2023 Fantasy Football Draft Guide: NFL Offensive Line Rankings

With the 2023 fantasy football season approaching fast, now is the time to dig into the trenches and explore everything the Fantasy Alarm NFL Draft Guide has to offer. The Draft Guide is filled with dynasty fantasy football rankings, Old Faces in New Places, NFL Best Ball Advice, Rookies, fantasy football sleepers, busts and more! It’s a living draft guide that is updated and growing daily! For today’s addition, we’re looking at all 32 NFL offensive lines. At the top of the list you’ll see some familiar teams from years past while there are also some new additions in the teens that are looking to knock on the door of the top ten. Having a good offensive line can only make you feel better about drafting that stud quarterback to keep them upright and healthy and not hurt on the turf with a potentially serious injury. A good offensive line can open up gaps for our fantasy football running backs either in power blocking or zone schemes so they can break off a huge run and potentially score. Offensive lines will never find the stat sheets especially in fantasy football. But they are vital for the best offenses to function at a quick and efficient level. With that said here are the best (and worst) NFL offensive lines heading into the 2023 season!

1. Philadelphia Eagles

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 73.6 (5^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 83.2 (1^st)

The consensus number one offensive line, once again, is the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles offensive line played a big role in Philadelphia winning the NFC Championship, but the team fell just short on the defensive side of the ball as they couldn’t stop the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The offensive line is anchored by Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson. Kelce was named first-team All-Pro for the fifth time in his career and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time. Johnson was named first-team All-Pro for the second time in his career and was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl. While those two players are 35 and 33 respectively, they still continue to play at a high level. Jordan Mailata may not receive as much recognition as Kelce or Johnson, but he’s massive at 6-foot-8 and 365 pounds and he performed as a top ten left tackle at the position last season. The Eagles did lose Isaac Seumalo in free agency to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they possess enough depth on the interior portion of the offensive line that they will be able to fill any and all voids with the combinations of Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, and Cam Jurgens. Jurgens was a highly touted offensive line prospect heading into the 2022 NFL Draft and the Eagles used a second-round pick on him, but also invested a third rounder on Tyler Steen in the most recent draft. Assuming they all stay healthy, and we don’t see Kelce or Johnson age horrifically this season, they should grade out as the best offensive line in the league come season’s end.

2. Cleveland Browns

2022 PFF Run Block Grade: 69.2 (8^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 73.4 (7^th)

If there’s one thing I really like about the Browns it’s their continuity. For starters, they have arguably the best interior line between Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller. Ethan Pocic surprised quite a few people last year before he suffered a knee injury in Week 11. But he played well enough to the point the Browns wanted to bring him back on a three-year deal after ranking as the third-best center according to Pro Football Focus. Between Bitonio, Teller, and Conklin the Browns flaunt three offensive linemen that have been named All-Pro in multiple seasons. Perhaps the biggest question mark is with Jedrick Wills Jr., who has struggled transitioning to left tackle since breaking into the NFL as a first-round pick in 2020. Wills allowed six sacks and 41 pressures last season, which is a mark he can improve upon. But the projected starting five for the Browns only allowed 14 sacks all season, thanks to the stellar play from the interior portion of this offensive line. With the Browns picking up the fifth-year option on Wills, this core is locked up for the next two years and with Bill Callahan as this organization’s offensive line coach, they’re shaping up to be a formidable group once again in 2023.

3. Detroit Lions

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 68.7 (9^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 63.4 (21^st)

I was very close to ranking the Lions above the Cleveland Browns, but ultimately the tiebreaker came down to the uncertainty of Halapoulivaati Vaitai after he missed last season due to injury. Surely, he can return to form and elevate this offensive line that was phenomenal in the trenches a year ago. There’s an argument to be made that Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell were arguably the best tackle duo in the league. They went on to allow just 45 pressures and five sacks last year according to Pro Football Focus. At center, Frank Ragnow allowed just one sack and 13 pressures. Ragnow will only be 27 years old entering this season and will have two years left on his deal. If he keeps playing at a high level, he’ll be able to cash in once again. Evan Brown started 13 games in Vaitai’s absence in 2022, but he left in free agency for the Seattle Seahawks. But the Lions did bring back Graham Glasgow after he was released by the Broncos in March. Glasgow will help provide a little depth on the interior portion of the line and could compete with Jonah Jackson for the starting left guard position, but the more realistic outcome is that he’s backup to Vaitai at right guard. The Lions were on the cusp of a playoff berth last season and will need a healthy offensive line to take that next step this coming year.

