The foundation of any great NFL offense is the five starting linemen.
While skill players like quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers rack up the stats and are most fans’ favorite players, the O-line enables everything they do.
We’ve seen just how important line play can be, from dominant units that elevate an average skill group to contenders that lose a key lineman or two down the stretch and really struggle.
Let’s take a look at the state of each team’s offensive line going into the 2023 season and rank each unit from the worst to first.
NFL Offensive Line Power Rankings 32-21
32. New Orleans Saints
Someone has to be last; this time, it’s the New Orleans Saints.
This group was 26th in Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) pass and run blocking grades, and several of the squads below them in each category either were stronger in the other or made some offseason moves to shore up their issues.
Not much has changed for the Saints, where right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is a definitive bright spot, but there’s not too much around him to get excited about on this offensive line.
31. Arizona Cardinals
The only reason the Cardinals can’t injure their franchise quarterback with terrible line play is because he’s already down; Kyler Murray is on the PUP list after tearing his ACL late last season.
D.J. Humphries and Will Hernandez had solid campaigns last year but will be surrounded by a lot of change after Arizona lost four interior linemen over the offseason.
The good news is that expectations aren’t high for the Cardinals, who are widely expected to contend for the No. 1 overall pick, so there is plenty of room to grow and improve for next year and beyond.
30. Tennessee Titans
For a team that will lean on the run with Derrick Henry still in the fold and a middling, at best, QB situation, the Titans have a pretty brutal O-line.
However, Henry is one of the very few backs in today’s game that can succeed without a ton of help, but at age 29, it would be great if he could carry a bit less of the burden.
Mainstay left tackle Taylor Lewan is gone, as are fellow 2022 starters, center Ben Jones and right guard Nate Davis. There’s a lot of change going on in Nashville, and not much of it is positive.
29. Los Angeles Rams
When the Rams won Super Bowl LVI, they had the best pass-protecting line in the league and the 11th-best run-blocking unit, per PFF.
Last year, neither grade was above league average, with its mark in pass protection ranking 25th in the league.
Rob Havenstein is a decent tackle who will anchor a group that is going through a lot of change, although that might be a good thing given the performances from most of the starters from last year.
28. Buffalo Bills
Like the rest of their division mates (who we will cover in a moment), the Bills have a strong roster but some serious issues up front.
- See where Buffalo ranks in our full NFL Power Rankings.
These problems have been masked to a degree by Josh Allen’s athleticism and playstyle that takes him out of the pocket. But as we’ve seen against top competition, Allen can only take them so far.
Connor McGovern is a huge addition at guard, coming over from the division-rival Jets, but the huge question mark is the tackle opposite Dion Dawkins. It looks like that job will belong to Spencer Brown, who was horrible last season.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Donovan Smith and Shaq Mason gone, mega-talent Tristan Wirfs (second overall in PFF’s lineman rankings) is pretty much alone holding together Tampa Bay’s O-line.
Center Ryan Jensen is set to miss the 2023 season, and without Tom Brady bailing this unit out with the league’s quickest time to throw, it’s hard to imagine them having anything other than a genuinely abysmal performance.
26. New England Patriots
These aren’t the Patriots we’ve come to know over the past couple of decades. The mighty have truly fallen, and the offensive line is no exception.
Key pieces Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon are gone, veteran center David Andrews had a rough year, while puzzling 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange is dealing with a leg injury.
New England’s O-line hasn’t been in great shape since longtime position coach Dante Scarnecchia called it quits, and this year should be no exception.
25. New York Jets
After a busy offseason, highlighted by the addition of Aaron Rodgers, the Jets are a pretty complete team, but they are already dealing with some injuries on what wasn’t a great line to begin with.
Duane Brown just started practicing, Alijah Vera-Tucker is banged up again, and it’s impossible to know if Mekhi Becton will be 100% for an extended period.
New York has some talent up front, but getting and keeping everyone healthy will be a challenge.
24. Miami Dolphins
If there’s anything that could hold back the Dolphins, who are otherwise one of the best teams in the league, it’s their offensive line.
This is especially true given the tenuous health situation of Tua Tagovailoa since any hit the line allows him to take could end in disaster.
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To make matters worse, an already-questionable line has been bit by the injury bug, as Terron Armstead, the team’s best tackle, and guard Liam Eichenburg have gotten banged up this preseason.
Guys like Austin Jackson and to a lesser extent Robert Hunt will have to step up and pick up the slack.
23. Washington Commanders
The stakes aren’t too high for the Commanders this year, so it’ll be a good opportunity to see what they have in an offensive line that will be experiencing a lot of change.
However, some of that change is for the better. A healthy Chase Roullier could be a massive boost to this unit, as he should be an upgrade over the departed Trai Turner, who did not have a solid 2022 season.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars lost tackle Jawaan Taylor, who finished in the top 50 of PFF’s pass-blocking metric, to the Chiefs this offseason. In his place, Stanford product Walker Little is set to play an expanded role after appearing in both playoff games a year ago.
