Offensive Line Rankings and Notes: 2021 Preseason

Matt Bitonti's Offensive Line Rankings and Notes: 2021 Preseason Matt Bitonti Published 08/13/2021
AFC: BAL BUF CIN CLE DEN HOU IND JAX KC LAC LVR MIA NE NYJ PIT TEN
NFC: ARI ATL CAR CHI DAL DET GB LAR MIN NO NYG PHI SF SEA TB WAS
Full Rankings Grid Coaches Methodology

1. Cleveland Browns

Starters: Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin

Backups: Chris Hubbard, Nick Harris, Blake Hance.

Strengths: All five of these players could be considered a strength on other teams, but the best of the best has to be Joel Bitonio at guard and Jack Conklin at right tackle, both of whom are coming off of All-Pro campaigns. J.C Tretter is reliable at center and Jedrick Wills is coming into his own at left tackle. Wyatt Teller was in outstanding form last year until he was injured. This unit also has starting quality depth in Chris Hubbard and Blake Hance.

Weaknesses: There are no real weaknesses in this unit. One could consider them slightly undersized by league standards, but not troublingly so.

OL Coach: Bill Callahan. 22nd year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 22nd. Wgt Rank: 24th.

2. New Orleans Saints

Starters: Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Ryan Ramczyk

Backups: James Hurst, Will Clapp, Landon Young [R]

Strengths: Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk has been one of the best linemen in football over the course of the last three years, and left tackle Terron Armstead is elite in his own right. The other three players are almost equally as talented. This line has the ability to take over games.

Weaknesses: While Ramcyzk has been an ironman, Armstead and Peat have both had injury-prone streaks in the past. They have changed offensive line coaches, but Dan Rouchar is still on the sideline, working as tight end's coach and run game coordinator.

OL Coach: Brendan Nugent. 1st year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 5th. Wgt Rank: 28th.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Starters: Jordan Mailata, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson

Backups: Andre Dillard, Nate Herbig, Jack Driscoll

Strengths: Center Jason Kelce is a Pro Bowl starter who has built a Hall-of-Fame resume. Right guard Brandon Brooks and right tackle Lane Johnson are both former Pro Bowlers returning from injury. This is a huge and physical group, ranking 6th in height and 9th in weight.

Weaknesses: Left tackle Andre Dillard has been a disappointment and Jordan Mailata has taken his place. This could be a blessing in disguise, as Mailata has exciting physical skills. Still, the center and right side have been injury-prone. Depth players of Nate Herbig and Jack Driscoll will probably see reps at some point.

OL Coach: Jeff Stoutland. 9 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 6th. Wgt Rank: 9th.

4. Indianapolis Colts

Starters: Eric Fisher, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, Braden Smith

Backups: Sam Tevi, Chris Reed, Julien Davenport

Strengths: This line has obvious elite talent in left guard Quenton Nelson, the best guard and arguably the best lineman in all of football. Right tackle Braden Smith is an ascending young player.

Weaknesses: Injuries are the word in Indy. New left tackle Eric Fisher might miss a game or two at the start of the season, as he is still recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in January. Sam Tevi would play in his place. Nelson had surgery for a broken bone in his foot but any football writer would be a fool to bet against Nelson willing his body to be ready.

OL Coach: Chris Strausser. 3rd year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 7th. Wgt Rank: 19th.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starters: Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Alex Cappa, Tristan Wirfs

Backups: Josh Wells, Aaron Stinnie, Brad Seaton

Strengths: Center Ryan Jensen enjoyed a break-out during the team's Super Bowl run. He leads a run-first group that returns all five starters. Right tackle Tristan Wirfs is a reliable pass protector. The guards of Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa are also worth mentioning.

Weaknesses: Left tackle Donovan Smith does a competent job most of the time but he can be prone to breakdowns in pass protection. This is a nitpick, as there is not really much to find fault with this top-5 graded offensive line.

OL Coach: Joe Gilbert. 8 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 11th. Wgt Rank: 10th.

6. Dallas Cowboys

Starters: Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Tyler Biadasz, Zack Martin, La’el Collins

Backups: Ty Nsekhe, Brandon Knight, Connor McGovern

Strengths: Tackles Tyron Smith and La'el Collins have shown up in prime shape. If Zack Martin maintains his Pro Bowl form, a return to the top of the rankings seems probable.

