NFL analyst believes the Colts need to extend a veteran player ahead of the 2024 season
The 2024 season is right around the corner, with the Indianapolis Colts reporting for Training Camp on July 24th. Aaron Schatz of ESPN shared the one move each NFL team needs to do before Training Camp begins. And he thinks that move for the Colts is to extend one of their own. Ryan Kelly Although Kelly […]
The 2024 season is right around the corner, with the Indianapolis Colts reporting for Training Camp on July 24th.
Aaron Schatz of ESPN shared the one move each NFL team needs to do before Training Camp begins. And he thinks that move for the Colts is to extend one of their own.
Ryan Kelly
Although Kelly is 32, he still ranked ninth among starting centers in pass block win rate (94.1%) a season ago. There's no clear heir apparent on the roster, so now would be a good time to get Kelly locker up for another couple of seasons
– Aaron Schatz
Last season was a big rebound year for Ryan Kelly and the Colts offensive line. They returned to being one of the best offensive lines in football. It's simply a fact that the Colts' offensive line is better with Kelly on the field than off.
But the Colts will likely have to make a tough decision soon with Kelly and Will Fries set to become free agents after the upcoming season. Which is why I actually disagree with Schatz about this take.
I personally think it would be wiser for the Colts to wait and see which of Kelly or Fries is a better fit for the team long-term. For example, if they extended Kelly now, they would lose the ability to choose between the two later because it is very unlikely that they will extend both due to LT Bernhard Raimann's big contract extension looming.
Waiting would allow the Colts to see how this season plays out with Kelly and Fries, as well as getting to watch their young lineman develop, such as Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini, to see if either or both can be future replacements for Kelly and/or Fries. Options are a good thing to have, and when it comes to Kelly, I think the Colts need to wait and see how this season goes first before extending a 32-year-old center who is just a year removed from his season full of regression in 2022.
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Training Camp is right around the corner for the Indianapolis Colts. The team's veterans and rookies are set to report on July 24th. For a lot of players Training Camp is the chance to cement their place with the team for the upcoming season. But there are three players especially who need a strong Training Camp and […]
