A detailed write up for each offensive line can be found in the latest Preseason Training Camp report, dated August 29th.
This article will supply the latest rankings but the comments will be slightly briefer. Those looking for more details should check out the links on the camp updates page.
Let's get after it!
UPGRADES
Jacksonville up 4 spots
Left guard Andrew Norwell made his franchise debut and the rushing offense rolled on Atlanta. Right tackle Jermey Parnell also returned to the lineup and this line joins the top-tier. A cohesion boost was rewarded on the strength of their run blocking form. They look like a team set to push the pile.
New Orleans up 4 spots
Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk's individual grade was boosted to reflect the strides he's taken in his second year as a starter. The Saints' line is one of the best pass blocking teams as long as Terron Armstead stays healthy. They also join the top-tier.
Denver up 3 spots
Right tackle Jared Veldheer has taken to the system quickly and the line's cohesion score was raised to reflect the trust which is building along the right side with Connor McGovern. Center Matt Paradis is blocking like a Pro-Bowler and could be on the verge of a very big year. Paradis's individual grade gets a boost and the Denver line remains solidly mid-tier.
DOWNGRADES
Dallas down 9 spots
Center Travis Frederick is out indefinitely with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disease where the nerves are attacked by the immune system. Frederick could conceivably return this season but it might be more realistic to expect him to miss the entire year. Joe Looney, who has started 13 games in his career and 3 for Dallas takes his place, and the line falls to the mid-tier.
Oakland down 3 spots
Right tackle Donald Penn looked rough after being swapped from his usual left tackle spot. At one point Penn was bull-rushed into quarterback Derek Carr, causing a strip sack. The line is dominant in the interior but they have two left tackles and no natural right tackles. The Raiders' line falls to the upper portion of the mid-tier.
Tennessee down 3 spots
This downgrade reflects the increasing likelihood right tackle Jack Conklin will be unavailable for week one. Dennis Kelly has been good in run blocking but shaky in pass protection in his place. Although not reflected in any grade changes, right guard Josh Kline could be in the coaches' doghouse. Kline was pulled from the game against Pittsburgh early after allowing a big sack. His replacement Kevin Pamphile also gave up a sack. The Titans' line falls to the high teens, the mid-tier.
Carolina down 9 spots
Left tackle Matt Kalil underwent arthroscopic knee surgery prior to the preseason contest against New England. While the injury is not expected to keep him out over the long term, it would be surprising if Kalil was available prior to week three of the regular season. It is unclear who out of Taylor Moton, Amini Silatolu and Jeremiah Sirles will start at tackle, as the latter two players are fighting injuries. With injuries mounting, the Panthers' line falls to the low-tier.
Buffalo minus 2 spots
This line had a rough night in the preseason contest against Cincinnati. Left tackle Dion Dawkins injured his hip in practice earlier in the week (coaches describe him as day-to-day) and Marshall Newhouse got the start in place of Dawkins. Newhouse gave up a sack on quarterback Josh Allen’s first drop back, and Allen was later forced from the contest to check for a concussion. The Bills' line currently carries the lowest grade in the model.
FULL RANKINGS
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Prior Rank
|
Change
|
Score
|
Grades
|
Cohesion
|
Notes
|
||
|
Overall
|
Run
|
Pass
|
|||||||
|
1
|
Philadelphia
|
1
|
0
|
34.7
|
A+
|
A+
|
A+
|
5
|
|
|
2
|
Pittsburgh
|
4
|
2
|
31.7
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
3
|
Atlanta
|
3
|
0
|
31.6
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
4.5
|
RG Fusco for Schweitzer (run grade boost, cohesion loss).
|
|
4
|
Green Bay
|
5
|
1
|
31.5
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
5
|
LA Rams
|
6
|
1
|
31.3
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
4
|
RG Brown suspended 2 weeks (Blythe).
|
|
6
|
Washington
|
7
|
1
|
31.1
|
A-
|
A-
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
7
|
Kansas City
|
8
|
1
|
31.0
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
5
|
|
|
8
|
Jacksonville
|
12
|
4
|
30.9
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
4.5
|
LG Norwell playing well (cohesion boost).
|
|
9
|
New Orleans
|
13
|
4
|
30.8
|
A-
|
B+
|
A
|
5
|
RT Ramczyk playing well (grade boost).
|
|
10
|
Baltimore |
11
|
1
|
30.5
|
B+
|
A-
|
B
|
5
|
|
|
11
|
Dallas
|
2
|
-9
|
30.3
|
B+
|
A-
|
B
|
4
|
C Frederick out indefinitely (Looney).
|
|
12
|
Oakland
|
9
|
-3
|
29.7
|
B
|
A-
|
C+
|
3.5
|
Penn swapped to RT (cohesion loss).
|
|
13
|
Tennessee
|
10
|
-3
|
29.6
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
4.5
|
RT Conklin unlikely for opener (Kelly).
|
|
14
|
LA Chargers
|
14
|
0
|
29.5
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
4
|
|
|
15
|
San Francisco
|
15
|
0
|
29.5
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
4
|
|
|
16
|
Chicago
|
16
|
0
|
29.3
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
5
|
|
|
17
|
Detroit
|
17
|
0
|
29.3
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
4
|
|
|
18
|
Denver
|
21
|
3
|
29.3
|
B-
|
B-
|
B-
|
4.5
|
C Paradis (grade boost) and RT Veldheer (cohesion boost).
|
|
19
|
Seattle
|
18
|
-1
|
28.8
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
4
|
|
|
20
|
NY Jets
|
20
|
0
|
28.4
|
C+
|
C+
|
C+
|
4
|
|
|
21
|
New England
|
22
|
1
|
28.4
|
C+
|
C
|
B-
|
4.5
|
|
|
22
|
Cleveland
|
23
|
1
|
28.3
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
3
|
|
|
23
|
Minnesota
|
24
|
1
|
28.2
|
C+
|
C
|
B-
|
4
|
|
|
24
|
Miami
|
25
|
1
|
28.0
|
C
|
C+
|
C-
|
4
|
|
|
25
|
Tampa Bay
|
26
|
1
|
28.0
|
C
|
C+
|
C-
|
3.5
|
|
|
26
|
Indianapolis
|
27
|
1
|
27.8
|
C-
|
C+
|
D+
|
3
|
|
|
27
|
Cincinnati
|
28
|
1
|
27.8
|
C-
|
C+
|
D+
|
3.5
|
|
|
28
|
Carolina
|
19
|
-9
|
27.7
|
C-
|
C+
|
D+
|
3
|
LT Kalil knee scope (Moton).
|
|
29
|
NY Giants
|
29
|
0
|
27.5
|
C-
|
C-
|
C-
|
4
|
|
|
30
|
Arizona
|
32
|
2
|
27.3
|
D+
|
D+
|
D-
|
4
|
|
|
31
|
Houston
|
31
|
0
|
27.2
|
D
|
D+
|
D-
|
3.5
|
|
|
32
|
Buffalo
|
30
|
-2
|
26.9
|
D
|
C-
|
D-
|
4.5
|
RT Dawkins hip (Newhouse).
|