Weaknesses: Durability is the key to this group. Smith missed 14 games last year and Collins missed all 16. This line bottomed out last year, with all starters eventually missing time due to injuries. The team signed Ty Nsekhe but the future pipeline looks barren.

OL Coach: Joe Philbin. 4th year as an OL coach, Assistant HC.

Hgt Rank: 26th. Wgt Rank: 20th.

7. New England Patriots

Starters: Isaiah Wynn, Mike Onwenu, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Trent Brown

Backups: Justin Herron, Ted Karras, Jerald Hawkins

Strengths: After Joe Thuney left, the Patriots saved cohesion by moving Mike Onwenu to the left guard spot. They also brought back Trent Brown via trade, solidifying right tackle. This is the heaviest line in the league, carries a top-10 rating, and they will be looking to run.

Weaknesses: Left tackle Isaiah Wynn has yet to make it through a complete season. Center David Andrews is experienced but undersized. In fact, this is the shortest line in football, although most of their players have exceptional wingspan.

OL Coaches: Carmen Bricillo. 2nd year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 32nd. Wgt Rank: 1st.

8. Buffalo Bills

Starters: Dion Dawkins, Jon Feliciano, Mitch Morse, Cody Ford, Daryl Willams

Backups: Spencer Brown [R], Ike Boettger, Bobby Hart

Strengths: This is a big line, the sixth heaviest in football, and they return all five starters for perfect cohesion. Left tackle Dion Dawkins has been playing at a Pro Bowl snub level and the right side of Cody Ford and Daryl Williams can be absolute maulers.

Weaknesses: Left guard Jon Feliciano often misses time with minor injuries and the same can be said of center Mitch Morse but the team has adequate depth in Ike Boettiger, Ryan Bates, and Forrest Lamp.

OL Coach: Bobby Johnson. 11 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 18th. Wgt Rank: 6th.

9. San Francisco 49ers

Starters: Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Alex Mack, Aaron Banks [R], Mike McGlinchey

Backups: Daniel Brunskill, Colton McKitvitz, Tom Compton

Strengths: Left tackle Trent Williams is elite, one of the most efficient pass blockers in all of football. On the other side, right tackle Mike McGlinchy is rugged in both phases, a cusp Pro Bowl player. The team signed center Alex Mack, a former six-time Pro Bowler from Atlanta to stabilize the inside.

Weaknesses: Right guard has been a competition, with round two rookie Aaron Banks from Notre Dame holding off Colton McKivitz in the preseason. This unit doesn't have many obvious weaknesses and should be in the top five of the rankings when their cohesion score settles.

OL Coach: Chris Foerster. 15 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 12th. Wgt Rank: 17th.

10. Green Bay Packers

Starters: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Lucas Patrick, Billy Turner

Backups: Dennis Kelly, Jon Runyan Jr., Jake Hanson

Strengths: When healthy, David Bakhtiari is arguably the best lineman in football. Guard-slash-tackles Elgton Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, and Billy Turner all have multiple position versatility. The lineup is often fluid but this is a deep and reliable line, with plenty of options.

Weaknesses: Bakhtiari is questionable for Week 1, still rehabbing an ACL tear he suffered Week 17 last year. Long-time center Corey Linsley departed, and the team drafted Josh Myers from Ohio State in the second round to replace him. This is a somewhat undersized line by league standards, better in pass protection than run blocking.

OL Coach: Adam Stenavich. 3rd year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 23rd. Wgt Rank: 27th.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars

Starters: Cam Robinson, Andrew Norwell, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann, Jawaan Taylor

Backups: Will Richardson, Ben Bartch, Tyler Shatley

Strengths: This run-first unit returns all five players at the same spots for the second year in the row. Left guard Andrew Norwell is an elite performer, when healthy, while center Brandon Linder and left tackle Cam Robinson have quietly become among the league's most efficient blockers.

Weaknesses: Right guard A.J. Cann has been there forever and the position could be upgraded upon, possibly by Ben Bartch. Consistency in pass protection can be an issue for this group but still, they are sitting on the cusp of the top-10 as the season opens.

OL Coach: George Warhop. 25 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 8th. Wgt Rank: 13th.

12. Arizona Cardinals

Starters: D.J. Humphries, Justin Pugh, Rodney Hudson, Justin Murray, Kelvin Beachum

Backups: Josh Jones, Max Garcia, Brian Winters

Strengths: D.J. Humphries and veteran Kelvin Beachum are solid bookends, both well above average. Former All-Pro Rodney Hudson arrived from Las Vegas via trade and is a huge upgrade over what they had at the spot before. This group moves well and has agility.

