Projecting Colts' 2018 starting offensive line

INDIANAPOLIS – The following statement is going to shock you:

The Colts have the makings of a formidable offensive line.

It might seem a bold statement at first glance. But once the shock wears off and you consider its merits, you might come to realize something: It’s true.

That’s the difference Quenton Nelson makes in the Colts’ offensive line. Yes, he’s but one piece, but he is a transformative piece. The Colts’ No. 6 overall selection in the first round of the NFL Draft should have implications for this line for years to come.

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Colts coach Frank Reich described Nelson as a playmaker, despite his status as an interior offensive lineman. Nelson is so good, so versatile, so athletic, that he opens up all manner of options for the Colts’ offense.

A player like Nelson makes players around him better. That’s a boost for Ryan Kelly. That’s a boost for Anthony Castonzo. It’s a boost for Marlon Mack and the backfield, too. It even helps Reich as a play caller to know he can dial up a play that might put Nelson in a difficult position, but do so with the trust that Nelson can make the play.

So, with Nelson now aboard, let’s take an early look at what the Colts’ offensive line might look like this fall:

>> Left tackle: Anthony Castonzo

Castonzo had a rough start to 2017. His first six quarters of the season were hardly memorable, as he struggled in matchups with Robert Quinn and Chandler Jones. But then something unique happened: Castonzo bounced back and steadily improved, becoming far and away the Colts’ best lineman.

This is an area where Castonzo admits to having struggled in the past. He has often let bad plays linger, running afoul of one of football’s most important unwritten rules of moving on to the next play. With Castonzo, one bad play has so often begat another, and so on. That finally changed in 2017, and it’s a great indicator that Castonzo – mentally – is back on track.

The Colts are quite pleased with his performance and appear content to have Castonzo under contract for two more seasons.

>> Left guard: Quenton Nelson

This is where you play Nelson. It’s where he played at Notre Dame and it’s where he seems most comfortable. There’s no reason to ask him to move to right guard. It only makes sense to put one of your best players in position to do what he does best. For Nelson, that means playing left guard.

The addition of Nelson on the left side could have real implications for the Colts’ running game. Castonzo can be a physical run blocker, and Nelson is as violent a run blocker as you’ll find. This gives Reich the ability to call power run plays to the offense’s left side with confidence, knowing he’s got two of his most physical linemen positioned to make plays ahead of the running backs.

With Nelson penciled in here, the Colts are about to enjoy about as big an upgrade as you’ll find anywhere in the NFL this season. They are going from undrafted Jeremy Vujnovich, who played every single snap of 2017 at left guard, to a projected All-Pro in Nelson.

That’s quite the step up.

>> Center: Ryan Kelly

The Colts have now spent two first-round picks in a span of three drafts on offensive linemen. Kelly was the team’s 2016 first-round choice, selected 18th overall that year. His rookie season was extremely promising. But Kelly had a difficult sophomore season, and he’s looking to atone for it in 2018. From a preseason foot injury that required surgery to his late-season concussion that sidelined him for the final four games, Kelly wants to forget 2017.

He's now healthy and fully involved in offseason workouts, so the Colts have reason to be optimistic about his prospects this season.

>> Right guard: Matt Slauson

Some will read this projection and immediately pose this question: What about Jack Mewhort? Well, let’s talk about Mewhort. He’s a talented player, for sure, but whether the Colts will see a vintage Mewhort this season is still very much up in the air.

Mewhort’s history of knee injuries cannot be ignored. He has finished each of the past two seasons on injured reserve and has admitted he has work to do to establish himself as a candidate to start for the Colts. There's a reason Mewhort had no market as a free agent: Because teams were extremely wary about his health. To pencil him in as a starter right now is short-sighted, at best.

Which brings us to Slauson, who was signed last month to a one-year deal. Yes, he’s 32. And, yes, he missed nine games last season with a torn biceps. But Slauson has been a very, very durable player in his career and is a tone setter with his toughness. He’s a good addition for a young offensive line and his experience will allow him to step in and be a capable stopgap option in 2018.

Right tackle: Joe Haeg

This one is highly debatable. You might prefer to see Denzelle Good get the nod. Maybe you’d like to see Le’Raven Clark have another crack at the job. But Haeg has a couple things going for him. For one, he’s been the more durable guy compared with Good. He also has more good film to his credit than either of the other two candidates, who can play well in stretches but not consistently. But Haeg is not an ideal offensive tackle, either. He lacks the athleticism to keep pace with the league’s more freakish edge rushers, and that means he’s limited.

Bottom line: Look for this spot to be closely scrutinized come training camp.