Brandon’s full Offensive Line rankings can be found in our Draft Kit. Details here.
Offensive line play remains one of the most underrated pieces of the NFL puzzle. Relatively few people go in-depth on the subject even though it massively impacts game outcomes.
I specialize in evaluating trench play. The primary factors I use to arrive at these rankings are my game-film evaluations of each individual offensive lineman, 2022 performance as a unit, age, experience, continuity, and coaching.
Most teams are evaluated with built-in expectations of variance that could bump them up or down a tier depending on how training camp plays out with regard to injuries, position battles, and chemistry.
This list was made based more on how each unit projects in pass protection than run blocking. There will also be updates weekly throughout the season with a midseason update reworking the entire list with new summaries for each team.
Returning starters are in bold. Offensive line coaches are in parentheses. Positional spending rank (per Spotrac) included.
Tier 1 — Elite Offensive Lines
1. Eagles (Jeff Stoutland)
LT Jordan Mailata
LG Landon Dickerson
C Jason Kelce
RG Tyler Steen (R)
RT Lane Johnson
Positional Spending Rank: 10 ($48.2M)
Notes: The Eagles were my top-ranked unit heading into the 2022 season and remained in the top tier throughout the year. They are set to return four of their five starters (including their four best) and are replacing Isaac Seumalo with rookie fourth-rounder Tyler Steen from Alabama. Steen was a left tackle in college with the play strength and physicality suited to make a successful transition inside as a pro where he will be flanked by two Hall of Fame-caliber players in Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce.
Led by arguably the game’s best developer of O-Line talent in Jeff Stoutland, this is a star-studded group with quality depth (Cam Jurgens, Jack Driscoll) who operate in a run-heavy scheme that is built around accentuating their talent.
2. Lions (Hank Fraley)
LT Taylor Decker
LG Jonah Jackson
C Frank Ragnow
RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai
RT Penei Sewell
Positional Spending Rank: 1st ($62.8M)
Notes: Expectations are high for the Lions’ offensive line and rightfully so. They are spending more than any team in the NFL on the position group with four former first-round picks and two 2022 Pro Bowlers in Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow. Jonah Jackson made a Pro Bowl during the 2021 season and Taylor Decker has been an above-average starter for multiple seasons. The unit still operated at a high level with a revolving door at right guard last season after Halapoulivaati Vaitai missed the season with a back injury. With Vaitai back in the fold, player and coach continuity, and a well-crafted offensive scheme, this unit should start the season in high gear and remain a top-five lock throughout the year, barring injuries.
One potential pitfall to keep an eye on is Ragnow’s injury history, particularly an “inoperable” toe issue that he has been dealing with since the 2021 season and battled through last year.
Tier 2 — Very Good Offensive Lines
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