Advanced measures were split on Jacksonville’s pass blocking a year ago, although most agreed that the run blocking left something to be desired. With higher aspirations this year, they’ll need to run the ball effectively and close out wins.
21. New York Giants
After being questioned early in his career, Andrew Thomas has blossomed into one of the league’s best left tackles, a very welcomed development for Giants fans.
That being said, the positives sort of stop there. New York ranked 24th in PFF’s pass-blocking grade, and failed to add anyone of note over the offseason.
They’ll need more from their current players, namely RT Evan Neal, who had a rough rookie campaign in which he was graded below a 50 in all three PFF blocking categories.
NFL Offensive Line Power Rankings 20-11
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s best to be cautiously optimistic with this group, which was implausibly healthy last season and it’s unreasonable to assume that the same will happen again in 2023.
As is the case for most teams with a young QB, the priority here is taking care of Kenny Pickett, who showed some promise in his rookie campaign.
The best pass blockers in front of him will be guard Isaac Seumalo, an offseason from Philadelphia, and left tackle Dan Moore Jr..
19. Chicago Bears
This unit would be a lot higher on this list if it weren’t for some key injuries.
Chicago’s O-line was a lot better than it may have seemed last year, and certainly better than anyone expected it to be.
Braxton Jones looks great this preseason and should take a leap in his second year, but key guys like Teven Jenkins, free agent acquisition Nate Davis, and first-rounder Darnell Wright are all varying degrees of hurt.
Their respective statuses will have a huge impact on the Bears’ ceiling this season.
18. Houston Texans
This won’t be the last time I say it, but it’s incredibly important for a young quarterback to join a team with at least a decent offensive line, and it’s looking like the Texans have done that for C.J. Stroud.
The unit didn’t grade out particularly well last year, but tackle duo Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard were strong in pass protection, especially Tunsil who topped PFF’s pass blocking ranks.
Two-time Super Bowl champ Shaq Mason was a significant addition in the offseason, as he will raise the level of a subpar interior group.
17. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks came into last season with question marks across the offensive line, but things went pretty well as they provided Geno Smith with plenty of time to throw throughout his resurgent season.
Most of this group remains intact, with the main change being the loss of center Austin Blythe, who will be replaced by Evan Brown, a former Lion who mostly played guard last season.
16. Carolina Panthers
While it’s tempting to grab a young quarterback in the draft the first chance you get, the right thing to do is to start by building a line to protect him.
The Panthers have done just that, as No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young is entering a situation where he’ll be playing behind a competent offensive line that features 2022 first-round LT Ikem Ekwonu.
This unit doesn’t have a ton of star power, but RT Taylor Moton ranked 13th in PFF’s pass-blocking rankings, while Auston Corbet was also solid at guard.
15. Cincinnati Bengals
While Cincinnati’s O-line isn’t necessarily a contender to be the best in the league, it’s better than some that Joe Burrow has played behind in his short career.
That should be a scary thought for opposing defenses.
- See where Burrow ranks in our top-50 NFL QB Power Rankings.
After completely overhauling the line a year ago, the Bengals added one more starter this offseason in former Chief Orlando Brown Jr., who should help a ton in pass protection.
With Ted Karras and Alex Cappa anchoring a decent interior line, Burrow stands a better chance than ever of staying upright throughout the season.
14. Indianapolis Colts
For several years now, this line has been anchored by three-time first-team All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, but he put in a career-worst performance in 2022.
At age 27, he has every ability to bounce back and show that it was a fluke, especially since he’s surrounded by a solid tackle duo of Braden Smith and Bernhard Raimann.
Ryan Kelly, who enters his eighth season in Indy, is a stabilizing force at center, tying together what should be a pretty solid O-line.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
As is the case in so many ways with the Chargers, this is a talented group, we just need to see them put it all together at the same time.
After ranking 18th in PFF’s pass-blocking rankings last season, Los Angeles will have to take a step forward as new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s system requires time for Justin Herbert to stretch opposing defenses downfield.
The players to get the job done are in the building. The interior line is a particular strength, with Corey Linsley, Jamaree Salyer, and Zion Johnson comprising a group that can only be described as a healthy balance between youth and veteran know-how.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Christian Darrisaw may not have gotten much recognition from the media, but PFF believed he was the second-best tackle and third-best offensive lineman in 2022.
Brian O’Neill was also solid at the other tackle spot, while Ezra Cleveland and Garrett Bradbury contributed nice seasons.
All four of those guys return to give Minnesota a top O-line this season.
11. Denver Broncos
Denver’s offensive line was disastrous last year, allowing the most sacks in the NFL (63), but this offseason yielded a new head coach as well as a significant influx of O-line talent, headlined by Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers.
LT Garett Bolles, who had already become a nice comeback story after improving massively over the last couple of seasons, will look to bounce back from injury after missing 12 games last year.
With improved depth and top-end talent, this line could be one of the league’s best after a huge letdown season.
