27: Jack Doyle #84, Marlon Mack #25 and Quenton Nelson #56 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrate after Mack ran for a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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Quenton Nelson
Quenton Nelson. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

4. Quenton Nelson

How do you describe a 24-year-old lineman who is already the best at his position?

Generally, when linemen come into the league from college, they’re either great athletes or great technicians, but rarely both. Enter Quenton Nelson. He can just as easily put somebody on their rear and pancake him as he can recognize a blitz out of nowhere and use his athleticism to demolish his opponent. It’s the kind of highlight reel stuff you love to see from a lineman.

Ever since the Colts used the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to select Nelson out of Notre Dame, he’s been on an absolute tear for Indy. He’s played in every single game across three seasons, earning All-Pro honors each year. He’s just one of two players in the last three decades to achieve that feat, with the former being Barry Sanders.

And get this crazy stat: according to Pro Football Focus, Nelson has only allowed three sacks on 1,946 pass-blocking snaps in his first three seasons. His opponents should be scared. Very scared.

And Carson Wentz should be very, very happy. Nelson’s performance will be key to Indy’s Super Bowl chances since he’s one of the biggest (literally and metaphorically) reasons the Colts boast an elite offensive line. There isn’t a single positive adjective used to describe an offensive lineman that doesn’t also describe Nelson. The only question is whether the Colts will someday move him to left tackle following the retirement of Anthony Castonzo. What isn’t up for debate? The fact that Nelson is just so good. Expect his dominant form and presence to drive the Colts’ Super Bowl chase.

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