Colts, Nelson sign extension reportedly worth record $80M over 4 years
The Indianapolis Colts and guard Quenton Nelson signed a contract extension Saturday, the team announced.
It's a record four-year deal worth $80 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The pact, which reportedly includes $60 million guaranteed, makes Nelson the highest-paid guard in NFL history. He tops Brandon Scherff, who inked a three-year, $49.5-million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this year.
Nelson is also the league's fourth-highest-paid offensive lineman in average annual salary. He trails left tackles Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari, and Laremy Tunsil.
The 26-year-old Nelson has established himself as arguably football's top guard since entering the NFL as the sixth overall pick in 2018. He's allowed only four sacks over 2,365 pass-blocking snaps across four seasons, according to PFF.
The Notre Dame product earned three first-team All-Pro nods in his first three seasons while starting 48 games in that span. He also earned a second-team All-Pro selection last year after missing four games due to injury.
Nelson, who was heading into the last year of his rookie contract, was set to make $13.8 million this year.
When Chris Ballard took over, he said his mantra was “Pay your own.”
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) September 11, 2022
Extensions the Colts have handed out in the last three years:
Quenton Nelson
Shaq Leonard
Braden Smith
Ryan Kelly
Nyheim Hines
Led by Nelson, the Colts' offensive line helped Jonathan Taylor record a league-leading 1,811 yards (5.5 per carry) as well as 18 rushing touchdowns in 2021.
Indy opens its 2022 season against the Houston Texans on Sunday.