Colts Draft Quenton Nelson, Twitter Applauds Getting Andrew Luck Protection

The Indianapolis Colts bolstered their offensive line Thursday by selecting guard Quenton Nelson with the No. 6 overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft. 

ESPN's Field Yates thought the Colts did very well in the first round all things considered:

"

The Colts traded back from pick 3 to 6, collected three extra second round picks and drafted arguably the most dominant player in this year’s class in Quenton Nelson. A master stroke by GM Chris Ballard.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 27, 2018"

Both NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and the Indianapolis Star's Zak Keefer thought Andrew Luck would be happy with his team's decision:

Nelson was a 2017 All-American and played at one of the nation's marquee programs in Notre Dame, so Twitter naturally reacted to his selection:

Nelson's NFL.com draft profile lists him at 6'5" and 325 pounds, and that size should allow him to overpower defensive fronts at the next level. NFL Media's Lance Zierlein pointed to the guard's "intimidating power" and ability to drive blocks downfield, which will help open rushing lanes and create clean pockets for Luck on passing downs.

The Notre Dame product aggressively counters the first steps of defensive tackles with his initial punching power, and Zierlein praised Nelson's prowess while moving laterally in space.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller said in late January that "if there is a system that Quenton Nelson is a poor fit in, that is not a good system."

Miller offered further praise for the guard on Twitter:

No one is ever a surefire lock to make it in the NFL considering fit, health and playing opportunity all combine to influence a prospect's path. However, Nelson has the makeup to suggest he will be a critical component of the Colts' offensive line for the foreseeable future and has the potential to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

If he does, he would have been well worth the top-10 selection Indianapolis used on him Thursday.

While 2018 figures to be a better season for the Colts with Luck under center after he missed the 2017 campaign, they need to improve an offensive line that was a mere 18th in the league in run blocking and dead last in pass protection last year, per Football Outsiders. The only way they will be able to realistically challenge the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans in the AFC South is by keeping Luck upright in 2018.

Nelson will help them do just that.