NFL Draft’s top center Ryan Kelly drafted by Colts with No. 18 pick

The Indianapolis Colts have landed center Ryan Kelly of Alabama with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Kelly is part of what is considered a relatively weak class when it comes to both guard and center on the interior of the offensive line, but he does stand out as one of the top players at either position.

Kelly has been a starter since his sophomore season in 2013 when he took over for All-American and Rimington Trophy winner Barrett Jones. He immediately held up the high standard of play and by the following season he was on the Rimington Trophy watch list. He didn’t win the trophy, but he came back even stronger is 2015 and did manage to secure it.

In addition to being named the nation’s top center, he was a consensus first-team All-America selection and an All-SEC first-team player on top of that. He did not surrender a sack in his senior season and allowed only four hurries, being credited by Alabama as having missed only eight assignments in 1,012 snaps.

That kind of protection would be welcomed in Indianapolis where Andrew Luck took a lot of punishment behind the Colts offensive line in 2015 and struggled to stay healthy through the year. Anthony Castonzo and Jack Mewhort are two promising young players on the offensive line, but the interior needed upgrades and Kelly should be an instant starter at center.

Kelly made the line calls and adjustments for the Crimson Tide from the moment he took over as starter. This past season, he led the way for Derrick Henry, one of the top running backs in the draft, helping him to four 200-yard rushing games, tying an SEC record held by Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson.

As far as his transition to the NFL is concerned, Kelly only has one real concern: his size. He’s not undersized for the position by any means, but he’s just average in that department. He’s not among the best athletes or strongest linemen in this year’s draft, and probably needs to bulk up some for the NFL.

But his new team is getting a player who understands the game, is a natural leader and can step right into a role where he would be trusted making calls and adjustments at the line. He’s as NFL ready as any offensive linemen in the draft and is equal parts a capable run blocker in space and a consistent pass blocker who hasn’t allowed a sack in two seasons.

Kelly showed up at the NFL Scouting Combine heavier than expected, but it looked like the bulk analysts suggested he should add. He ran a 5.03-second 40-yard dash and a 7.58-second three-cone drill, impressing all around with his athleticism. It was a performance that only enforced what scouts already knew: Kelly is a complete player with few knocks against him.