Seth Walder of ESPN put together his list of the top 100 ‘real MVP candidates’ from the 2024 season, and included were two members of the Indianapolis Colts.

As Walder mentions, the MVP conversation each year centers around the quarterback and focuses in on only five or so candidates. Walder wanted to go beyond–far beyond–that conversation, which is why he put this list together.

A few notes that Walder makes is that this list only takes into account the 2024 regular season. The value in ‘valuable’ that Walder wants to identify is based on the difference between a player and an average starter at that player’s position.

In order to calculate these rankings, Walder leaned on numerous metrics including ESPN win rates, receiving tracking metrics, PFF grades, and more. Walder also made some tweaks afer getting feedback from “trusted talent evaluators” in NFL front offices.

For more on how Walder constructed these rankings, click here.

When it comes to the Colts specifically, the two players that they had make Walder’s top 100 were guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

Nelson came in at No. 59 on this list after putting together a second-team All-Pro performance over the season.

In pass protection, Nelson allowed 20 pressures and just three sacks, per PFF’s metrics. Out of 77 eligible guards, Nelson would rank 17th in pass-blocking efficiency.

In the run game, meanwhile, Nelson was a force, ranking sixth in PFF’s run-blocking grade. On the 91 carries where Jonathan Taylor ran directly right or left of Nelson, he averaged 5.1 yards per rush with five touchdowns.

“The old Nelson returned in 2024,” wrote Walder. “His 94% pass block win rate ranked seventh-best at the position, while his 77% run block win rate was third. He was clearly the best guard in football.”

Then at No. 73 on these rankings was defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. As he does, Buckner was disruptive against both the run and the pass this season.

According to PFF’s pass-rush win rate metric, Buckner beat his blocker at the eighth-highest rate among defensive tackles who played at least 120 snaps this season. By pass-rush productivity, an efficiency metric, Buckner ranked 13th.

Against the run, even with that missed time, Buckner would still record the 10th most run-stops at his position group. In terms of the number of run-stops Buckner recorded relative to the number of snaps he played, he ranked fourth.

Buckner’s impact also goes beyond the stat sheet. When he’s on the field, the attention that he draws from opposing offenses helps create opportunities and advantageous matchups for other defenders to exploit.

Of note, two Colts players who did not make Walder’s MVP list is running back Jonathan Taylor, who is a Pro Bowler, and linebacker Zaire Franklin, who was named a second-team All-Pro.