Determining which team fielded the best offensive line in the NFL is often a difficult question. High-end talent is important, but given the offensive line is a weak-link position where even one poor spot can result in disaster, depth is just as critical. However, one OL reigned supreme from wire to wire in 2022.
Who Has the Best Offensive Line in the NFL?
Outstanding at both pass and run blocking, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line was in the top spot in our rankings since the preseason and helped propel Philadelphia to a Super Bowl appearance.
Right tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce are arguably the two best players at their positions in the NFL, while Jordan Mailata is a top-10 offensive tackle. Although the Eagles could lose right guard Isaac Seumalo to free agency, their front five should keep rolling thanks to offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
Offensive Line Rankings 2-11
2) Kansas City Chiefs
Like the Browns, the Chiefs are strongest on the interior, where Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith reside.
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Orlando Brown Jr. has given Kansas City league-average tackle play since coming over from the Ravens. Now that he’s a free agent again, the Chiefs opted against using a second consecutive franchise tag, preferring to take their chances retaining Brown on the open market.
3) Cleveland Browns
Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio represent the No. 1 guard tandem in the league, while free agent addition Ethan Pocic was a welcome surprise at center. Cleveland boasted the NFL’s most efficient run game by a wide margin, and the front five is a critical part of that effort.
4) New England Patriots
Finally allowed to reside at a single position, right guard Michael Onwenu was dominant, especially as a pass protector. The Patriots still need to figure out their right tackle situation, but they appear set at four of five spots up front.
5) Baltimore Ravens
Blocking for Lamar Jackson is different than blocking for most NFL quarterbacks, and the Ravens had to integrate several new faces in 2022. Rookie center Tyler Linderbaum and veteran right tackle Morgan Moses just wrapped up their first seasons in Baltimore, while left Ronnie Stanley stayed healthy for 11 games after missing the better part of two years.
6) Detroit Lions
Injuries affected Detroit’s interior and left them with a consistent weak link at right guard. But the Lions have above-average talent everywhere else. Right tackle Penei Sewell has lived up to his top-10 draft status and then some.
7) Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons offered the league’s most surprising OL performance in 2022. Atlanta’s run-heavy offensive scheme and prevalent use of play-action in the passing game often made it easy on the team’s line, but right guard Chris Lindstrom was a second-team All-Pro, while right tackle Kaleb McGary may have earned himself a significant free agent contract.
8) Green Bay Packers
Left tackle David Bakhtiari was excellent when he was on the field, although injury setbacks limited him to 11 games. With a 2023 cap charge nearing $30 million and a $9.5 million roster bonus due March 17, the Packers will have to make a decision on the veteran blindside protector.
9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injuries and effectiveness downgraded the Buccaneers’ front five from elite to above-average last season. With center Ryan Jensen back for a full campaign in 2023, Tampa Bay’s line should rebound, especially if they make improvements at left guard. Tristan Wirfs remains elite at right tackle.
10) Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys may no longer have the best offensive line in the NFL, but they’re still a top-10 unit in our book. Right guard Zack Martin is a future Hall of Famer, and rookie Tyler Smith looked like a competent left tackle from Day 1. Will Dallas hang onto 33-year-old Tyron Smith, who is entering the final year of his contract?
Top Offensive Lines Remaining
11) San Francisco 49ers
I had a lot of questions about San Francisco’s inexperienced interior heading into the season, but Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, and Spencer Burford held up surprisingly well. Boasting Trent Williams — the best offensive lineman in football — at left tackle significantly raises the 49ers’ ceiling.
12) Minnesota Vikings
Credit to first-year Vikings OL coach Chris Kuper, who got the best performance out of a Minnesota line in years. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill look like a long-term tackle pairing, but the Vikings will need to monitor guard, where rookie Ed Ingram gave up more pressures than any lineman in the league.
13) Carolina Panthers
Rookie left tackle Ikem Ekwonu showed improvement down the stretch, while free agent addition Austin Corbett gave the Panthers a solid performance at guard before tearing his ACL in Week 18. Left guard Brady Christensen may not be ready for the start of the 2023 campaign after suffering an injury of his own, while center Bradley Bozeman is a free agent.
14) Los Angeles Chargers
LA’s offensive line missed left Rashawn Slater for most of the season, but his injury allowed the Chargers to get a look at sixth-round rookie Jamaree Salyer, who could be a long-term starter. With Slater set to return and incumbent right tackle Trey Pipkins a pending free agent, Salyer could take over on the right side as he enters his second NFL season.
15) Indianapolis Colts
Ranking the Colts this highly following their disastrous season amounts to a bet on Quenton Nelson and Bernhard Raimann. It seems nearly impossible Nelson will post as poor a campaign as he did in 2022, while Raimann — a third-round rookie — performed well enough late in the season that he should be penciled in as Indy’s starting left tackle.
16) Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals were decimated by offensive line injuries prior to the postseason. Center Ted Karras and Alex Cappa will be back in 2023, but right tackle La’el Collins is a release candidate. Cincinnati will likely give Jonah Williams another season at left tackle, but they could draft his successor as early as Round 1.
