Indianapolis Colts left guard Quenton Nelson is looking to bounce back from what most consider his worst season since entering the NFL.
However, the standards of Nelson’s worst season in the league are far better than the majority of guards across the NFL. It wasn’t pretty, allowing a career-high three sacks and 26 total pressures.
But considering what he’s done earlier in his career (three All-Pro selections), Nelson is viewed as a likely candidate for the Hall of Fame in the eyes of The 33rd Team.
He’s not quite in [Zack] Martin’s class yet, but Quenton Nelson also has played for inferior teams and still excelled.
“Some interior offensive linemen are unsung heroes,” Wilner said. “Not Nelson. He’s a three-time All-Pro in just five pro seasons, making the Pro Bowl each year. He even finished third for Offensive Rookie of the Year – which linemen do that?”
Earning First-Team All-Pro nods during his first three seasons, Nelson used to be on that list by himself as the only offensive lineman to do so since the merger. Extending that now to a player’s first five seasons, Nelson is joined by Larry Allen, Tony Boselli, Joe DeLamielleure, Russ Grimm, Zack Martin, Anthony Munoz and Joe Thomas.
That’s still not a bad list to be included. Allen, Boselli, DeLamielleure, Grimm and Munoz are all in the Hall of Fame. Thomas was eligible for the first time in 2023 and made it to the semi-finalist round while Martin is still active.
As long as Nelson’s production doesn’t fall off a cliff, and he gains one or two more All-Pro nods, he should find himself wearing a gold jacket when it’s all said and done.
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