The Indianapolis Colts have already handled two important pieces of business this summer, but the biggest name still waiting on a new contract is Quenton Nelson.
Running back Jonathan Taylor and punter Rigoberto Sanchez both landed new deals, yet nothing has moved over the line with Nelson, the guard who has made the Pro Bowl in all eight of his seasons and remains one of the franchise’s defining players.
ESPN senior national NFL writer Jeremy Fowler reported that the sides are not exactly pushing this over the finish line right now.
"Talks are stagnant at the moment. Nelson preferred to sign a deal before training camp, which came and went.
Though discussions haven't intensified, the Colts could pursue a deal before Week 1 kicks off Sept. 13," Fowler wrote.
Fowler also laid out the kind of money Nelson would be chasing if a deal gets done.
"Nelson will likely need to be the highest-paid interior offensive lineman, which means topping Las Vegas Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum's three-year, $81 million deal ($27 million per year)," Fowler continued. "The highest-paid guard is the Tennessee Titans' Peter Skoronski at $25 million annually."
The Colts have been here before with Nelson. The last time his deal situation came up, they gave him a four-year, $80 million extension on Sept.
10, 2022. Any new agreement would again push the market higher.
Nelson brushed off the uncertainty earlier this offseason.
"It's really out of my control," Nelson said of his contract situation this offseason. "You know, that's with the people in this building and my agent, and worrying about it or thinking about it isn't going to help me accomplish any of my goals.
So, I leave that to them, and I'm just here. I'm all ball."
And the play still backs up the résumé. Nelson, now 30, was named a Second-Team All-Pro last season, one of six All-Pro honors in his career.
He gave up just one sack, the fifth time he’s allowed one or fewer in a season, and matched career highs with 15 pressures allowed and a 98.7 pass-block efficiency mark, according to Pro Football Focus. He also committed only two penalties, his fewest in a season.
With Nelson helping anchor the front, the Colts finished second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 27 and tied for 10th in yards per carry at 4.5.
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