NFL Offensive Line Power Rankings 10-1
10. Dallas Cowboys
Our top 10 kicks off with none other than the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line, a unit that has long been a central part of the team’s identity.
Zack Martin and Tyron Smith have been stalwarts of this unit for years, but the 32-year-old Smith missed 13 games last year. We’ll have to see how he looks this season after he wasn’t particularly effective even when healthy in 2022.
However, 2022 first-rounder Tyler Smith was solid in relief and will look to build on his strong debut season.
9. Las Vegas Raiders
For a team with a star running back but infinite questions at quarterback, it’s a wonderful thing to have a solid offensive line.
Kolton Miller was outstanding at tackle last year, ranking fourth in run block win rate and ninth overall in PFF’s offense grade.
With a lot of continuity around Miller — including Jermaine Eluemunor, who is coming off of a great year at right guard — this line will be a bright spot in what could be a very dark season in Las Vegas.
8. San Francisco 49ers
This isn’t a bad Niners line by any stretch, but it’s certainly not akin to the ones that have helped them absolutely bulldoze through the league, even when they haven’t had star QBs or offensive skill players.
Of course, it’s worth noting that this isn’t a ranking of individual players, but rather how they work together as a unit. I’m sure head coach Kyle Shanahan will have this group in tip-top form before long, but in terms of overall talent, losing Daniel Brunskill and Mike McGlinchey really hurts.
- Find out where Shanahan sits in our NFL Head Coach Power Rankings.
All-Pro Trent Williams, the best tackle in PFF’s rankings remains, but the all-time great is now 35. It’s fair to wonder how close he is to falling off a bit, and now would be a really bad time to do so.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
As we learned from none other than the Chiefs in 2020, it’s very hard to win a Super Bowl with a poor offensive line. Last year, Kansas City won it all with a much better unit.
PFF considered the Chiefs to be the third-best run-blocking unit and ninth in pass protection, as KC did a much better job with the all-important task of keeping Patrick Mahomes upright when he either passes from the pocket or goes on one of his scrambling adventures.
Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie are significant losses but All-Pros Joe Thuney and Creed Humphrey will be anchors for the newcomers.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Viewed by many as an offense on the rise heading into the 2023 season, Atlanta had a sharp O-line a season ago that will be key to their hopes of resurgence.
Guard Chris Lindstrom was an All-Pro and the top offensive lineman in PFF’s rankings with an overall grade of 95, fueled by a 93.1 in pass protection.
Kaleb McGary, a former first-rounder out of Washington, was also outstanding as he finished eighth on PFF’s list, ranking fourth-best among tackles and earning excellent grades in both run blocking and pass protection.
5. Green Bay Packers
This is a group that is absolutely boosted by continuity, and even better, the return of a key player, hopefully in his best form.
That is of course David Bakhtiari, the veteran star tackle who missed six games a year ago and looks to be ready to go for the 2023 season.
Even with Bakhtiari in limited doses, the Packers O-line was third in PFF’s pass-blocking rankings, but 23rd for the run; we’ll see what they’re able to accomplish this year with their leader back in place.
4. Detroit Lions
The Lions have handled their rebuild the right way, building a foundation up front rather than throwing a young QB into the fire. That process has yielded them one of the league’s best offensive lines.
Detroit had three guys ranked in PFF’s top 36 qualified linemen last year: veteran tackle Taylor Decker, outstanding center Frank Ragnow, and phenom tackle Penei Sewell, who is just 22 years old and ranked 14th on that PFF list.
3. Cleveland Browns
Over the past few years, the Browns have enjoyed a resurgence of sorts, and much of it has centered around the run game. Cleveland’s offensive line has been a huge part of the success, creating holes for Nick Chubb and the other running backs.
Stud guard duo Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller and right tackle Jack Conklin remain key pieces moving forward.
Former first-rounder Jedrick Wills Jr. has struggled to adjust to the NFL game — he has also flipped from right tackle to left — but it’s worth keeping an eye on Dawand Jones, a rookie from Ohio State who impressed in camp and could see some playing time.
2. Baltimore Ravens
After finishing second in PFF’s run and pass blocking grades last year, the Ravens check in at the same spot in our offensive line rankings.
Baltimore essentially returns the same group it had a year ago, including former All-Pro LT Ronnie Stanley and consistently strong guard Kevin Zeitler.
Replacing Ben Powers at the other guard spot will be a hurdle, but Baltimore has consistently done a great job paving the way for its top-tier run game.
I have full faith the Ravens will do a great job handling the transition to Georgia product Ben Cleveland.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
There is plenty of room for debate over the order of teams below this spot, but one thing is almost undebatable: the Philadelphia Eagles have the best offensive line in the NFL.
PFF evaluated the Eagles as the best pass protection group in the league last year and ranked them fifth from the top in run blocking.
Anchored by stars like reigning first-team All-Pros Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson and Pro Bowler Jordan Mailata, this unit has been central to everything Philadelphia has achieved over the past few years and will continue to lead the way to a ton of wins this season.