The foundation of the Indianapolis Colts' offense is their offensive line and they are locking up one of their key members on Thursday. According to the team's official Twitter account, the Colts have agreed to a four-year extension with center Ryan Kelly.
We have signed C Ryan Kelly to a contract extension.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 3, 2020
Heading into the 2020 season, Kelly was entering the final year of his rookie deal. The Colts exercised Kelly's fifth-year option last year, with Kelly slated to make $10.3 million this season.
Kelly's new deal will be worth $50 million over four years, keeping him with the team through the 2024 campaign. In addition to that, Kelly's new contract includes $34 million in guarantees and makes him the highest-paid center in the NFL, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Colts are signing former 2016 first-round pick Ryan Kelly to a 4-year, $50 million extension that includes $34 million guaranteed, source tells ESPN. It makes him the highest-paid center in the league and ties him to Indianapolis for the next five seasons.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 3, 2020
Back in 2016, the Colts selected Kelly with the No. 18 pick in the first round out of Alabama. From the moment he arrived in Indianapolis, he's been a marquee member of the team's stout offensive-line unit.
Since his rookie season, he's been able to start in 51 of 64 possible games. Also, in the past two seasons, the Colts have surrendered a combined 50 sacks in the past two seasons. During the 2018 season, Kelly and the offensive line gave up a league-low 18 sacks.
A season ago, Kelly started in all 16 games, allowing just one sack on 1,018 offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus. After his career year in 2019, the Alabama product was named to the first Pro Bowl of his four-year career.
Besides Kelly, the Colts have a formidable offensive line with Anthony Castonzo, Quenton Nelson, Mark Glowinski, and Braden Smith. Castonzo signed a two-year, $33 million deal to return to the team despite contemplating retirement. With Kelly's deal completed, Indianapolis may now turn their attention to extending Nelson.
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