Stampede Blue Staff Awards: Who was the Colts 2024 MVP?

While the Colts season didn’t end the way they wanted to, there are plenty of Colts deserving of recognition for their achievements. Who did the Stampede Blue Staff pick for the Colts awards?

Most Valuable Player:

Voting: Quenton Nelson (4), DeForest Buckner (3), Jonathan Taylor (2)

In a very tight race, MVP came down to 3 very deserving candidates. Quenton Nelson was awarded 2nd Team All Pro Team for his efforts this season from the Associated Press, continuing to add accolades to his potential Hall of Fame career.

In 2024 Nelson allowed:

• 20 Pressures | Tied 3rd lowest in his career
• 3.52% Pressure Rate | 5th lowest in his career
• 3 Sacks | 2nd most in his career
• 79.7 Pass Pro Grade | 4th best in NFL
• 81.7 Run Block Grade | 6th best in NFL
• 81.3 Block Grade | Tied 5th best in NFL

It might not have been Nelson’s best season, but that is more indicative of how high a bar he has set in his career rather than bad play in 2024.

Nelson provided the Colts a crucial stalwart at Left Guard yet again, being a bright spot on the line littered with injuries. He was the only Colts starting offensive lineman to play in all 17 games in 2024. Left Tackle Bernhard Raimann missed 3 games with a knee injury. Right Tackle Braden Smith battled through knee issues throughout the first 12 weeks of the season, but was unable to play in the last 5 due to personal reasons. Center Ryan Kelly was out for 2 weeks due to a neck injury and 5 weeks due to knee and calf injuries, but was active in the last few games of the Colts season. Right Guard Will Fries’ breakout season was cut short during Week 5, missing 12 games due to a season ending Achilles injury.

Nelson’s durability and level of play was huge for giving some stability to the embattled front.

Other vote getters were star Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner and Running Back Jonathan Taylor (more on them later).

Offensive Player of the Year:

Voting: Jonathan Taylor (7), Alec Pierce (2)

Surprisingly, not a single vote was cast for Quenton Nelson as OPOY. Instead, our voters went more of the skill position route, as Jonathan Taylor was the clear winner amongst our panel. Taylor enjoyed his first season on his new contract with a nice bounce back Pro Bowl season, especially down the final stretch of the season.

In 2024 he racked up in just 14 games (missing 3 midseason due to a high ankle sprain):

• 303 Carries | 5th in NFL
• 1,431 Rushing Yards | 4th in NFL, 3rd per game
• 4.7 Yards Per Carry | Tied 13th in NFL
• 11 Rushing TDs | Tied 9th in NFL

He also added another 136 yards and a TD as a receiver.

Jonathan Taylor was a bell-cow back for the Colts in 2024, with...