Weaknesses: Right guard Justin Murray started seven games last season. With Brian Winters held back in camp by injury, the 28-year-old former undrafted tackle from Cincinnati is finally getting his chance to be a full-time starter. This is an undersized group compared to the league's other lines.

OL Coach: Sean Kugler, 14 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 28th. Wgt Rank: 25th.

13. Los Angeles Rams

Starters: Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein

Backups: Bobby Evans, Joe Noteboom, Coleman Shelton

Strengths: Left tackle Andrew Whitworth enters his 16th and likely final season, still in Pro Bowl form. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is a man-mountain and tough to beat, despite sometimes uneven technique. This group has high cohesion within its offensive system.

Weaknesses: The interior is only average. Left guard David Edwards is a solid player but center Brian Allen and right guard Austin Corbett have been in a competition with Bobby Evans all preseason. Allen has the lead but none of these players are special.

OL Coach: Kevin Carberry. 1st year as an OL coach (former player).

Hgt Rank: 3rd. Wgt Rank: 18th.

14. Seattle Seahawks

Starters: Duane Brown, Damien Lewis, Ethan Pocic, Gabe Jackson, Brandon Shell

Backups: Kyle Fuller, Cedric Ogbuehi, Stone Forsythe [R]

Strengths: Left tackle Duane Brown is one of the best pass protectors in football. The guards of Damien Lewis and Gabe Jackson can open holes in the running game. This is a heavyweight line (3rd in weight).

Weaknesses: Brown has been "holding in," physically at practice but not participating. Sixth-round rookie Stone Forsythe has taken all of the first-team reps at left tackle. Ethan Pocic could be pushed by Kyle Fuller at center. This is one of the league's shorter groups (29th in height).

OL Coach: Mike Solari. 21 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 29th. Wgt Rank: 3rd.

15. Tennessee Titans

Starters: Taylor Lewan, Rodger Saffold, Ben Jones, Nate Davis, Ty Sambrailo

Backups: David Quessenberry, Dillon Ranunz [R], Kendall Lamm

Strengths: Left tackle Taylor Lewan is the emotional leader of this group, and having him back from last year's ACL injury makes this group dangerous. The interior trio is usually solid, and right tackle Ty Sambrailo took control of the right tackle job in camp and never let it go. They have excellent cohesion and like to run block.

Weaknesses: The team drafted Dillon Radunz to compete at right tackle and he's been getting reps at right guard. Radunz could also factor at left guard one day, as Rodger Saffold is reaching the end of the road. Most importantly, Lewan needs to stay on the field this season.

OL Coach: Keith Carter. 8 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 20th. Wgt Rank: 21st.

16. Detroit Lions

Starters: Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Penei Sewell [R]

Backups: Tyrell Crosby, Evan Boehm, Matt Nelson

Strengths: Center Frank Ragnow made his first Pro Bowl. He has a reputation for versatility, ideal size, and football intelligence. Left tackle Taylor Decker allowed only two sacks last season and the line added Penei Sewell high in the draft to play right tackle.

Weaknesses: For a middle of the pack line, it's hard to find overt weaknesses. They lack ideal depth beyond the starters, but once the rookie settles in a right tackle, expect an underrated run first-group, most likely deserving of a top-10 ranking.

OL Coach: Hank Fraley. 2nd year as an OL coach (former player).

Hgt Rank: 4th. Wgt Rank: 16th.

17. Washington Football Team

Starters: Charles Leno, Wes Schweitzer, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Samuel Cosmi [R]

Backups: Cornelius Lucas, Ereck Flowers, Tyler Larsen

Strengths: After making four Pro Bowls, veteran right guard Brandon Scherff made his first All-Pro team last season. Scherff and Wes Schweitzer provide inside push in the run game, and Ereck Flowers offers starting quality depth.

Weaknesses: The tackles are new. Left tackle Charles Leno arrived from Chicago and the team drafted right tackle Samuel Cosmi in the second round from Texas. This team is somewhat undersized, ranked at the bottom of both height and weight.

OL Coach: John Matsko. 25 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 24th. Wgt Rank: 31st.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Starters: Rashod Hill, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Oli Udoh, Brian O’Neill

Backups: Christian Darrisaw [R], Mason Cole, Dakota Dozier

Strengths: Right tackle Brian O’Neill and center Garrett Bradbury lead this decent unit. Bradbury is better in run blocking while O’Neill has become a solid pass protector. This line is tall (11th in height) and has the potential to rise higher once the shuffled players settle in.

