Thorn: 2024 Midseason OL Rankings

Tier 1 — Elite Offensive Lines

1. Lions (Hank Fraley)

LT   Taylor Decker
LG  Graham Glasgow
C   Frank Ragnow
RG   Kevin Zeitler
RT   Penei Sewell

Notes: Anchored in the middle by one of the league’s best centers in Frank Ragnow, this Lions’ unit has been the best group in the league through the first half of the season with dominant run blocking ability (5th in yards per carry and 3rd in yards per carry before contact) and significant improvement in pass protection as the year has gone on after some blips in handling blitzes, stunts and simulated pressures early in the year. This was likely attributed to having new guards in place but once they remedied that one issue there are no glaring weaknesses remaining aside from Taylor Decker struggling more often this year than most against the higher end pass rushers (Jonathan Greenard, Jared Verse). Bringing this ranking together is the unit being able to operate inside a brilliantly tailored system with a rare blend of schematic continuity and cohesion that consistently puts them in positions to maximize their individual skill-sets.

Tier 2 — Very Good Offensive Lines

2.  Bucs (Kevin Carberry)

LT  Tristan Wirfs
LG   Ben Bredeson
C   Graham Barton (R)
RG    Cody Mauch
RT   Luke Goedeke

Notes: With an improved ground game from the 2023 season, a stud rookie center in Graham Barton and stable play at guard to go along with an elite left tackle and solid right tackle the Bucs offense has been able to sustain a high level of production despite a change in scheme by leaning heavily on their line to dictate games. Led by dominant play from Tristan Wirfs, the unit has eliminated glaring weaknesses from last year elsewhere with the most surprising element being the steady play from journeyman left guard Ben Bredeson. The unit also managed to remain functional without Luke Goedeke for four games but with him back in the lineup are again a sure-fire top of the second tier line for the rest of the season.

3.  Eagles (Jeff Stoutland)

LT    Jordan Mailata/Fred Johnson
LG   Landon Dickerson
C   Cam Jurgens
RG   Tyler Steen/Mekhi Becton
RT   Lane Johnson

Notes: The Eagles have dealt with multiple injuries at left tackle and right guard yet have remained a unit the team wins because of rather than with or in spite of which is a testament to great coaching (Jeff Stoutland) and their best players (Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson) leading the way. Jordan Mailata suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6 that will likely keep him out for a few more weeks, but backup Fred Johnson has provided serviceable play while trending upwards after a solid performance in Week 8 against Trey Hendrickson. QB Jalen Hurts has also recently started to be more decisive in the pocket to help limit pressure. Despite not being healthy this is still a group with multiple top five players at their positions with good enough play elsewhere and a difference-making line coach in place to smooth things over and keep all five starters seeing through the same set of eyes. Once Mailata and Mekhi Becton return and the unit is at full strength they will be even more entrenched among the top units in the league.

4. Bills (Aaron Kromer)

LT   Dion Dawkins
LG   David Edwards
C   Connor McGovern
RG   O’Cyrus Torrence
RT   Spencer Brown

Notes: Since arriving in 2022 line coach Aaron Kromer has helped right tackle Spencer Brown incrementally improve from a liability in pass protection to a linchpin of the unit, forming one of the better tackle pairings in the NFL with Dion Dawkins. With one of the league’s best developmental stories in Brown leading the way this group has helped morph the offense into a more balanced approach with a potent run game (6th in rushing EPA) and the league’s best quarterback at preventing pressures from turning into sacks masking the closer to average pass protecting interior.

Tier 3 — Solid Offensive Lines

5. Chiefs (Andy Heck)

LT   Wanya Morris
LG   Joe Thuney
C   Creed Humphrey
RG   Trey Smith
RT   Jawaan Taylor

Notes: Despite persistent questions surrounding the tackle’s ability to pass protect, the Chiefs line is chugging along as a top ten group thanks to the best interior trio in the NFL that has controlled games throughout the season. With one of the best centers in the league in Creed Humphrey, elite left guard Joe Thuney and one of the best enforcers in football in Trey Smith Kansas City has a formidable strength to lean on up front against all levels of competition. Add in QB Patrick Mahomes shrewd handling of pressure when it does come and ability to escape edge-rusher pressure and the weaknesses this line does have are largely inconsequential. This is an area susceptible to becoming more of a concern late in the year and into the playoffs as the margin for error shrinks, but the strengths ultimately trump the weaknesses to net a solid unit.

6. Chargers (Mike Devlin)

LT    Rashawn Slater
LG   Zion Johnson
C    Bradley Bozeman
RG   Trey Pipkins
RT   Joe Alt (R)

Notes: The Chargers line has more or less been what we expected them to be this year with a pair of stud tackles forming the basis of their success as an unit while operating inside a run-first, play-action heavy scheme that offers them plenty of relief from the more strenuous