Quenton Nelson

The Indianapolis Colts took Quenton Nelson sixth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The team's announcement said many considered him the best offensive lineman prospect to enter the NFL Draft in the last couple of decades [3].

Holmdel, Red Bank and the way to Notre Dame

Notre Dame's roster lists Holmdel, New Jersey as his hometown, while the Colts describe him as a native of Red Bank [6] [2]. A New Jersey profile gives Holmdel as his birthplace [7], and a sports database gives the same town and lists his nationality as United States [10]. He went to Red Bank Catholic High School [6].

Notre Dame: from scout team to captain

Nelson spent 2014 on the scout team and did not play in a game [6]. The next season he played in 12 games and started 11 at left guard. His offensive line was a finalist for the inaugural Joe Moore Award. He missed the Navy game on 10 October 2015 and most of the USC game a week later with an ankle injury [6].

In 2016 he started all 12 games. The university's roster page credits him with helping Josh Adams rush for more than 100 yards four times, including a career-best 180 yards at USC on 26 November [6]. That season he was a second-team All-American with both the AP and Sports Illustrated, and Notre Dame named him its Offensive Lineman of the Year [6].

As a senior in 2017 he was named Notre Dame captain and started all 13 games at left guard. He was also the university's 2017 Monogram Club Most Valuable Player [2]. That year he was a unanimous All-American and one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation's top interior lineman [2]. His college career ended with 36 starts in 37 games, all at left guard [2].

Sixth overall

The Colts took him sixth overall [3]. The team's announcement quoted NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, who wrote: "Elite guard prospect with outstanding size, rare power and a block finisher" [3]. The Colts list him at 6 feet 5 inches and 330 pounds, and he wears No. 56 [1].

A rookie season on the All-Pro teams

As a rookie, Nelson started all 16 games at left guard [8]. He was a first-team AP All-Pro, and The Sporting News and the PFWA also named him to their All-Pro and All-Rookie teams [8].

He was also the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Month for October, and the first guard in NFL history to earn that honour [8]. Nick Shook of NFL.com wrote that the Colts had chosen "the best lineman in the draft in Nelson, who immediately paid dividends while earning All-Pro honors" [8].

What analysts said after his first year

In June 2019 Doug Farrar's ranking put Nelson second among NFL guards after just one season. The Colts' article on the ranking quoted Farrar saying that Nelson was the most talented player in his draft class regardless of position [9].

Adam Schein of NFL.com wrote: "But here's my early prediction for Nelson: He'll be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame." [9]

Pro Bowls, All-Pro and Top 100 honours

The Colts' roster page lists Nelson as a Pro Bowl selection in each year from 2018 through 2026 [1]. The 2018 selection was his first, and made him the first rookie Colts offensive lineman to reach the Pro Bowl since 1983 [2]. He was a first-team AP All-Pro in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and a second-team pick in 2021 [1]. He was named a second-team All-Pro again in 2024 and 2025 [1].

In 2019 he was a first-team All-Pro by both the Associated Press and The Sporting News, and the PFWA named him to its All-NFL and All-AFC teams that year [2]. The PFWA also put him on its All-NFL team in 2020 [1].

The NFL's Top 100 Players list ranked him 29th in 2020, 33rd in 2021, 28th in 2022 and 99th in 2026 [1]. The Colts voted him one of their team captains for the 2022 season, along with Matt Ryan and Jonathan Taylor [1].

The 2022 contract extension

On Saturday, 10 September 2022, the Colts announced that Nelson had agreed to a contract extension that keeps him "in Indianapolis for the long term" [4]. Coach Frank Reich said that what makes Nelson special is how smart he plays and how instinctive he is [4].

The team's announcement did not give the money. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the deal was four years and $80 million, with $60 million guaranteed [5]. NFL.com wrote that it made Nelson the highest-paid guard in the league, and that he was scheduled to earn $13.75 million on his fifth-year option that season [5]. Dividing the total by four gives $20 million a year, though no source states that average. These terms come from 2022 reporting, and this page does not track later negotiations.