4. Baltimore Ravens

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 77.8 (2^nd)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 79.6 (2^nd)

The presence of Ronnie Stanley alone is enough to elevate the Ravens to a top ten offensive line. And I’ve written in previous NFL Offensive Line Rankings that Stanley got the bag at the perfect time. On October 30^th, 2020 he signed a five-contract extension for big money. Two days later he suffered a season-ending ankle injury and then in 2021 his season was cut short with another ankle injury. So 2022 was huge for Stanley personally. He still missed a few games, but overall played like a top ten left tackle and Morgan Moses was solid on the right side of the line. Kevin Zeitler has previously performed as one of the better interior offensive linemen during his stints with the Bengals, Browns, and Giants. As he’s gotten older (still only 33 years old), he’s regressed a little bit. But honestly he still plays at a very high level and received the most fan votes among guards in the AFC last year, but wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl. Tyler Linderbaum was okay as a rookie. There is definitely room for growth, but he allowed three sacks and 26 pressures. That’s not great for an interior lineman, but as mentioned previously, he was a rookie and has room to improve. For 2023, the Ravens return four starters from a year ago, having lost Ben Powers to the Broncos in free agency. The left guard training camp battle will be one to monitor, but overall the familiarity and chemistry is there for this group to excel once again in the upcoming season.

5. Atlanta Falcons

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 83.7 (1^st)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 73.2 (8^th)

I’ve been critical of the Falcons offensive line ever since the heavy investment of first-round picks in Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary. I had this group ranked 25^th heading into the 2022 season and honestly, they made me look like an absolute idiot. They were great in run blocking which is huge for those who invested in Bijan Robinson in dynasty formats. But the scheme may have over inflated just how good this team was last year. They were so run heavy, that they weren’t required to pass protect as much as other groups. Jake Matthews has anchored the left side exterior for a handful of years now and allowed just four sacks and 17 pressures last year. What’s more impressive is that he’s started over 140 consecutive regular season games in the NFL at left tackle. Chris Lindstrom was named second-team All-Pro and Kaleb McGary was signed to an extension. The team also invested in Matthew Bergeron with a second-round pick so this unit seems primed once again for a solid showing in 2023. But keep in mind, they expect to be run-heavy again as the organization tries to decide if Desmond Ridder is the long-term solution at quarterback.

6. Dallas Cowboys

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 63.7 (11^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 64.9 (20^th)

Admittedly, this is probably the one group that I’m very bullish on. A lot of this group’s success depends on the health of Tyron Smith, who turns 33 in December and has spent a lot of time on the shelf the last three seasons with separate neck, ankle, and hamstring injuries. Tyler Smith emerged as a great option at tackle with Tyron missing the first few months of the season. And truthfully, it’s quite possible that Tyler Smith swings to right tackle and Terence Steele shifts to left guard, a position left vacant by Connor McGovern. The only issue there is that Steele has only played tackle while Smith might be more comfortable working the interior line. But this is a good problem to have for Dallas. At full strength, there’s talent here and the Steele/Smith situation will work itself out as long as Tyron Smith is healthy. Zack Martin is still one of the best guards in the league, being named All-Pro in every season since 2014 (with the exception of 2020). Tyler Biadasz has been fine at center so the group runs deep with talent. A lot of the success hinges on getting a full season from Tyron Smith.

7. Kansas City Chiefs

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 74.1 (T-3^rd)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 73.0 (T-9^th)

The Chiefs have won two of the last four Super Bowls and last year, the offensive line played a big role. They were top ten in run blocking and pass protection, but it certainly does help when you have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Patrick Mahomes, consistently make big plays on his own. But that’s not to diminish the successes of this group. Joe Thuney has played as one of the best interior linemen in the league since being drafted by the Patriots and he was named second-team All-Pro in 2022. A big loss for the Chiefs will be Orlando Brown Jr. after signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in the offseason, but with the Chiefs winning a Super Bowl, Brown proved to be worth the first-round pick the Chiefs gave up when they acquired him. Filling the void of Brown’s absence on the exterior, the Chiefs acquired Jawaan Taylor and Donovan Smith. Smith performed well in previous seasons for the Bucs, but he still represents a downgrade to Brown. Taylor, on the other hand, should be an upgrade over Andrew Wylie, who allowed 49 pressures and nine sacks last year. While there is turnover, it’s entirely feasible that the offense and Patrick Mahomes make enough big plays to consistently move the ball down the field and put up points. If that’s once again the case, the offense should mask the shortcomings of the offensive line (should any exist) and they should grade out well come season’s end.

