INDIANAPOLIS -- Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. recently had a conference call with ESPN’s NFL Nation group. I asked Kiper if there was an offensive lineman or pass-rusher who could immediately contribute for the Indianapolis Colts when they pick at No. 18 in the April draft.
Kiper said an offensive lineman. More specifically University of Alabama center Ryan Kelly, who Kiper has the Colts taking in his latest mock draft.
“He’s like [Cleveland Browns center] Alex Mack from a few years ago,” Kiper said. “Like Nick Mangold when he came out of Ohio State. He had a great career with the New York Jets. A seven-time Pro Bowler. They took him at the end of the first round. Now you have Kelly going at 18. You have Andrew Luck. You need a big-time center, an anchor, a leader, which is what Ryan Kelly is. I think Kelly would make a lot of sense at point because he has solidified a first round grade.”
That’s high praise for Kelly coming from Kiper. Mack has made three Pro Bowl teams and he’s started every game that he’s appeared in during his seven seasons. Mangold has made seven Pro Bowls in his 10 seasons.
Kelly was a three-year starter at Alabama. Kelly went into the college football playoffs having not given up a sack all season, according to a December story on AL.com. He was also given the Rimington Award, which goes to the top center in the country, last season.
Center is one of three positions the Colts will look to address during the offseason. There’s a good chance they could have a new starting center, right guard and right tackle next season.
Khaled Holmes began last season as the starting center before Jonotthan Harrison replaced him. The Colts had similar problems at center during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
This is a time where it’s not good that Holmes and Harrison complement each other. I had one person in the organization tell me that Holmes is smarter, knows how to make the right calls and can control the line of scrimmage better than Harrison. But Harrison has all the physical tools to be a good starting center. The Colts wouldn’t have concerns at center if it were possible to combine Holmes and Harrison into one player.
That's not going to happen and that's why the search continues to find the perfect center to pair with Luck.
Maybe Kelly is that player.
