The Denver Broncos may have a chance to shore up their offensive line before the November 10 NFL trade deadline, and Quenton Nelson is suddenly one of the biggest names in the mix.
Nelson, the Indianapolis Colts’ standout guard, has been linked to Denver as the Colts sort through major decisions on several veterans. ESPN reported that NFL teams are looking into possible trades involving Indianapolis players such as Nelson, Jonathan Taylor and DeForest Buckner, though the Colts have not committed to moving Nelson.
For Denver, the attraction is obvious. Nelson is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro, and he has stayed with the Colts since they took him sixth overall in the 2018 draft. At 30, he is still playing at a high level and remains one of the NFL’s top interior offensive linemen.
The numbers back that up. Pro Football Focus gives Nelson an 86.6 overall grade this season, which ranks third among 74 qualifying guards. He also sits third in pass blocking at 81.9 and fourth in run blocking at 83.4, while not allowing a sack over 468 offensive snaps.
That kind of production would fit what Denver needs on offense, especially in front of quarterback Bo Nix and in the run game. In a recent Broncos On SI analysis, Chad Jensen listed Nelson as one of five realistic trade targets who could help Denver’s postseason push, and he floated a second-round pick as a possible price, though that was his estimate rather than a reported ask.
The contract side matters too. Nelson is in the last year of a four-year, $80 million extension, so any team trading for him would likely have to think about another costly deal if it wants to keep him beyond 2026.
For now, Denver remains a team to watch as the deadline nears.
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Sean Paytons comments afterward only reinforced the idea that Mims is headed for a bigger role in the passing game. The Broncos coach said the team needs to get him more touches on offense and made clear that is the plan, while also stressing how much special teams still matters to the way Denver wins games. For a player whose impact can show up in multiple phases, that kind of usage could become a recurring theme. [Read more 🡒]