In recent years, the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line has been one of the team’s greatest strengths. However, some big changes were made to that unit during the 2025 offseason after the rest of the NFL recognized the talent in Indianapolis.
The Colts lost two key offensive linemen in free agency, and both were poached by the same team. General Manager Chris Ballard was hesitant to pay up to re-sign veteran center Ryan Kelly and 2021 draft pick Will Fries. The Vikings were quick to jump on the opportunity to land the interior duo, as part of an aggressive $100 million push to solidify their offensive line.
After Minnesota’s season-opening win over the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, the Vikings clearly made the right choice. While Fries had a solid performance, Kelly was the real standout and was an absolute game-changer in the trenches. Based on Week 1 alone, Minnesota may have made one of the best free agent signings of the year.
Ex-Colts star Ryan Kelly was close to perfection in his first game with the Minnesota Vikings
Kelly has a long history in Indianapolis. Former GM Ryan Grigson selected him with the 18th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. Kelly started from Day 1 and was a mainstay on the offensive line for nine years. Until his exit, Kelly was the longest-tenured member of the Colts’ roster. During his time in Indianapolis, Kelly racked up four Pro Bowl and two second-team All-Pro selections.
Despite Kelly’s nearly decade-long career with the Colts, the team had real concerns over his age (now 32 years old) and injury history (missed seven games last year). Ultimately, Ballard chose not to re-sign Kelly after the 2024 season, opening the door for the Vikings.
Minnesota was instantly rewarded for its gamble as Kelly’s debut against a respectable Chicago defense was superb. Kelly’s Week 1 performance received a 76.4 PFF grade — third-highest on the team — including run- and pass-blocking scores of 74.5 and 78.8, respectively.
He also didn’t allow a single pressure all night against a pass rush that recorded the seventh-highest pressure rate in the league last season.
Kelly’s highlight reel against the Bears is a mesmerizing sight. On multiple occasions, he totally flattened a defensive lineman and gave rookie QB J.J. McCarthy much-needed time to complete a pass. Kelly’s rock-solid blocking was instrumental in moving the ball up the field, scoring touchdowns, and ultimately winning the game.
The Vikings signed Kelly to a two-year, $18 million deal. That means he’s just the eighth-highest paid center in the league this year. If Kelly keeps up this momentum and stays healthy, he could end up being a huge steal for Minnesota.
While Kelly turned back the clock against the Bears, the Indianapolis offensive line also had a great Week 1 performance, giving up just one sack against the Miami Dolphins. In fact, Kelly’s successor, 2024 fourth-rounder Tanor Bartolini, actually earned a higher PFF grade (subscription required) than him. His score of 77.6 was the fourth-highest among all centers.
The fact that Bartolini's only 23 years old — and still on his cheap rookie contract — makes him even more impressive.
At this point, both the Colts and Vikings should be feeling pretty good about their choices. There’s still a long way to go, but for now, this looks like a win-win situation.