8. San Francisco 49ers

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 68.1 (10^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 75.6 (5^th)

When discussing the San Francisco 49ers, it’s important to acknowledge what we touched upon with the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs. Sometimes the scheme, game plan, or overall talent from the positional players can mask the deficiencies of the offensive line. And it’s not to say the 49ers are terrible. Trent Williams turns 35 on July 19^th, but he continues to defy father time. Last year he was named to his second straight first-team All-Pro honor and has shown no signs of slowing down. But there were plenty of question marks heading into the 2022 season about the interior portions of the offensive line. Aaron Banks, Spencer Buford, and Jake Brendel didn’t have a ton of experience heading into the 2022 season, but this offensive line made it work. Again, Kyle Shanahan’s offense of utilizing a lot of zone schemes require more athleticism over traditional power blocking techniques. With a year of experience under the belt, it’s valuable to the team that the Killer B’s on the interior portion exceeded expectations. But the big mystery heading into 2023 will be at right tackle as Mike McGlinchey departed for Denver in free agency. Similar to Banks, Brendel, and Burford from a year ago, Colton McKivitz doesn’t have a ton of experience, so he has big shoes to fill. Overall, the 49ers return four starters from 2022 and project to have another strong season in the NFC West.

9. Denver Broncos

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 59.4 (15^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 66.9 (17^th)

2022 wasn’t a great season for this group, but improving the offensive line was a point of emphasis for this organization with Sean Payton taking over as head coach. Lloyd Cushenberry III wasn’t particularly impactful and Garett Bolles broke his leg in Week 5 last year. Assuming both can either return to form or elevate their level of play is a legitimate expectation, but the additions of Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey are big improvements from where this group was at a year ago. Per lineups.com, the Broncos have started 19 different right tackles since 2013, so I tend to agree that McGlinchey is a nice veteran presence to provide stability on the right exterior portion of the line. Strong offensive lines were a staple for Sean Payton’s offenses in New Orleans and it’s a refreshing sign that he brought on Zach Strief to coach this group after playing his entire career under Payton. This offense was an absolute mess last year, but with a coaching change and personnel turnover in place for 2023, there is the expectation they elevate their play and perform like a top ten group.

10. Green Bay Packers

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 55.9 (22^nd)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 77.6 (3^rd)

The Packers usher in a new era sans Aaron Rodgers and they are providing Jordan Love with a pretty strong offensive line. The Packers did have some early-season injuries to David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, but that allowed them to play with different offensive line configurations and get other players some experience. All in all, Bakhtiari only played 11 games, but still performed well when healthy. He allowed just ten pressures and zero sacks all season. Zach Tom impressed in his rookie season but still has room to develop into one of the better right tackles in the league. Jenkins, Runyan, and Myers form a formidable trio on the interior portion of the offensive line and there’s plenty of depth for the Packers to rotate other players in as well. There aren’t too many glaring weaknesses here and you just hope everyone can stay healthy. If that’s the case they could easily be a top five group come season’s end. Heading into the 2023 NFL season, I’m pretty comfortable ranking them in the top ten.

11. Los Angeles Chargers

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 45.7 (32^nd)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 66.7 (18^th)

The Los Angeles Chargers offensive line is one of the more difficult offensive lines to rank ahead of the 2023 NFL season. Their 2022 grades don’t look very good overall, but they only had Rashawn Slater for three games. Slater, a first-round pick in 2021, was named to the Pro Bowl and was second-team All-Pro in his rookie season. So only having him available for three games is a downer. When healthy he’s clearly one of the best left tackles in the entire league. When he’s healthy and this group performs to expectations, they’re probably a top eight offensive line. Corey Linsley was a big free agent acquisition ahead of the 2021 season and he was phenomenal in 2022 where he allowed just seven pressures all season. I’ve seen some depth charts with Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer at right-and-left guard respectively, but regardless of where either of them line up, the interior portion of the line looks promising. Trey Pipkens III is really the biggest question mark if we assume Johnson and Salyer develop more in their sophomore seasons. 

