Quenton Nelson remains one of the NFL’s most respected offensive linemen. He is still viewed as one of the best guards in football.
ESPN released its ranking of the league’s top interior offensive linemen, based on voting from NFL executives, coaches and scouts, and Nelson came in at No. 2. That is a strong reminder that even as the Colts have gone through years of quarterback changes, offensive inconsistency and roster turnover, Nelson’s status around the league has barely moved.
That should not be
surprising. Nelson has been one of the most consistent players in the league since the Colts drafted him sixth overall in 2018. He has made the Pro Bowl in all eight of his NFL seasons and has earned multiple All-Pro selections. For a position that does not always get the same attention as quarterback, receiver, edge rusher or cornerback, that level of yearly recognition says a lot.
The interesting part is that Nelson could reasonably be ranked No. 1. This is not a group with one obvious superstar standing above everyone else. There are several excellent interior offensive linemen in the league, and the difference between the top few players is small. Nelson’s case comes down to consistency, reliability and the fact that his down years are still better than most players’ good years.
He may not always have the same highlight-reel dominance he had early in his career, but he remains a high-end run blocker, a steady pass protector and the tone-setter for the Colts’ offensive line. More importantly, he rarely gives Indianapolis a poor performance. That’s the most important when evaluating offensive linemen, where the best players are often defined by how little they allow to go wrong.
For the Colts, Nelson’s continued presence near the top of these rankings is significant. The offense is entering another season with pressure on the quarterback position, and the team will need the line to be one of its strengths. Nelson gives Indianapolis a reliable foundation on the interior, especially alongside Bernhard Raimann.
The No. 2 ranking is fair. The No. 1 spot would have been fair too.
At this stage of his career, Nelson’s biggest argument is not that he is dramatically better than every other guard or center in football. It is that he has been great for so long, with so few dips, that ranking him at the top is always defensible.