Weaknesses: Swing tackle Rashod Hill was promoted to left tackle in camp after Christian Darrisaw got hurt. They still might sign a tackle. At guard, Oli Udoh has forced his way into the lineup, sending Dakota Dozier to the bench, while Ezra Cleveland switched sides.

OL Coach: Phil Raucher, 2nd year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 10th. Wgt Rank: 29th.

19. Atlanta Falcons

Starters: Jake Matthews, Matt Gono, Matt Hennessy, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary

Backups: Josh Andrews, Jalen Mayfield [R], Drew Dalman [R]

Strengths: 29-year-old left tackle Jake Matthews has become the elder statesman of the group and can act as a mentor to the other players. Rookie Jalen Mayfield from Michigan has been showing well at left guard in camp. When healthy, this is an interesting zone run group.

Weaknesses: Presumptive left guard Matt Gono has been on the PUP list all preseason with a neck injury and it's doubtful he will be ready by opening day. This left guard spot is a question, Drew Dalman or Josh Andrews could start there early. Besides their youth, this is an undersized group, one of the shortest and the absolute lightest in the NFL.

OL Coach: Dwayne Ledford. 1st year in the NFL (former Louisville OC).

Hgt Rank: 30th. Wgt Rank: 32nd.

20. New York Giants

Starters: Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux, Nick Gates, Will Hernandez, Matt Peart

Backups: Kenny Wiggins, Nate Solder, Chad Slade

Strengths: Left guard Shane Lemieux emerged last season as a punishing run blocker. With Will Hernandez playing for a contract, their guards will be hungry. Left tackle Andrew Thomas had a much better second half of the season than first, while Matt Peart has taken control at right tackle.

Weaknesses: Veterans Zach Fulton and Joe Looney retired in the offseason. Nate Solder opted out last season and has been nursing a sore shoulder in camp. This is a somewhat light line, by league standards, 26th in weight.

OL Coach: Rob Sale. 1st year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 17th. Wgt Rank: 26th.

21. Miami Dolphins

Starters: Austin Jackson, Liam Eichenberg [R], Michael Deiter, Robert Hunt, Jesse Davis

Backups: Solomon Kindley, Matt Skura, Adam Pankey

Strengths: The tackles of Austin Jackson and Jesse Davis are bookends, both above average in pass protection. Jackson especially is an ultra-rare athlete, just finding his form as a professional. After playing well at right tackle last year, Robert Hunt will probably maul at right guard.

Weaknesses: After trading Ereck Flowers, the Dolphins planned on Solomon Kindley switching sides to play left guard. Kindley has been surpassed by rookie Liam Eichenberg from Notre Dame on the depth chart. This is a young line with four of the five positions still clearly learning the game.

OL Coach: Lemanuel Jeanpierre. 1st year as an OL coach (former player).

Hgt Rank: 16th. Wgt Rank: 15th.

22. Houston Texans

Starters: Laremy Tunsil, Max Scharping, Justin Britt, Justin McCray, Tytus Howard

Backups: Roderick Johnson, Marcus Cannon, Lane Taylor

Strengths: Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is a premium athlete and forms a solid set of bookends with Tytus Howard. The tackle depth is also interesting, with Marcus Cannon starting the season on PUP with a calf injury, but could push Howard inside to guard.

Weaknesses: The uncertainty at the three interior positions hold this grade down. Justin Britt is holding off Cole Toner at center and neither is elite. Once healthy, Lane Taylor will likely push right guard Justin McCray. This lineup needs to settle and regain health before their grade can rise.

OL Coach: James Campen. 14th year as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 19th. Wgt Rank: 11th.

23. Cincinnati Bengals

Starters: Jonah Williams, Quenton Spain, Trey Hopkins, Michael Jordan, Riley Reiff

Backups: Fred Johnson, Jackson Carman [R], D'Ante Smith [R]

Strengths: Center Trey Hopkins continues to be the leader, making a miraculous recovery from an ACL tear that occurred in Week 15 of last season. Left tackle Jonah Williams showed up ten pounds heavier to camp and the 23-year-old looks like he could finally justify his high draft status.