12. Minnesota Vikings

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 74.1 (T-3^rd)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 66.3 (19^th)

Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill played over 1,200 snaps in pass protection combined last year and allowed just 44 total pressures and 11 sacks. The 11 sacks may not be a good look, but overall they did well to keep Kirk Cousins upright. Darrisaw was great even as a rookie, but last year he played like a top three left tackle in the league despite not getting any recognition by the media. The pass protection grade might not look great but the interior portion of the offensive line struggled in that regard. Ed Ingram and Ezra Cleveland allowed 118 pressures which was the most in the league for any guard pairing. Those two also gave up 16 sacks and allowed Cousins to get hit 38 times last season. Cleveland, a 2020 second-round pick, doesn’t have a fifth-year option and has expressed interest in re-signing with Minnesota. However, he’ll need to drastically improve his level of play. Ingram gets a longer leash since he was a rookie in 2022, so he gets the benefit of the doubt. The success of this offensive line is pretty dependent on what they can get out of both guards this year.

13. Chicago Bears

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 73.1 (6^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 68.2 (16^th)

The Chicago Bears may be ranked last of the NFC North offensive lines, but that’s not a knock against them necessarily. The entire division is stacked with formidable offensive lines. There’s a nice blend of youthful and experienced depth here and plenty to be excited about if you’re a Bears fan. Braxton Jones may have allowed seven sacks in 2022 as a rookie, but overall he allowed 29 pressures in 17 games last season and he was a fifth-round draft pick. There’s room for improvement and the coaching staff was probably pleased with what he offered in his first season in the NFL. On the other side of the line’s exterior the Bears added Darnell Wright with the tenth overall draft pick in this year’s draft. Teven Jenkins showed improvement last year as well and the Bears added Nate Davis in free agency to bolster the interior a bit. Overall, the Bears exceeded everyone’s expectations last year. I even ranked them dead last heading into 2022 and that was an absolute whiff by me. Adding Darnell Wright and Nate Davis to an offensive line that was much improved a year ago gives reason to be optimistic about the Bears offense led by Justin Fields heading into 2023.

14. Seattle Seahawks

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 57.6 (18^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 63.6 (20^th)

If there was one offensive line that gave me fits in terms of ranking, it was Seattle. At one point I convinced myself they might be top ten. But then I looked at the results from 2022 and had them around 20^th at one point. Then after reconsidering, I have to still give some optimism to Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. Cross was a first-round pick by Seattle in 2022 and Lucas was a third-round pick in the same draft. The two combined to play over 2,100 snaps but allowed 17 sacks and 80 pressures. So yes, there’s clearly room to improve but both still possess the potential to develop into long-term staples for this group. Evan Brown comes over from Detroit, but he’s only on a one-year deal and Phil Haynes is expected to play more than just a backup role from a year ago. Adding a little depth to this group, the Seahawks drafted Anthony Bradford and Olu Oluwatimi in the fourth and fifth rounds of the NFL Draft. It’s a pretty exciting time if you’re a Seahawks fan as they had a ton of draft capital in this year’s draft and added players like Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon, Zach Charbonnet, and Derick Hall. If Cross and Lucas can take some steps forward in their development, the Seahawks seem primed to be more of a contender in 2023 than just the surprise Wild Card team they were last season.

15. Indianapolis Colts

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 62.0 (13^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 62.9 (23^rd)

I will never waste an opportunity to hype up Quenton Nelson and share all the highlights he has to offer. However, last year was a buzz kill for the All-Pro guard. Nelson missed some time in 2021 but played a full season last year. But overall, he regressed. Nelson allowed just four sacks through his first four seasons yet allowed five last year and this came after he signed a big fat contract extension. Still, when he’s healthy and at his best, there’s no guard in the NFL that plays at his level. Now the Colts do have some other concerns as well because Ryan Kelly regressed as well. But they’re solid at right tackle with Braden Smith. Bernhard Raimann still has some unknown factors to his game, but there’s potential that he could stick. The big mystery will be at right guard and it wouldn’t be all that surprising if rookie Blake Freeland won that starting job. We’re just a few years away from the Colts possessing a top five offensive line. With a new franchise quarterback under center in Anthony Richardson, they’ll definitely need to play better this year after allowing 60 sacks in 2022.

