The Indianapolis Colts used a first-round pick on center Ryan Kelly back in 2016. However, now his rookie deal is coming to an end. Kelly is entering his final season of his initial contract and the Colts have yet to re-sign him.
That does not mean the two sides don't want to continue working together. And according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Kelly and the Colts have discussed a contract extension.
Kelly expressed that he wants to spend his entire career with the Colts. He also added that his agent has spoken to Chris Ballard, the general manager for Indianapolis, about an extension.
Kelly has spent the first four years of his career with the Colts. In that time, he's appeared in 51 games, starting all of them.
The center has been an important cog for the Colts. And he's a big reason why they are now considered to have one of the best offensive lines in all of football.
In those 51 games, Kelly has committed just 12 total penalties. He's a smart player with incredible talent. He has helped to reinvent the Colts and keep them competitive even after Andrew Luck's shocking retirement.
Kelly also made the Pro Bowl in 2019. And at nearly 27 years old, his best football might still be ahead of him. If he was able to make the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career last season, it's possible that an All-Pro season is up next for him.
Indianapolis would certainly be smart to try and lock up the center. However, with his rising stock, it likely won't be that cheap of a deal, even with Kelly expressing his desire to stay in Indianapolis.
With the team headed in a new direction, they will certainly want to keep the offensive line together to protect their quarterbacks. Kelly is right in the middle of it all.
This is something to keep an eye on as things could develop quickly in the offseason due to the fact that both sides seem motivated to get things done. For now, though, Kelly is entering the last year of his contract, and is one of the most enticing upcoming free agents in the entire NFL should he for some reason make it to the open market.
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