Weaknesses: Right tackle Riley Reiff was the team's lone free-agent addition and his durability could be a question heading into the season. Right guard is a bit of a question, with Michael Jordan leading rookie Jackson Carman and Xavier S'ua-Filo. This is a short line, 27th overall in height.

OL Coach: Frank Pollack. 10 years as an OL coach, 2nd stint with CIN.

Hgt Rank: 27th. Wgt Rank: 14th.

24. Baltimore Ravens

Starters: Ronnie Stanley, Ben Cleveland [R], Bradley Bozeman, Kevin Zeitler, Alejandro Villanueva

Backups: Tyre Phillips, Patrick Mekari, Ben Bredeson

Strengths: Even after trading Orlando Brown Jr., this is the league's tallest line and the second-heaviest. This line is built to run block. Rookie Ben Cleveland is a monster at 357, and looks like he could be part of the world's strongest man contest. If the lineup stabilizes, this line could grade in the top-10, easy.

Weaknesses: This ranking is artificially low because of widespread change. Besides a rookie left guard, new right guard Kevin Zeitler and new right tackle Alejandro Villanueva are settling in. Center Bradley Bozeman was a college pivot but played his entire NFL career at left guard. It might take a few weeks for the new lineup to gel.

OL Coach: Joe DAlessandris. 13 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 1st. Wgt Rank: 2nd.

25. Las Vegas Raiders

Starters: Kolton Miller, Richie Incognito, Andre James, Denzelle Good, Alex Leatherwood [R]

Backups: Brandon Parker, Nick Martin, John Simpson

Strengths: Left tackle Kolton Miller has evolved into one of the better pass protectors in the league, and rookie right tackle Alex Leatherwood should be an efficient pro from day one. This is still a huge line, even after the trades, ranking 9th in height and 8th in weight.

Weaknesses: This offseason saw the Raiders replace several key veterans. At center, Andre James should be able to hold down the fort but he's not really a Rodney Hudson-level talent. Leatherwood will be fine but probably not as dominant as a prime Trent Brown. It's also hard to rely upon Richie Incognito at left guard, who is rapidly nearing retirement.

OL Coach: Tom Cable. 15 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 9th. Wgt Rank: 8th.

26. Denver Broncos

Starters: Garret Bolles, Dalton Risner, Lloyd Cushenberry, Graham Glasgow, Bobby Massie

Backups: Calvin Anderson, Austin Schlottman, Quinn Meinerz [R]

Strengths: Left tackle Garret Bolles took a step forward last year, especially in pass protection. Right guard Graham Glasgow can be a game-changer. The coaching of Mike Munchak improves all these players.

Weaknesses: Right tackle Bobby Massie arrived from Chicago and is being pushed hard by Calvin Anderson. Dalton Risner has struggled during camp so far, but he should find his form. This is a light line, ranked second to last in weight.

OL Coach: Mike Munchak. 19 years as an OL coach (former HOF player).

Hgt Rank: 13th. Wgt Rank: 30th.

27. New York Jets

Starters: Mekhi Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker [R], Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten, George Fant

Backups: Morgan Moses, Dan Feeney, Conor McDermott

Strengths: Tackle Mekhi Becton is a game-changing run blocker, and the team drafted guard Alijah Vera-Tucker high in round one to form a power left side. George Fant has beaten back Morgan Moses at right tackle and appears to fit this wide zone scheme better. This is a heavy run-first unit, 7th in league weight.

Weaknesses: Becton is vulnerable to speed rushes and Vera-Tucker has missed most of camp with a pectoral injury. Dan Feeney has taken most of the reps at left guard. Center Connor McGovern underperformed last season, while right guard Greg Van Roten is only okay.

OL Coach: John Benton. 18 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 14th. Wgt Rank: 7th.

28. Chicago Bears

Starters: Teven Jenkins [R], James Daniels, Cody Whitehair, Alex Bars, Germain Ifedi

Backups: Elijah Wilkinson, Sam Mustipher, Larry Borom [R]

Strengths: The interior trio of James Daniels, Cody Whitehair, and Alex Bars are solid run blockers. Sam Mutipher could also have starting ability. The line as a whole has bulk, 13th heaviest in the NFL.

Weaknesses: The situation at tackle is murky, as rookie Teven Jenkins has not practiced with a supposedly minor back injury suffered in minicamp. Right tackle Germain Ifedi has also been unavailable and might see his spot sniped by Elijah Wilkinson.