17) New Orleans Saints
After starting just a single game in his rookie season, Trevor Penning will spend the entire offseason as the Saints’ starting left tackle. New Orleans was slowed by OL injuries last year, but with Cesar Ruiz and Ryan Ramczyk back healthy, the Saints are in line for improvement. Left guard Andrus Peat could be a post-June 1 cut.
18) Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars seem likely to lose Jawaan Taylor in free agency, but former second-round pick Walker Little can step in at right tackle.
MORE: Who are the highest-paid offensive tackles in the NFL?
Left tackle Cam Robinson and right guard Brandon Scherff give Jacksonville a high floor, and there’s room for center Luke Fortner — who started all 17 games as a rookie — to improve.
19) Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders steadily climbed our offensive line rankings as they figured out the combination they liked best up front. Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham, and Andre James form a solid foundation from left to right. Las Vegas can use its ample cap space to find better solutions at right guard and right tackle.
20) Chicago Bears
Left tackle Braxton Jones was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 draft, while right guard Teven Jenkins appeared to be rapidly approaching bust status. However, both young players now look like core members of Chicago’s OL. If the Bears can find right tackle help, this unit could ascend quickly.
21) Miami Dolphins
Terron Armstead missed his customary time with injuries, but he was outstanding when he was available to play. Fellow free agent signing Connor Williams also showed out while transitioning from guard to center. The Dolphins seem likely to find a new right tackle in what will be a strong 2023 free agent class.
22) Houston Texans
Laremy Tunsil may never live up to the trade that sent him from Miami to Houston, but he’s playing some of the best football of his career. Given that he’s due a $35 million cap charge next season, the Texans will likely extend the veteran left tackle. Improvement from 2022 first-rounder Kenyon Green will raise the ceiling of Houston’s front.
23) Los Angeles Rams
Sure, the Rams didn’t adequately build enough offensive line depth heading into 2022 — but no one could have predicted the rash of injuries they had to deal with. In left tackle Joe Noteboom, center Brian Allen, and right tackle Rob Havenstein, L.A. has three above-average starters. Now, they just have to figure out their guard situation.
24) Denver Broncos
Strong offensive lines were a focal point of Sean Payton’s tenure in New Orleans, but there’s work to be done in Denver. Dalton Risner and all of the Broncos’ 2022 right tackles are free agents, while Garett Bolles may need to accept a pay cut or be released. 2021 third-round guard Quinn Meinerz has become Denvers’ best offensive lineman.
25) Buffalo Bills
Left tackle Dion Dawkins was the only above-average member of Buffalo’s offensive line last season. The Bills could use new starters at right tackle and both guard spots, but they probably can’t manage that much turnover in one offseason.
26) Pittsburgh Steelers
Guard James Daniels proved to be of the best free agent signings of the year, and he’s still only 25 years old. The Steelers managed to field the same five-man line for the entire season, a rarity in today’s game. There’s no superstar in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers may eventually need to replace left tackle Dan Moore Jr.
27) Seattle Seahawks
John Schneider’s 2022 draft class looks like a home run, and rookie tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas were key pieces of that effort. Both had their ups and downs throughout the year, but Seattle may have found its bookends for the next decade.
28) Washington Commanders
Tackles Charles Leno Jr. and Sam Cosmi will be back next season, but the future of Washington’s interior is less certain.
Free agent addition Andrew Norwell was a below-average guard, while center Chase Roullier could be released after dealing with numerous injuries. The Commanders’ No. 16 overall pick should be used on an offensive lineman.
29) New York Jets
Alijah Vera-Tucker lined up at left tackle, right tackle, and his customary right guard position in 2022 and played them all well. It’s still unclear what spot he’ll fill next season, but AVT and Laken Tomlinson are the only locked-in members of Gang Green’s OL. The Jets have a lot to sort through at offensive tackle, where Duane Brown, Mekhi Becton, and Max Mitchell could compete for roles.
30) New York Giants
Andrew Thomas has developed into one of the best left tackles in the NFL, but the rest of the Giants’ line needs work. Right tackle Evan Neal struggled mightily in his rookie season, but Thomas is proof that teams shouldn’t give up on young linemen too early. Free agent investments along the interior should make sense for Big Blue.
31) Arizona Cardinals
Aside from left tackle D.J. Humphries, the Cardinals’ offensive line could look a lot different in 2023. Justin Pugh, Will Hernandez, and Kelvin Beachum are all free agents, while Rodney Hudson could retire or be released. Arizona needs a complete reset and an injection of youth up front.
32) Tennessee Titans
The Titans have already released left tackle Taylor Lewan, and they can’t turn back to replacement Dennis Daley again. Right guard Nate Davis is a free agent, leaving center Ben Jones as Tennessee’s only reliable lineman. The Titans desperately need OL help, but they have needs all over the rest of their roster, too.