The Indianapolis Colts have the best guard in football in Quenton Nelson. However, he was snubbed for the top spot in the latest guard rankings.
If you ask any football fan who’s the best guard in the NFL, the overwhelming consensus will be Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts.
Many would even say that he’s the best linemen in football, tackles included. Since stepping foot in the NFL four seasons ago, he has consistently dominated and performed at an elite level.
However, for some reason, there’s been a ranking of the best guards in the NFL and Nelson finds himself on the list at a spot other than his rightful No. 1 position.
Sam Monson from PFF put the NFL’s guards in tiers and ranked them. Monson obviously had Nelson in Tier 1, but he ranked him at No. 2 behind Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys.
Lowest allowed pressures rates in pass protection among Guards since 2018
— PFF IND Colts (@PFF_Colts) April 26, 2022
1️⃣ Joel Bitonio: 2.7%
2️⃣ Joe Thuney: 2.8%
3️⃣ Kevin Zeitler: 3.0%
4️⃣ Quenton Nelson: 3.1% pic.twitter.com/wJW4IQR1pW
Quenton Nelson snubbed in latest guard rankings
Monson admits that when Quenton Nelson is at his best, he’s untouchable. However, he argues that due to injuries in the 2021 season, Nelson wasn’t at his best and allowed Zack Martin to claim the top spot.
The case for Nelson isn’t going to concede that easily though. This is the first time in Quenton Nelson’s career that he missed action and it was only four games.
In his 13 appearances this season, Nelson was still extremely dominant. He allowed just one sack and anchored an offensive line that produced the NFL’s leading rusher.
Additionally, Nelson’s pancake blocks that routinely go viral were still a thing. They were amplified by the Colts being featured on the in-season version of “Hard Knocks.”
Nelson also still made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team. If only the four missed games are what’s holding Nelson back from claiming his top spot, he’s earned the grace to still be ranked as the No. 1 guard in offseason lists.
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