Ranking the top 15 players at each position on the O-line entering the 2023 season (Top 75)

Over the last two off-seasons (2021 & 2022) I’ve ranked my top 15 at each position on the O-line (top 75). This helps me process the landscape of starters entering a season and breaks up players into broader groups of ability that crystallize where certain guys fall in the pecking order relative to their peers. The order within tiers is more malleable and can be debated while the cut-off points between tiers are more of a concrete way of stacking players.

The tiers are based on my 1-7 grading scale that I use for my trait-based style of scouting. It helps to look at the pool of players in the NFL on a spectrum over a bell curve. The bulk of the players fall somewhere between 3-5 (average performers) while the numbers shrink on the margins (1-2 low performers & 6-7 high performers).

1 = Elite. These players win essentially all reps against any level of competition below ‘elite’ while splitting them evenly with other elite players. There are very few players inside this tier at any position in a given season, and it represents the smallest bucket of players (along with tier 7 which we’ll get to shortly). This rarified group produces scheme transcendent players that regularly play at an All-Pro level regardless of the situation around them.

2 = Very good. These players are impact starters that win the majority of their reps against lower tiers of players, split them among other tier 2 players, and can compete with tier 1 players in spurts. This group is where most All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections come from and are often referred to as ‘blue chip’ starters.

3 = Good or above average. These players compete with the majority of competition across the NFL. They rarely win any rep handily, lose most of them when isolated against higher tiers, and are referred to as ‘red chip starters.’ Red chip players, or above average/good starters, can have Pro Bowl selections on their resume with some blue chip traits. However, they lack the consistency of higher tiered players and are often more dependent on the system and players around them for success.

4 = Solid or average. These players form the lifeblood of most NFL rosters. They have dependable skill-sets and can be developed into tier 3 players. They often have a more clearly defined ceiling than tier 3 players with high enough floors to stick around as starters for a half dozen or more years if they’re in the right system.

*For the purposes of this article, we won’t be using any grade below tier 4, but I’ve included the rest of the scale for additional background information and context.

5 = Adequate or below average. These players are often pushed into starting lineups at the thinnest positions across the NFL (QB, OL, CB) with the scheme playing a significant role in their effectiveness. They usually have a trait or two that is or can be developed into the ‘solid’ range while being ‘serviceable’ starters in the right situation, valuable parts of a rotation, and quality depth.

6 = Marginal. These players represent the bottom of NFL rosters and can be put into the low-end of the ‘developmental’ bucket, usually lacking the necessary physical traits to become everyday starters.

7 = Poor. These players are few and far between across NFL rosters, usually are weeded out in training camp and preseason, and are often stashed on practice squads if kept at all. In rare instances, you will see them get on an NFL field in the regular season, usually on bottom-tier teams that experience multiple injuries at one position.

With the terms now defined, let’s get into the rankings.

*No rookies were included in the rankings

2023 OL Position Rankings

LT Overview

Tier 1

Left tackle is the deepest position on the offensive line in the NFL. There were multiple tier 3 players left off of the list such as Bills LT Dion Dawkins, Jaguars LT Cam Robinson and Seahawks LT Charles Cross.

1. Trent Williams - Williams suffered a high-ankle sprain that kept him out of three games last season. During his 14 starts, he was the same dominant player that he has been for the majority of his 13-year career, earning his second consecutive First Team All-Pro selection in the process. Williams is still the top dog at the position with an unmatched blend of size, quickness and power as he enters his 14th season at 35-years old without any obvious signs of slowing down.

2. Laremy Tunsil - After several seasons as a top-notch pass-protector and good run-blocker, Tunsil elevated his craft to an even higher level in 2022, showing a heightened level of physicality and finishing skills that cemented him as a top tier player at his position. In 2022, the former Dolphin was snubbed in the All-Pro voting and instead settled for his third career Pro Bowl selection. Tunsil’s track record of success, age and his most recent season separate him in the 2023 hierarchy from every other left tackle not named Trent Williams.

Tier 2

3. Terron Armstead - Armstead tore the plantar plate in his foot in the opening game of the season, broke his toe and dealt with extensive shoulder and knee issues throughout the year while managing to start 13 games, playing just eight snaps in one of those starts. The Dolphins’ gave up four of their five highest amounts of pressures in Armstead’s absence and were handicapped as an offense. These facts offer a succinct outline and contrast of Armstead’s kryptonite (injuries; resulting in averaging 12.5 starts over the last four seasons and never starting every game in a season) and his brilliance as an elite, impact starter when on the field.