16. Carolina Panthers

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 56.0 (21^st)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 72.8 (11^th)

If there’s a general consensus around the fantasy football industry it’s that the Panthers offensive line is good, but not great. Solid, but unspectacular. The good news is that they do return four starters from a year ago that started all 17 games, while Bradley Bozeman missed six games. There is upside with Ekwonu who was okay in his rookie campaign. He did allow six sacks, but only 27 total pressures. On the interior both Corbett and Christensen provided some consistency and were both fine across the board. As Ekwonu continues to develop, this offensive line could develop into a top 12 group, but again there aren’t any players that stand out as elite options in this group. But they get the job done and should be able to keep Bryce Young upright in his rookie campaign.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 55.6 (T-23^rd)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 58.6 (30^th)

The Cincinnati Bengals made attempts prior to 2022 to improve the offensive line. While the efforts were nice it didn’t necessarily translate to on-field production. I could be far too low on this group, so I'm hoping they prove me wrong and bounce back. Ted Karras and Alex Cappa certainly helped the interior portion of the offensive line, but the exterior was still a problem. I think it’s time we declare Jonah Williams a bust. The former first-round pick did suffer devastating injuries early in his career, but he played all 17 games last year and allowed 13 sacks. That’s awful for a starting left tackle. So the Bengals will shift him to right tackle after signing Orlando Brown Jr., who is fresh off a Super Bowl win with Kansas City. Brown is an upgrade over Williams and while Williams did request a trade, it’s unlikely he gets his wish. His best option is probably to play out the season with the Bengals to improve his own stock. The Bengals also have incredible depth with names like Jackson Carman, Max Scharping, Cody Ford, and La’el Collins also on the roster. Collins likely starts the season on the PUP list and could start at right tackle midway through the season. There are names on this list that can push this group into the top ten offensive lines in the NFL. Names aren’t enough, however. They have to put it all together to get Cincinnati back to the Super Bowl in February.

18. Miami Dolphins

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 69.5 (7^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 58.1 (31^st)

The good news for the offensive line personnel is that the Dolphins didn’t make too many changes in the offseason. Perhaps the most notable addition is Isaiah Wynn who comes over from New England and could compete for a starting job on the interior, but health has always been a concern for him. Pass protection was awful for the Dolphins in 2022 and it looks worse when you consider the severity of Tua Tagovailoa’s concussions from a year ago. But the 2022 additions of Terron Armstead and Connor Williams were great. Both played well, even Armstead who did miss a couple games with injury. Liam Eichenberg struggled after moving from tackle to guard. Perhaps the addition of Wynn is to add a little competition for Eichenberg’s job. But the big loss last year was Austin Jackson, who only played 84 snaps. If he’s healthy then Armstead and Jackson have a chance to be a top eight tackle duo in the National Football League. They don’t have as much depth as Cincinnati, but the upside is similar if the starters can stay healthy.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 58.0 (16^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 69.5 (14^th)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a bit like the Carolina Panthers. They’re solid, but nothing special. They graded out just fine last year per Pro Football Focus. The good news is that their starters stayed healthy for the most part last year as they all appeared in 17 games. They beefed up the left side of the line by signing Isaac Seumalo from their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and they moved up in the draft to select Broderick Jones out of Georgia. Jones was a starter for just one season in college, but he graded out as one of the best offensive line prospects in the draft. They also added Nate Herbig and Le’Raven Clark to add a little depth, but those aren’t really big splashes. Decent pieces overall? Sure, but there aren’t really any studs in this group, but Jones could develop into a special talent in time.

20. Houston Texans

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 47.9 (29^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 60.9 (28^th)

The Texans fit the bill as one of those offensive lines that is great on the exterior, but they have questions and concerns on the interior. Laremy Tunsil, to some, is probably the best left tackle in the game today. He played in all 17 games last year and allowed just 17 pressures and one sack. On the other side of the offensive line, Tytus Howard wasn’t spectacular but he was solid appearing in all 17 games and allowing three sacks. But holy moly, the interior was an abomination. Between A.J. Cann, Scott Quessenberry, and Kenyon Green they combined for 2,800+ snaps and allowed 117 pressures and 19 sacks. Green and Quessenberry, in particular, graded under 30.0 in pass protection according to Pro Football Focus. Kenyon Green is still raw. The organization isn’t giving up yet on their 2022 first-round pick. And the front office also went out and traded for Shaq Mason while using a second-round pick in this year’s draft to select Juice Scruggs. The addition of Mason alone should signal an improvement on the interior. And with the team drafting C.J. Stroud in the first round of this year’s draft, perhaps his athleticism and mobility knock down the sack totals. At the very least, he has one of the best left tackles in the league blocking for him. But I believe this is an offensive line that can maybe jump into the top 16 come season’s end and be a surprise group with a new quarterback and new head coach calling the shots.

