Thorn: 2024 Offensive Line Playoff Rankings

Editor’s Note: Offensive line coaches are in parentheses.

TIER 1: Elite Offensive Lines

1. Eagles (Jeff Stoutland)

LT Jordan Mailata
LG Landon Dickerson
C Jason Kelce
RG Cam Jurgens
RT Lane Johnson

Despite the Eagles’ issues as a team and the lack of a quality pass-protecting running back, the five starting linemen form as good of a pass-blocking unit as there is in the playoffs. Philly has the best pass-blocking right tackle in football in Lane Johnson with solid or better starters from left tackle over to center. Rookie RG Cam Jurgens has the expected technical breakdowns against higher-end competition in wider alignments who stretch his range and reduce his margin for error with set points and strike timing, but being flanked by Jason Kelce and Johnson is as good of a situation as it gets to provide help and mitigate those issues.

The three units inside Tier 1 are relatively interchangeable with the collective playoff experience of Philly’s line and their ability to match up one-on-one as pass protectors sustaining them as a Tier 1 unit.

2. Lions (Hank Fraley)

LT Taylor Decker
LG Jonah Jackson
C Frank Ragnow
RG Graham Glasgow
RT Penei Sewell

Detroit’s line is as good as it gets as run blockers with a comparable starting five to Philadelphia across the board. One key differentiator is right tackle Penei Sewell being a step down from Lane Johnson as a pass protector. Adding in offensive scheme and play-calling tilts the scales back into Detroit’s favor due to a dynamic run game, shrewd personnel, and formation usage and multiplicity that few other offenses in the league can match.

LT Taylor Decker has gotten exposed a few times this season in pass protection, particularly against adept inside counters, while right guard Graham Glasgow is a solid yet physically limited pass protector against higher-end three techniques. This is a clear Tier 1 unit that forms the foundation of the Lions’ offense with a coaching staff that does an excellent job of accentuating their strengths by putting them in positions to succeed.

3. Cowboys (Mike Solari)

LT Tyron Smith
LG Tyler Smith
C Tyler Biadasz
RG Zack Martin
RT Terence Steele

Dallas has teetered between Tier 1 and Tier 2 this season, but enters the playoffs with all five starters healthy enough to play and two elite pass protectors in Tyron Smith and Zack Martin. Smith in particular has experienced a vintage season with dominant stretches that have elevated this unit throughout the year. LG Tyler Smith has put together an All-Pro-caliber year in his second career season and first as a full-time starting guard, but he is playing through a plantar fascia tear that will likely keep him from being 100%. The good news is even at 90 or so percent, he is one of the best left guards in the playoffs while center Tyler Biadasz is rock solid at the pivot. Dallas does have one significant concern with RT Terence Steele’s inconsistent technique in pass protection, although that has at least been more functional in recent weeks but is something to watch for against Packers star edge rusher Rashan Gary on Wild Card Weekend.

Dallas is also helped by QB Dak Prescott’s refinement operating in the pocket, helping to cover up quick losses by the blockers when they do occur.

TIER 3: Solid Offensive Lines

4. Bucs (Joe Gilbert)

LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Aaron Stinnie
C Robert Hainsey
RG Cody Mauch
RT Luke Goedeke

Tampa Bay’s performance as a unit this season has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations due to Tristan Wirfs handling the switch from right to left tackle masterfully and second-year starter Luke Goedeke flipping the script at right tackle after a disastrous