OL Coach: Juan Castillo. 20 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 25th. Wgt Rank: 12th.

29. Los Angeles Chargers

Starters: Rashawn Slater [R], Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Oday Aboushi, Bryan Bulaga

Backups: Trey Pipkins, Storm Norton, Tyree St. Louis

Strengths: New guards Matt Feiler and Oday Aboushi should be steady veteran performers while center Corey Linsley has been one of the league's best. Rookie Rashawn Slater is a technician at left tackle and has been holding his own in reps against Joey Bosa.

Weaknesses: This is another team that has made widespread changes in the offseason, and the lack of cohesion will hold down their grade in the short term. Given a month, they should be ranked in the middle of the pack. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga is a key player, making a huge difference in the offense when not injured.

OL Coach: Frank Smith. 1st year as an OL coach (former TE coach).

Hgt Rank: 21st. Wgt Rank: 22nd.

30. Kansas City Chiefs

Starters: Orlando Brown Jr., Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey [R], Trey Smith [R]. Lucas Niang

Backups: Mike Remmers, Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff, Kyle Long

Strengths: Orlando Brown and Joe Thuney are both All-Pro's on the left side, and rookie center Creed Humphrey has been turning heads in camp. Kyle Long unretired, adding another potential Pro Bowler to the mix. This is a huge line, tied for 1st in height and 4th in weight.

Weaknesses: This line has an incredible amount of new talent, the problem is that none of it has ever played together before. Lucas Niang opt-ed out last season, making this all five new starters. It could be choppy in the early going while the lineup settles, but they also have the potential to be really good by midseason.

OL Coach: Andy Heck, 18 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 2nd. Wgt Rank: 4th.

OL Coach: Andy Heck.

31. Carolina Panthers

Starters: Cameron Erving, Pat Elflein, Matt Paradis, John Miller, Taylor Moton

Backups: Brady Christiansen [R], Trent Scott, Deonte Brown [R]

Strengths: Right tackle Taylor Moton at tackle has been a stalwart, one of four tackles in the league with at least 3000 snaps since 2018. New left guard Pat Elflein is an aggressive run blocker.

Weaknesses: Left tackle Cam Erving is more of a backup swing type than a reliable left tackle starter, and right guard John Miller is just okay. This line overall lacks height, 31st in the league. Rookie Brady Christiansen will backup four positions but with 32 and a half in arms, he lacks the length to challenge Erving.

OL Coach: Pat Meyer. 5 years as an OL coach.

Hgt Rank: 31st. Wgt Rank: 23rd.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers

Starters: Chukwuma Okorafor, Rashaad Coward, Kendrick Green [R], Trai Turner, Zach Banner

Backups: Kevin Dotson, J.C. Hassenauer, Dan Moore [R]

Strengths: Left guard Rashaad Coward has been violent in camp, and could win the job over last year's starter Kevin Dotson, who is fighting an ankle injury. Right tackle Zach Banner is a massive player, and this line is the league's 5th heaviest, across the board.

Weaknesses: Widespread changes at four out of five positions explains their current ranking. The loss that hurts the most was the retirement of David Decastro. The team signed Trai Turner to try and fill his shoes, but Turner has had trouble staying on the field.

OL Coach: Adrien Klemm, 1st year as an OL coach (former player).

Hgt Rank: 15th. Wgt Rank: 5th.

Rankings

For the most up-to-date rankings, go to the Expert Rankings link, scroll to "More" and then select "Offensive Line."

Full Rankings (before Week 1 of Preseason)

