Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl offensive lineman Quenton Nelson has agreed to a record-setting, four-year extension that will make him the highest-paid guard in NFL history, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal has an average annual value of $20 million and includes $60 million guaranteed, the source said. Indianapolis finished the deal Saturday night with Nelson’s agent, RJ Gonser of CAA.
Nelson, who was scheduled to make $13.8 million this season, was set to be one of the top free agents in the 2023 class. His deal shatters the previous record for most guaranteed money (Nick Martin, $32 million) and annual salary (Brandon Scherff, $16.5 million) for a guard.
Drafted sixth overall in the 2018 draft out of Notre Dame, Nelson had been an All-Pro guard in each of his first three seasons before missing four games this past year with an ankle injury.
Nelson’s 94.1% pass block win rate was 12th among guards last season, and his 71.7% run block win rate was 13th at the position. Overall, Nelson’s 94.6% pass block win rate since entering the NFL in 2018 ranks seventh among guards.