NFL analyst Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports believes that the Indianapolis Colts “need” to re-sign veteran center and pending free agent Ryan Kelly this offseason.
“The quarterback also needs to be protected up front, and the Colts will need to re-sign (Ryan) Kelly to start.”
Kelly would play in 10 games last season, missing time with two separate injuries, which included a stint on injured reserve.
Over the last three seasons, Kelly has the fourth-lowest pressure rate allowed among centers, according to PFF’s metrics.
Last season in run-blocking grade, he ranked 25th, although Jonathan Taylor did eclipse the 125 yard mark in Weeks 16-18 when Kelly returned to the lineup from injury. Prior to that, Taylor had only rushed for over 100 twice in the previous five games without Kelly.
Since 2016, Kelly has been a mainstay in the Colts starting lineup and a team captain as well. However, Indianapolis does seem ready to go in a different direction.
For one, there doesn’t seem to be any sort of extension talks that have materialized over the last year between the two sides.
In addition to that, the Colts drafted Tanor Bortolini in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, and when called upon last season, the rookie held his own. Bortolini ranked 15th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and was 22nd out of 40 centers in run-blocking grade.
Kelly would even tell long-time beat reporter Mike Chappell recently that he’s ready to see “what’s out there” in free agency.
As good as Kelly has been, I wouldn’t include him in the “need” to re-sign category. This free agency period, I believe there is only one Colts player who fits into that category and it’s Will Fries.