The Indianapolis Colts appear to be entering a full rebuild. The latest sign of their intentions is that they dumped former Notre Dame offensive lineman Quenton Nelson.
The Seattle Seahawks acquired the three-time All-Pro guard from the Colts on Tuesday in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. If that return seems a bit light, it probably is. However, the team was clearly desperate to get rid of Nelson, even though the return was good. The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Philadelphia Eagles were among other teams that showed interest in Nelson, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday afternoon.
Nelson has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons since the Colts drafted him sixth overall out of Notre Dame in 2018, with three first-team All-Pro nods in that span (2018-20). Nelson bolsters a Seahawks offensive line that has struggled this season to open running lanes and keep quarterback Sam Darnold’s jersey clean.
Earlier in the year, it looked like the Colts would try to land an extension on Nelson. However, the season started to go south for the franchise, and GM Chris Ballard was fired. Nelson’s trade could be the first domino to fall in a series of moves.
Quenton Nelson escapes Colts rebuild in trade to Seahawks before NFL deadline
Nelson might be the big winner of the trade. He now plays on a team that won the Super Bowl last year. So far, the Seahawks have struggled in 2026, partly because of offensive line issues.
Seattle has also been without rookie running back Jadarian Price (also a Notre Dame alumnus) for the last several weeks. Price is due to return from the IR to practice this week and could play in the Seahawks' next game.
Seattle's acquisition of the former Notre Dame star marks another big swing at the trade deadline for general manager John Schneider, who in recent seasons has dealt for impact players such as safety Quandre Diggs (2019), defensive end Carlos Dunlap (2020), defensive tackle Leonard Williams (2023), linebacker Ernest Jones IV (2024), and wide receiver/kick returner Rashid Shaheed (2025).
Seattle ranks 21st in pass-block win rate (46.8%) and allowed 10 sacks and 26 QB hits in losses to the 49ers and Denver Broncos before a much cleaner performance against Kansas City, when Darnold wasn't sacked and took only two hits. The Seahawks beat the Chiefs 20-3.
Quenton Nelson played guard at Notre Dame from 2014 to 2017. After sitting out his freshman year and practicing on the scout team, he played in 12 games and started 11 at left guard in his sophomore campaign. He missed the Navy game and most of the USC game with an ankle injury. Nelson’s unit allowed the Fighting Irish to average 5.63 yards per carry, a modern school record.
In 2016, Nelson started all 12 games at left guard. He was named AP second-team All-American and Notre Dame's Offensive Lineman of the Year. In his final year with the Irish, he was named a team captain and a unanimous first-team All-American.
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