Armstead has hovered in and around the ‘elite’ category since the 2018 season when he was a Second Team All-Pro despite making just ten starts. He’s done it thanks to premier physical tools that combine with shrewd film study habits, supreme toughness and skillfully tailoring his approach based on the matchup to create enough edges to overcome and circumvent the slew of injuries he often plays through.

Finding Armstead’s ranking among his peers comes down to a simple question: How much do you value an elite tackle for three quarters of a season? The best answer is just outside of tier one due to availability concerns, but at the top of tier two due to his track record and on-field play from the most recent season.

4. Rashawn Slater - Slater is coming off of a season-ending torn biceps injury suffered in Week 3 but already has experience returning to the game at the highest level after an extended hiatus, albeit due to choice rather than injury. Slater opted out of his last collegiate season in 2020 to prepare for the draft and earned Second Team All-Pro honors as a rookie in 2021. The biceps injury is also not a significant lower half, back or neck injury, which usually take more time to return from. Slater was practicing at the end of last season and reportedly was ready to play before the team was eliminated from the playoffs in the Wildcard round.

Slater was the second best left tackle in football as a rookie, looked like it again before getting hurt last year and should hit the ground running this season. It will likely only be a matter of time before he re-enters tier one status.

5. Andrew Thomas -  Thomas makes his first appearance in the top 15 after gradual improvement since a shaky rookie season in 2020 when he was trying to navigate through a coaching disaster. Thomas went from solid-to-good in 2021 to very good last year as his technique, balance and confidence continued to grow, allowing his immense physical tools to shine and resulting in Second Team All-Pro status.

It is important to point out that while Thomas is one of the better left tackles in the league with the arrow pointed up, he operated in a conservative, OL-friendly system last season that ranked eighth in rushing attempts and second in play-action percentage. This limited Thomas’ exposure to true drop-back passes (second least amount in the NFL), which is the most difficult skill for a blocker to master. Thomas was excellent in what he was asked to do, but contextualizing those responsibilities and considering that he has done it at an All-Pro level for a single season lands him at the fifth spot.

6. David Bakhtiari - After an unsettling two seasons recovering from a devastating knee injury that led to 26 missed games and worries if we would ever see him back to full strength, Bakhtiari started 11 games last season. He looked more and more like his old self as time went along.

Bakhtiari opened training camp this year healthy for the first time in three years, albeit on a modified schedule to safeguard his health for Week 1 of the regular season. Coming off of a season with significant snaps at a high level and healthy entering 2023, there is no reason to expect him to be below a tier two left tackle in 2023 considering he possesses pass-protection skills few, if any, of his peers can match. 

7. Tristan Wirfs - Wirfs will be playing left tackle for the first time in his pro career after two All-Pro and tier one selections over his first three years at right tackle. Switching sides like this typically doesn’t happen to a perennial All-Pro three years into their career, so forecasting some moderate regression is fair, at least initially.

Wirfs will quickly insert himself into tier one again if he regains his right tackle form on the left side. Fortunately, the Bucs open the season with two relatively thin edge-rushing matchups for Wirfs against the Vikings (Danielle Hunter primarily rushes over the right tackle) and Bears before hosting the Eagles in Week 3. That game will be a good indicator for how Wirfs is adjusting to the position switch.

Tier 3

8. Ronnie Stanley - Stanley returned from a 32-game absence due to a gut-wrenching ankle injury suffered during the 2020 season (a year removed from a First Team All-Pro selection) to start 11 games last season. Stanley looked close to his old self as time went on, showing the same level of tact and technique that made him an All-Pro. There was some expected lag time in his redirect ability and timing that popped up, especially in pass-protection. Based on Stanley’s track record going back to Notre Dame and his first couple of years in the NFL when he was excellent contrasted with how he looked last season, it is reasonable to expect him to start off at the top of tier three with the upside at 29-years old to regain his previous form and climb the rankings. He will certainly have ample opportunity to prove his worth this season as Baltimore moves to a more pass-happy approach.

9. Tyron Smith - It still feels odd having a player with Smith’s physical talent and past dominance this low (and it may be generous), but health issues have gradually diminished his reliability to the point that he is averaging six starts over the last three seasons. When on the field, Smith is a fringe top ten left tackle right in this range with the play strength and length to swallow up tier three edge-rushers and compete with higher-end talent while still being an impact run-blocker.