21. New England Patriots

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 56.7 (20^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 72.5 (12^th)

This one hurts on a personal level. I am a Patriots fan and was happy to rank them inside the top ten in recent years. But there’s no denying that there are serious question marks with this group. Ted Karras, Marcus Cannon, Isaiah Wynn, Joe Thuney, and Shaq Mason are all gone from previous seasons. So sure, there are some fresh faces. Mike Onwenu made significant strides last season playing in all 17 games and allowing just 14 pressures and one sack on the interior portion of the line. Cole Strange, the rookie first-round pick from 2022, certainly had his own struggles allowing 23 pressures and five sacks while also grading poorly in run blocking. Even Trent Brown, who is normally a top 12 left tackle at worst showed signs of aging in 2022 after he allowed 39 pressures and eight sacks. Nobody expected Dante Scarnecchia to stick around and coach forever, but last year was a bit of a low point for the New England Patriots offensive line. The pass protection grade might be a bit misleading because they weren’t exactly running the most aggressive plays on offense that required deep throws. Even Mac Jones was vocal about the play calling in 2022. But with Bill O’Brien back with control of the offense, maybe we see more excitement in 2023. The team also used some mid-round draft picks on Sidy Sow, Jake Andrews, and Atonio Mafi to add a little depth so maybe they strike gold with one or two of them similar to Onwenu. 

22. New Orleans Saints

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 53.0 (26^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 61.7 (T-26^th)

Part of me feels guilty for having the Saints this low. But there’s also a part of me that feels this might be too high. If you look at this starting five, they were all either first-or-second round draft picks. And maybe it’s the investment that has me overly optimistic about this group and that’s perhaps my own flaw. But the exterior should be fine as Derek Carr adjusts to his new digs in the bayou. Ryan Ramczyk is a solid constant for this group. Trevor Penning is still a bit of an unknown. Some NFL experts liked the Saints selecting him in the first round. Others hated it. But with that label, expectations are high and he was limited due to injuries in his rookie season. But he has a nastiness to him that you can’t teach. Penning kicked off his tenure with the Saints by being kicked out of training camp on day three for fighting with a teammate. Maybe he can channel that immaturity to picking fights with the opposition on Sundays, but his sophomore campaign will be huge for his development. Erik McCoy was fine at center allowing just one sack and 11 pressures. But the production out of Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz at guard was a huge problem. Both dealt with injuries and graded out poorly in both run-and-pass blocking. I have no concerns about Ramczyk and McCoy. And the jury is still out on Penning. If he pans out and looks good in his second year then at least the Saints have someone that can protect Carr’s blindside. But despite the first-round investments on Peat and Ruiz, the interior portion of the line could struggle.

23. New York Jets

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 22.0 (27^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 59.2 (29^th)

The Jets certainly have potential and promise with a few of these younger players. But honestly, with Aaron Rodgers coming to town I expect that he’ll be able to get rid of the ball quick enough to mask any deficiencies this group may have. It still remains to be seen who will start at left guard. My guess is Duane Brown because of his experience, but would I be surprised if its Mekhi Becton? A bit, but it’s not like it would be a stunning move. Becton, while still young and talented, has dealt with knee injuries the last two seasons and throwing him into the fire at left tackle is a big ask by the coaching staff. I’m sure the coaches and Aaron Rodgers prefer to go with Brown. Laken Tomlinson provides a solid veteran presence at left guard. But from center to the right side of the line we have some young players, including Becton who we’ve already discussed. Joe Tippmann was a second-round pick in this year’s draft and he expressed plenty of excitement in getting to work with Rodgers this coming year. Alijah Vera-Tucker, a first-round pick in 2021, suffered a torn muscle in his arm midway through last season and was shut down after that. The Jets have okay depth with the rest of the offensive line, but an injury to any of the starters signals an immediate downgrade for the group as a whole. Naturally, we probably would’ve felt better if they were able to land Broderick Jones in April’s draft, but there are good pieces here to help the Jets contend in the AFC East. But getting everyone to stay healthy could be a challenge.

