It’s tough to find the type of production that the Indianapolis Colts have received from offensive guard Quenton Nelson over the last two seasons.
The 24-year-old is entering his third season in the NFL and is already one of the top players in the league.
Nelson ranks as the second-best player in the NFL under the age of 25, according to Pro Football Focus.
π¨Top 10 NFL Players Under 25π¨
(According to Pro Football Focus)1. Patrick Mahomes
2. Quenton Nelson
3. Christian McCaffrey
4. Derwin James
5. Jamal Adams
6. Chris Godwin
7. Deshaun Watson
8. Lamar Jackson
9. Myles Garrett
10. Nick BosaThoughts?β€΅οΈ pic.twitter.com/OSZzUTLPia
— πΎπ€π£π£π€π§ β΄β°Β² (@MahomesToKelce) May 5, 2020
The only player higher on the list than Nelson is Super Bowl MVP and former NFL MVP Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Nelson is also the only offensive guard/tackle in the top 10 list, so that’s fairly impressive.
Who is Quenton Nelson?
Nelson was the former number six overall pick out of Notre Dame during the 2018 NFL Draft.
He was projected to be an elite talent out of college and immediately showed he was ready for the professional level.
Nelson started 16 games at left guard his rookie season and landed himself in the Pro Bowl after an incredible year.
He raised his grade from 79.4 as a rookie to 91.2 this past season, so Nelson is actually getting better.
His sophomore campaign was just as strong and he was named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season in 2019.
Nelson’s 88.8 grade over those two seasons combined is higher than all other interior offensive linemen in the league over that span.
He has played in all 32 games since joining the NFL and has placed himself into an elite category of offensive linemen.
Does Nelson Deserve to Be Ranked Second?
Nelson is ahead of some amazingly talented players on that list, but does he truly deserve it?
The quick answer is yes, after seeing what Nelson has done over the last two seasons.
π±π±π±… Quenton Nelson … That man has a family dude… pic.twitter.com/QLvh23qJGJ
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) November 11, 2018
After two seasons, Nelson is arguably the best offensive guard in the NFL right now.
Dallas Cowboys All-Pro offensive guard Zack Martin might give him a run for his money, but it’s basically a toss-up between them.
Last season, Nelson finished with a +91.2 grade overall, according to Pro Football Focus.
He is only behind Philadelphia Eagles three-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks who finished with a +92.9 grade last season.
Nelson didn’t give up a single sack last season and allowed only two quarterback hits the entire season through 16 games.
There is not another offensive guard or tackle under the age of 25 that is more deserving of this spot than Nelson.
Can Nelson Keep It Up?
The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league and Nelson appears to be the catalyst.
He only allowed 20 total pressures all season and committed just three penalties.
The scary part is, Nelson is only entering his third season in the NFL.
He can still improve his technique and learn each and every season.
It appears that the Colts have a perennial All-Pro for the next decade.
It should not be long before the front office is discussing giving Nelson a long-term extension.
His outstanding play has not gone unnoticed and he is well-deserving of being ranked as the second-best player under the age of 25.
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