The Indianapolis Colts' 2025 season turned quite sour by the end. The team began 7-1, but due to various reasons, Indy lost its last seven games and missed the playoffs. Again. On Saturday, though, fans got some happy news.
Left guard Quenton Nelson, an absolute future Pro Football Hall of Famer, was named Second-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press. Was this a surprise? Not at all, but at least one Colts player got his flowers for a rollercoaster of a season.
Nelson has been named to the AP's All-Pro teams six times in his eight seasons. He was First-Team All-Pro from 2018 through 2020, and has been Second-Team in 2021, 2024, and this season. His six nods are the most in franchise history for a guard.
Indianapolis Colts left guard Quenton Nelson named Second-Team All-Pro
As far as his ever-growing Hall of Fame credentials, he has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons, and he arguably could have been named First- or Second-Team All-Pro in each of those years as well.
Nelson is now 29 years old, but the Indianapolis Colts have a huge question to ask about him soon. He will be 30 before the 2026 season begins, and the final year of his current deal is next year. He has no guaranteed money for 2026, though he will almost certainly return. His cap hit is $24 million.
As good as Nelson has been during his career, there is no reason to think he will quickly diminish in terms of efficiency. Players do tend to drop in that facet quickly after 30 years of age, but Indy should feel the need to extend the left guard, potentially in the coming offseason. That isn't something general manager Chris Ballard normally does, but Nelson could be an outlier.
Giving Nelson a three-year extension that pays him around his current annual average of $20 million shouldn't be a question the team asks itself, but simply does. Having Quenton Nelson as part of the Indianapolis Colts' offensive line is going to be needed for future success. One day, he will retire, of course, but when he does, his next step will be being enshrined in Canton.