For the first time since 2015, following longtime veteran center Ryan Kelly’s expected departure in free agency, the Colts will have a presumed new fixture anchoring the middle of their revamped offensive line.
Originally a 2024 4th round pick of the Colts, Bortolini was selected an offseason ago with the expectation that he’d be the ‘center in waiting’ behind Kelly, who was a pending 2025 free agent.
While Bortolini was regarded as very polished, cerebral, and athletic coming out of Wisconsin, he largely got to be eased into his new starting role with Indianapolis.
That being said, he was thrown into the fire a little earlier than anticipated, as Bortolini made 5 starts as a rookie this past season. He largely held his own, as per PFF, he earned a +65.1 overall grade.
Bortolini being listed as the ‘X-factor’ here is a bit of a breath of fresh air, as it’s seemingly been since demoted 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson for the past two seasons. By all indications, the Colts have a pretty good young starting center in the fold again, but Bortolini will still have to prove it on the field full-time this year.