10. Trent Brown - Brown is coming off of his first 16-start season since his last stint with the Patriots in 2018. He had arguably the best year of his career with dominant performances as a run-blocker to go along with his usual pass-protection prowess. His performance was even more impressive considering the chaotic coaching atmosphere (Matt Patricia coached the offensive line for the first time and won’t be back with the team), shaky quarterback play and rookie left guard Cole Strange who was benched multiple times. Brown has had his fair share of injury issues, but when he is on the field, there are few more effective pass-protectors at the position. He also offers dominant stretches as a run-blocker.

11. Jordan Mailata - Mailata is a high tier two/low tier one run-blocker and tier four pass-blocker with the size, movement skills and power to clear lanes on the ground and blot out rushers in the Eagles play-action/RPO heavy scheme. He is one half of the biggest left side of the line in the NFL with LG Landon Dickerson, forming a battering ram on opposing defenses.

Mailata is still working on fine-tuning proper set points, depth and strike timing in the true drop-back passing game that leads to higher variance than you’d want. At three years into his football playing life, he is at a great spot with upside to still improve the finer aspects of playing the position.

12. Christian Darrisaw - Darrisaw makes his first appearance in the top 15, perhaps lower than some may expect, but his arrow is pointed firmly up regardless. Darrisaw followed up a ten-start, solid rookie season in 2021 with an even better 14-start sophomore campaign inside a play-action heavy (fifth most) offense.

Along with a low percentage of true drop-back pass sets, Darrisaw benefitted from QB Kirk Cousins’ mastery of depth in the pocket, allowing many wins around Darrisaw’s edge to skirt by without appearing on the stat sheet. He also played below average competition (Von Miller didn’t rush over him when facing the Bills, and Darrisaw played nine snaps against Micah Parsons and the Cowboys).

Darrisaw has the physical traits of a tier two and above tackle but is still in the process of perfecting nuances of the position such as his use of hands and reaching landmarks in pass-protection square and on time.

13. Jake Matthews - Matthews is the active leader in consecutive starts among offensive linemen with 144 and is the epitome of steady, above average play. Matthews benefitted from an extremely conservative, OL-friendly scheme last season in Atlanta, but he does everything well on film, executing his assignments with efficient footwork and use of hands. He isn’t the most powerful or physically imposing blocker on the field, yet finds ways to win leverage, stick on blocks and compete with the majority of defenders.

14. Orlando Brown Jr. - The last four years for Brown have consisted of four Pro Bowl selections and one missed game. That level of durability and consistency is impressive in a vacuum, but it becomes pretty special when you factor in that Brown is 6’8”, 360 pounds and had one of the worst combine performances of all-time. It also led the Bengals to sign him to a four-year, $64M contract this off-season.

Brown is a tier three run and pass-blocker without signs of becoming more, but you know what you’re getting with him. He is a massive obstacle to work around in pass-protection with a keen understanding of how to play to his strengths to get defenders blocked.

15. Kolton Miller - Miller has carved out a nice career for himself after a rough rookie season, developing into an above average player thanks in large part to his run-blocking ability. Miller wins using a nice blend of initial power at the point of attack, the necessary movement skills to locate targets on the move and efficiency handling stunts in pass-protection. He will struggle to effectively transition into his anchor against speed to power, partly due to his high pad level at 6’8” with hit-or-miss strike timing and hand placement.

While closer to tier four when it comes to true drop-back reps, he is a plus run-blocker who does a solid job overall in pass-protection. He is also durable with only three missed games over his five year career.

LG Overview

Tier 4 starters who missed the cut: Bills LG Connor McGovern and Saints LG Andrus Peat

Tier 1

1. Joel Bitonio - Bitonio is arguably the most consistent left guard in the league with 98 consecutive starts and five All-Pro selections (two first-team). He is remarkably consistent with his technique and with Nelson taking a slight step back last season deserves to enter 2023 in the top spot.

2. Quenton Nelson - Nelson, like the rest of the Colts franchise took a step back last season, but his performance and status among his peers needs to be put in perspective. After multiple seasons of Nelson living in his own tier at the position, his “step back” was still a very good left guard with impact blocks littered across his film. The difference is that the vast majority of them were often obscured by a cascade of breakdowns around him. Nelson didn’t quite play up to his standard which is why he now has company in tier one with it being a toss-up for the top spot, but his unmatched ceiling, track record and improvements around him suggests that he is still deserving of tier one status.

3. Joe Thuney - In a similar vein to Bitonio, Thuney is unvaryingly consistent with two missed games over his seven year career and two Second Team All-Pro selections. Winning with an advanced understanding of leverage, excellent balance and athletic ability undergirding his technique, Thuney’s game should age gracefully and secure his top-tier status for the foreseeable future.