24. Arizona Cardinals

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 47.0 (T-30^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 71.6 (13^th) 

On paper, the Cardinals offensive doesn’t look all that bad. And they have one of the better problems you can ask for with depth at offensive tackle. When healthy, D.J. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum haven’t necessarily done anything to lose their jobs. I mention “losing” their jobs because the Cardinals went out and drafted Paris Johnson Jr., who was regarded as the best offensive line prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnson could probably start at right tackle, but again, Beachum is there. So the Cardinals can easily slot Johnson Jr. in at left guard and let him get his feet wet in the NFL at that position. From there it’s a pretty decent group with okay depth. Josh Jones looked fine last year, but unfortunately he’ll likely have to compete for a starting job in training camp. They even signed Hjalte Froholdt to be their center after he mostly played a depth/utility role with Cleveland. Ranking them 24^th might be too low since I don’t have too many issues with the personnel or the changes they made in the offseason. I guess I want to see how this group looks and performs first and if they do well, then I’ll be writing them up a year from now saying I was too low on them heading into 2023.

25. Buffalo Bills

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 50.2 (28^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 63.0 (22^nd)

The Buffalo Bills offensive line has been a weakness for a few years. Overall, they just seem to underperform. Is it what’s keeping them from a Super Bowl appearance? Maybe. But the offense thrives and excels just fine even if this group is putting up rather pedestrian performances. If they didn’t have Dion Dawkins, this group would be in some serious trouble. Dawkins has made back-to-back Pro Bowls and last year he appeared in all 17 games, allowed 37 pressures and four sacks. The pressures seem high compared to other elite left tackles in the game. Fortunately, Josh Allen is good enough on his feet to scramble and make plays on his own. Perhaps Dawkins’ goal for 2023 should be to improve on the 13 penalties he drew last year. They did add David Edwards and Connor McGovern (the one previous with the Cowboys, not the Jets) and they took O’Cyrus Torrence in the second round as well. So the interior of the line should be better, and Mitch Morse is coming off a Pro Bowl season at center. It’s good to see the front office actively look to improve the offensive line. But there are still concerns with Spencer Brown on the right side of the line and they just don’t strike me as a top 20 offensive line overall.

26. Las Vegas Raiders

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 57.9 (17^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 73.0 (T-9^th)

I’ve seen a lot of hype around the Raiders offensive line heading into the season. I’ve even seen some rank them far higher than I am so I apologize to Raider Nation if they feel slighted by my own opinion. As far as 2022 goes, both Kolton Miller (84.8) and Jermaine Eluemunor (76.1) graded out pretty well per Pro Football Focus. They combined for 59 pressures and seven sacks across 17 games so the exterior wasn’t an issue. The interior was a roller coaster for Vegas. Alex Bars and Dylan Parham allowed a combined 93 pressures and 11 sacks and both were in the bottom ten at their respective position. So if you’re angry with me ranking them 26^th heading into 2023, then you’re more optimistic they can replicate their performance from a year ago. I’m honestly stunned they even put up a top ten pass protection grade a year ago, but they were carried by Miller and Eluemunor. The Raiders didn’t really make any changes or additions to the offensive line. They didn’t utilize a single draft pick to improve the offensive line nor did they make a splash in free agency. I think they over-performed a year ago and will likely regress this season with Jimmy Garoppolo under center.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 47.0 (T-30^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 73.5 (6^th)

Assuming all was right in the world, Cam Robinson would be the starting left tackle for Jacksonville and the Jaguars may not even be considering a tackle in the 2023 NFL draft. But it was announced in late April that Robinson was likely to be suspended for PED’s, and while we haven’t seen anything official yet, we can assume Anton Harrison gets first crack at the starting left tackle job. By all accounts, it sounds like he could be a work in progress which isn’t very promising for a team with playoff aspirations. Luke Fortner allowed 32 pressures which is dreadful for a center. Fortunately, he only yielded one sack. And Brandon Scherff had arguably one of his worst seasons allowing 27 pressures and six sacks. There’s no doubt about it, the Jags would definitely be ranked higher if a suspension wasn’t looming for Robinson. But given that it’s very likely he misses some time this year, that glaring hole at left tackle does hurt this group that has some other concerns as well. (Update: This portion of the article was written before Robinson’s suspension. He will miss the team’s first four games as well announced at the end of June.)

28. Washington Commanders

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 55.6 (T-23^rd)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 61.7 (T-26^th)

Charles Leno Jr. played in every game a year ago and was strong in pass protection but had his struggling in run blocking. Overall, there was an effort to improve this offensive line in the offseason. They added Andrew Wylie to play right tackle after he had a relatively poor season with the Kansas City Chiefs that still resulted in a Super Bowl ring. Nick Gates comes over in free agency and the team drafted Ricky Stromberg to potentially compete for a starting job in training camp. Realistically he could earn a starting spot right away given the question marks surrounding a lot of these names. This is a unique situation because this team seems committed to giving Sam Howell a shot as the starting quarterback. But it honestly feels like he might end up on the turf a decent amount this year with a hazardous offensive line blocking in front of him.

