The Indianapolis Colts gave their franchise quarterback an anchor to an offensive line in need of improvement with the first-round selection of Alabama center Ryan Kelly in Thursday’s NFL draft in Chicago.
“We got our guy,” said Colts general manager Ryan Grigson.
Head coach Chuck Pagano couldn’t resist making a comparison to longtime Colts center Jeff Saturday, a six-time Pro Bowl star who with quarterback Peyton Manning set an NFL record for most starts by a tandem at 170.
“I think they needed a center to work with Luck,” Kelly understated on a conference call.