The main differentiating factor between him and the two players above him is size (about 15 pounds lighter than Bitonio and 25 pounds less than Nelson) and having slightly less power with a tendency to concede some ground against power-rushers.

Tier 2

4. Elgton Jenkins - Jenkins has been a tier two left guard for the last few seasons. Despite a detour in 2021 due to a torn ACL and having to play tackle to account for the injuries of teammates (most notably David Bakhtiari) over the last couple of seasons, his value has only been solidified by his versatility. Now that he is back to his best position at left guard full-time with the return of Bakhtiari, they should quickly re-establish themselves as a star left side of the line with Jenkins being one of the strongest, most physically imposing guards in the NFL.

5. Jonah Jackson - Jackson is entering his fourth season after earning Pro Bowl honors as an injury replacement for the 2021 season. He missed four games due to a concussion and a finger injury in 2022. After taking a year to acclimate to the speed of the NFL game as a rookie in 2020, Jackson made his biggest jump the following season in 2021 with several signature performances. The 2022 season was a continuation of that level of play and, if not for the injuries, may have reached even higher. With very good movement skills, power and above average technique Jackson deserves his first inclusion into tier two heading into 2023 with the arrow pointed up for the 26-year old.

6. Landon Dickerson - Dickerson is one half of the heaviest, best run-blocking left side duo in the NFL with counterpart Jordan Mailata on his left flank. At 6’6” 335 pounds, Dickerson is a battering ram in the run game with instant-anchor ability in pass-protection, setting a consistently firm pocket.

Dickerson started all 20 games last season for the Eagles and looks to be fully recovered from his third ACL tear that he suffered during his final year at Alabama in 2020. There remains a question about his long-term durability considering his injury history and size, but when on the field he has a trump card in the run game few other guards in the NFL can match.

7. Tyler Smith - The Cowboys did it again and absolutely nailed a first-round draft pick on the offensive line by selecting Smith out of Tulsa. As a 21-year old rookie, Smith started 19 games (17 regular season, two in the playoffs) with time split at left tackle and guard. He was a good tackle and very good guard right away.

This was a traits and demeanor bet by the Cowboys as Smith was notably raw with his technique as a draft prospect but also distinctly talented. Smith has ideal size, good athletic ability, elite play strength and power, plus an all-business approach with a nasty on-field demeanor. Now he is locked in at left guard and has shown the proven versatility to fill in at tackle if needed. The Cowboys yet again have one of the best young blockers in the NFL in their O-line room.

Tier 3

8. Zion Johnson - Johnson had a solid rookie season playing a new position at right guard with his fair share of ups and downs. Even with the added hurdle of playing a new position as a rookie having to adjust to the NFL game, the play strength, leverage and ability to make impact blocks in the run game translated. Johnson is now moving back over to his natural home at left guard with All-Pro LT Rashawn Slater returning from injury, forming a young, talented duo of former first-round picks.

Without a clear-cut guard better than Johnson or one who is ascending into tier two, this is a selection based on talent, age and the reasonable assumption that comfortability with an elite player alongside him will assist Johnson in taking another step forward in year two.

9. Damien Lewis - Lewis isn’t as technically proficient as Ben Powers or Dalton Risner, but he is bigger, stronger, more powerful and capable of delivering a higher rate of impact blocks. After studying every snap of Lewis this summer, I came away convinced that his ‘trump card’ traits led to elements of tier two play in his game (anchoring, finishing) despite the breakdowns in finer aspects such as strike timing and hand placement in pass-protection that result in too many quick losses.

If the observer/evaluator/decision-maker wanted a little more polish, there may be a couple of tier three options to roll with instead of Lewis. I’d feel good about betting on Lewis if I am seeking impact blocks with superior physical traits that can still be improved upon at 26-years old and suggest a higher ceiling with a functional floor.

10. Dalton Risner - Risner has been a solid to above average starter every year of his four-year career, missing just four games over that span. He is a little stiff and labored in his redirect skills while not being overly powerful but is also efficient in his movements and smart, resulting in good play speed. Risner plays with excellent competitive toughness and is alert, rarely being fooled by games, stunts and post-snap movement. He is still unsigned as of this writing with a visit to Minnesota last week. He has the opportunity to upgrade a few spots at left guard, most notably Miami, Arizona and Washington.

