Ranking Colts biggest NFL draft gems of the last decade

1. Quenton Nelson

The biggest Colts draft gem is Quenton Nelson, who the team spent the sixth overall pick on in 2018. While everyone else was focused on the quarterbacks in the 2018 draft class, the Colts got an absolute steal in Nelson, who has been a mainstay at left guard.

During his six years in Indianapolis, Nelson has only missed four games so not only is he durable but he performs at a high level as well. In 2023, PFF gave Nelson an overall grade of 70.8 and he surrendered just one sack in 1,141 snaps.

To many, a sixth overall pick is expected to perform at this level but it's so hard with offensive linemen. You never know if they're going to translate to the pros or not but Nelson definitely has. He's reliable, plays well, and has been named to six Pro Bowls and has three All-Pro honors during his career.

If you had told Colts fans that Nelson would accomplish what he has when they made him the sixth overall pick in 2018, they 100% would have signed up for it. He's been a draft gem because he's lived up to his potential and then some.