29. New York Giants

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 60.5 (14^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 62.6 (24^th)

The Giants have a young duo on the exterior with Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal. Thomas was excellent in 2022. He appeared in 16 games and allowed just three sacks on 21 pressures. The rest of the group had their problems. The Giants used a top ten draft pick on Evan Neal to hopefully give them an elite pairing to protect Daniel Jones. But Neal, in 13 games, allowed 39 pressures and seven sacks according to Pro Football Focus. The team lost Nick Gates in free agency to the Commanders, but they added John Michael Schmitz Jr. in the second round of April’s draft and he should start immediately in the first week of the season. However, there isn’t a ton of confidence on the interior with Mark Glowinski and Ben Bredeson. Don’t be surprised if Joshua Ezeudu wins a starting job over those two. It’s great to have a young, talented player like Thomas protecting your quarterback’s blindside. The Giants are set at left tackle, but they have too much uncertainty elsewhere on the offensive line. 2023 will be a big year in the development of Evan Neal.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 54.0 (25^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 76.9 (4^th)

You have to give the Buccaneers credit. For years they were just a step away from being a legitimate contender in the NFC. Jameis Winston wasn’t quite enough to elevate them as an organization so they went and acquired Tom Brady who got them their second Super Bowl in franchise history in addition to two more division titles. The Bucs went all in and they got a championship. But with Tom Brady retiring (again), the Bucs usher in a new era and it comes with changes to the offensive line as well. Donovan Smith was released after eight seasons with the team and he’s now with the Kansas City Chiefs as he looks to go for another Super Bowl ring. They also traded away Shaq Mason for a late-round draft pick this past offseason. Let’s not forget, the Bucs pass protection grade and their 22 sacks allowed last season, look great because Brady had such a quick release and wasn’t willing to take a beating or a sack. So Tampa likely shifts Tristan Wirfs to left tackle allowing them to see what they have with Luke Goedeke at right tackle after taking him in the second-round last year. They also used a second-round pick this year on Cody Mauch so the right side of that line is looking very youthful. The anchor of the offensive line, Ryan Jensen, battled knee injuries all last year so his status will be worth monitoring. I might be a bit low on this group, but the personnel turnover is worrisome as the organization ushers in a new era.

31. Los Angeles Rams

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 57.3 (19^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 62.0 (25^th)

The Rams 2022 season was pretty much doomed before it even started. Rookie Logan Bruss suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the preseason and from there it was a domino effect of injuries. Joe Noteboom was supposed to replace Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, but he tore his achilles in the middle of the season. Rob Havenstein was the only starter to appear in every game and even he allowed 41 pressures. Overall, it was an abysmal year for the Rams after winning the Super Bowl the year prior. But the Rams were fortunate to land Steve Avila in April’s draft and he graded as one of the best interior line prospects coming out of TCU. Noteboom can still develop into a respectable replacement for Big Whit, although those are massive shoes to fill. And the jury is still out on Bruss as he comes back from injury. The Rams also haven’t had the luxury of early-round draft capital to invest more talent in both sides of the ball. And as you can see from the table above they don’t exactly have the depth that other teams do. Could they possibly be a top 20 offensive line this year? Sure, but that argument could apply to every team in this range and the Rams have too many unknown factors.

32. Tennessee Titans

2022 PFF Run Blocking Grade: 62.1 (12^th)

2022 PFF Pass Protection Grade: 52.4 (32^nd)

This was a bad offensive line last year. Just awful. It didn’t help that Taylor Lewan went down with injury early in the 2022 season, but the Titans released him this past offseason and he’s hinted at retirement. He has a successful podcast with Barstool Sports so I can’t imagine he’s desperate to get back on the field unless he absolutely just misses the camaraderie and competitive nature of the game. Aaron Brewer moves over from guard to center and the Titans also added Andre Dillard and Daniel Brunskill in an attempt to overhaul the offensive line. The big splash they made was drafting Peter Skoronski with their first-round pick in April’s draft. Skoronski was certainly an elite offensive line prospect, but he doesn’t have the longest arms so draft experts weren’t sure if he was better suited at guard or tackle. Fortunately for Tennessee, they needed help at both positions so it was a perfect fit. Not much is expected for this offensive line, but if it makes any Titans fans feel better, I ranked the Bears offensive line dead last heading into the 2022 season and they turned out pretty well.

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