11. Ben Powers - Powers is coming off the best season of his career that led to a handsome pay day in Denver on a four-year, $51.5M contract. Powers has won primarily with refined leverage, technique and timing going back to his days at Oklahoma, which helped overcome middling athletic ability. He has also benefited from playing in a run-heavy scheme in Baltimore, playing into his strengths while minimizing his responsibilities as a pass-protector. That said, he appeared to get stronger last year and play with more power, which will be important for him to maintain translating into a new and presumably more passing-oriented system in Denver where he will be counted on as a pillar of the offense.

12. Isaac Seumalo - Seumalo is coming off of his second career 10+ start season and easily the best year of his career. He started 20 games for the Eagles as their fifth-best starter, leading to a reasonable and deserved three-year, $24M contract from Pittsburgh, where he will be counted on to be arguably the best starter on the line.

Injury concerns aside, Seumalo is a thickly-built, powerful run-blocker who plays with sound technique and very good leverage. He also brings proven versatility at both guard spots with ancillary value coming from a winning culture and organization in Philadelphia where he was exposed to the teachings of an all-time great line coach in Jeff Stoutland.

13. Laken Tomlinson - Tomlinson’s value is in his durability (one missed game over his last six seasons), above average play strength and experience. He brings a tone-setting presence and processing skills to be an asset when uncovered, albeit with gaps in his technique that can lead to some quick losses against higher-end competition in isolated pass-protection situations. Tomlinson offers a low-end tier three/high-end tier four skill-set inside the typical zone-based, play-action/RPO heavy systems that he has operated in over the last six years.

Tier 4

14. Aaron Banks - After spending his rookie season behind Laken Tomlinson on the depth chart, Banks started 16 games for the 49ers last year without much drop-off since Tomlinson left in free agency. Banks is one of the bigger guards in the NFL at 6’5”, 325 pounds with solid body control, excellent physicality and a nasty demeanor. He also sees the game well, processing line games, stunts and varying fronts quickly. This seems like a nice slot for him entering year three of his career as the floor of expected outcomes with tier three seemingly right around the corner as he refines his sets and hands as a pass-protector.

15. Teven Jenkins - Jenkins, like Banks, is one of the bigger bodies at guard in the league (6’6”, 320+), although he has more of a boom-or-bust profile as a player. Jenkins has tier two ability as a run-blocker with thundering power and the demeanor to impose his will that few blockers can replicate, but he is also a rigid, unrefined pass-blocker that carries durability concerns.

The physical traits are there for Jenkins to improve in pass-protection if he can add an element of patience to counteract his aggression while fine-tuning his snap timing, footwork and hand placement. Right now, he is a wrecking ball in the run game with jolting power and a firm anchor but is a work in progress in the drop-back passing game when he has to adjust on the fly against counter moves.

Center Overview

Tier 4 starters who missed the cut: Jets C Connor McGovern and Panthers C Bradley Bozeman

Tier 1

1. Jason Kelce - Aging like a fine wine, Kelce has actually improved his game and played with more consistent strength and power over the last couple of seasons than ever before. Coupled with all of the tricks of the trade, mastery of the nuances and incredible durability, we are witnessing the components of a future Hall of Famer with the team success (two Super Bowl appearances, one win), personal accolades (5x First Team All-Pro) and popularity to aid his case for one day being enshrined in Canton.

2. Creed Humphrey - Humphrey is a special talent with the size and strength to hold and take ground at will paired with plus athletic ability and an unique football IQ. This dates back to his days at Oklahoma where his line coach Bill Bedenbaugh told me Humphrey saw the game like a coach. Humphrey had such good athleticism that Bedenbaugh changed blocking concepts to feature him in the run game. He is now firmly waiting in the wings for the top spot at the pivot when Kelce hangs up the cleats.

3. Ryan Jensen - Jensen is arguably the most underrated offensive lineman in the NFL and is now coming off of a season-ending knee injury that cost him the entire 2022 regular season. He is also going from snapping to Tom Brady to either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask, which will undoubtedly make the entire O-line look worse. On an individual level, Jensen is the league’s top enforcer with outstanding size (6’4”, 325 pounds), power and the necessary movement skills to be effective in space. What makes him truly special are the body blows and stamina that he plays with, resulting in unmatched finishing skills that serve as a psychological weapon against his opponents.

Tier 2

4. Erik McCoy - McCoy gets my vote for the center closest to tier one status stemming from his rare combination of size, power and athletic ability. The primary obstacle keeping him out of the next tier is durability as he’s missed nine games over the last two years. Purely from an ability and film perspective, he is as good as it gets outside of the big three at the position. McCoy has the potential to overtake Jensen and/or Kelce if they take a step back or retire.