Though much of the discourse about the left tackle situation has been focused on rookie Bernhard Raimann and veteran Matt Pryor, there’s another veteran offensive tackle who may need some more love as the team gears up for training camp.
One of the subtle moves the Colts made this offseason was signing veteran swing tackle Dennis Kelly just after the 2022 NFL draft. Kelly gives the Colts a versatile option to work at both right and left tackle with plenty of experience in his 114 games.
While Kelly is likely headed toward a depth role again, he performed extremely well during his limited work throughout the 2021 season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kelly allowed the second-lowest pressure rate among offensive tackles in 2021.
2. DENNIS KELLY, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Pressure Percentage: 2.23%
Kelly recorded only 179 pass-blocking snaps last season, but he still let up only four pressures — the fewest of any other tackle in the NFL. Of those four, three were quarterback hurries and one was a sack.
Having that kind of insurance can go a long way. The Colts are hoping one of Pryor or Raimann exceeds expectations and the offensive line returns to its status as one of the elite units in the NFL, but having Kelly there just in case he’s needed is huge.
The offensive line competition won’t start until the preseason, but Kelly should provide strong depth as a swing tackle on either side.
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