Colts training camp countdown: offensive investment

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates with guard Quenton Nelson (56) and center Ryan Kelly (78) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium — Nov. 5, 2023.

Three players on the Indianapolis Colts were listed among the top five players at their respective positions, according to Pro Football Focus, including center Ryan Kelly, left guard Quenton Nelson, and star running back Jonathan Taylor.

Taylor was listed as the NFL’s third best tailback, behind 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey and Ravens’ Derrick Henry. In 10 games last season, he finished with 741 rushing yards, scored seven rushing touchdowns and added a receiving TD. Taylor racked up 188 rushing yards in the regular season finale, which was the second-most rushing yards in a single game by any player in 2023. In the final two games, he produced 12 of the Colts 14 carries which gained over 10 yards, including a 49-yard TD against the Texans. The Colts begin the 2024 regular season with a grudge match against the AFC South rival Houston Texans.

Taylor is one of the foundational, essential, core pieces for the Colts to have a successful campaign. He is three years removed from a historic 2021 campaign, when he set numerous franchise records, including the most rushing yards in a single game (253), most total touchdowns (five) in a single game, most rushing yards in a single-season (1,811), most rushing TDs (18) and most total TDs (20) in a single-season.

Kelly was ranked the fourth best center in the league — behind Chiefs’ Chris Humphrey, Lions’ Luke Ragnow, and Ravens’ Tyler Linderbaum — per PFF. The 31-year-old has earned four Pro Bowl selections in the last five years and was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2020. He allowed just one sack last season and his seven pressures in 534 pass block opportunities were the fewest among all centers who played at least 500 snaps last season. Kelly was a member of the NFLPA executive committee and expressed ambitions to push back the NFL offseason workout program closer to the start of training camp to ramp up.

Nelson was ranked the second best guard in football, behind Cowboys’ Zack Martin. Nelson became the first player in franchise history to earn six Pro Bowl nods in his first six seasons. He made First-team All-Pro in three consecutive seasons from 2018-20, followed by a Second-Team All-Pro honor in 2021. He’s drawn three or less holding penalties in each of the last three seasons. His 80.3 pass block grade was the fourth-highest score among qualified guards in 2023. Perhaps Nelson may become the next Colt to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.

The Colts have invested $70.9 million of its salary cap to its offensive line before the 2024 season, which is the second-most money allocated to the o-line in the league, according to Over The Cap. Indianapolis returns an electric offense choreographed by head coach Shane Steichen. With a full offseason program dedicated to mastering the run-pass-option, the Colts tailback tandem may emerge as one of the leagues’ most dangerous duos. Players have to report for training camp on July 24.