Rank Team Score Overall Run Pass Cohesion
1 Cleveland 34.5 A+ A+ A+ 5.0
2 New Orleans 33.8 A+ A+ A+ 5.0
3 Philadelphia 33.3 A A- A+ 5.0
4 Indianapolis 32.9 A A+ A- 4.0
5 Tampa Bay 32.2 A A- A+ 5.0
6 Dallas 32.2 A A+ A- 5.0
7 New England 31.9 A- A B+ 4.8
8 Buffalo 31.8 A- A B+ 5.0
9 San Francisco 31.8 A- A B+ 3.0
10 Green Bay 31.5 A- B+ A 3.8
11 Jacksonville 31.3 A- A B+ 5.0
12 Arizona 31.2 B+ B- A- 4.0
13 LA Rams 31.1 B+ B+ B+ 5.0
14 Seattle 30.4 B+ B A- 4.0
15 Tennessee 30.3 B B+ B- 4.5
16 Detroit 29.9 B B- B+ 4.0
17 Washington 29.6 B B+ B- 3.0
18 Minnesota 29.6 B B+ B- 4.4
19 Atlanta 29.5 B- B- B- 4.7
20 NY Giants 29.3 B- B C+ 4.5
21 Miami 29.3 B- C+ B 3.6
22 Houston 29.2 C+ C+ C+ 3.0
23 Cincinnati 29.2 C+ C+ C+ 4.0
24 Baltimore 29.1 C+ B- C 2.0
25 Las Vegas 29.0 C+ C+ C+ 3.4
26 Denver 29.0 C+ B- C 4.0
27 NY Jets 28.8 C C+ C- 4.0
28 Chicago 28.4 C C+ C- 4.0
29 LA Chargers 28.3 C C+ C- 1.0
30 Kansas City 28.2 C C C- 0.2
31 Carolina 27.8 C- C- C- 3.0
32 Pittsburgh 25.5 D+ C- D 2.0

Height and Weight

Some of you will know me as a long-suffering Jets fan. Among the fan base, there has been an excitement for their offensive line. One fellow said to me, "Well, I bet they are the biggest line in the league, now." My gut response was they might not even be the biggest in the division. So, I counted everyone up, using their listed roster heights and weights. Turns out the Patriots are in fact heavier but the Jets are taller. Does size correlate to success? Not directly, but one can infer a preference to run among the league's bigger lines and a preference to pass among the league's smaller ones.

Height (*average in total inches, i.e. 78 is 6'6")

Rank Team Hgt
1 Baltimore 78.0
2 Kansas City 78.0
3 LA Rams 77.4
4 Detroit 77.4
5 New Orleans 77.2
6 Philadelphia 77.2
7 Indianapolis 77.2
8 Jacksonville 77.2
9 Las Vegas 77.2
10 Minnesota 77.2
11 Tampa Bay 77.0
12 San Francisco 77.0
13 Denver 77.0
14 NY Jets 77.0
15 Pittsburgh 77.0
16 Miami 77.0
17 NY Giants 76.8
18 Buffalo 76.8
19 Houston 76.8
20 Tennessee 76.6
21 LA Chargers 76.6
22 Cleveland 76.4
23 Green Bay 76.4
24 Washington 76.4
25 Chicago 76.4
26 Dallas 76.2
27 Cincinnati 76.2
28 Arizona 76.0
29 Seattle 76.0
30 Atlanta 75.8
31 Carolina 75.8
32 New England 75.4

Weight (*average in pounds*)

Rank Team Wgt
1 New England 330.0
2 Baltimore 326.4
3 Seattle 324.2
4 Kansas City 323.0
5 Pittsburgh 322.2
6 Buffalo 321.8
7 NY Jets 320.8
8 Las Vegas 319.8
9 Philadelphia 319.2
10 Tampa Bay 317.8
11 Houston 317.8
12 Chicago 317.6
13 Jacksonville 317.4
14 Cincinnati 317.2
15 Miami 316.4
16 Detroit 316.4
17 San Francisco 316.2
18 LA Rams 315.4
19 Indianapolis 315.4
20 Dallas 313.8
21 Tennessee 313.8
22 LA Chargers 313.6
23 Carolina 312.0
24 Cleveland 311.2
25 Arizona 311.2
26 NY Giants 310.8
27 Green Bay 310.8
28 New Orleans 310.6
29 Minnesota 310.2
30 Denver 310.0
31 Washington 307.6
32 Atlanta 306.8

Coaches and Offseason Notes

Rank Team OL Coach Coach Notes (New Starters)
1 Cleveland Bill Callahan 5.0
2 New Orleans Brendan Nugent 3.5
3 Philadelphia Jeff Stoutland 4.5
4 Indianapolis Chris Strausser 4.5 LT Eric Fisher - KC for Anthony Castonzo (ret.), Fisher and LG Quenton Nelson questionable for start of season, 1 New Starter.
5 Tampa Bay Joe Gilbert 4.0
6 Dallas Joe Philbin 4.5
7 New England Bricillo/Popovich 3.5 RT Trent Brown - LVR rejoins team, 1 New Starter (with existing cohesion).
8 Buffalo Bobby Johnson 4.0
9 San Francisco Chris Foerster 4.5 C Alex Mack - ATL, RG Aaron Banks Rd 2, 2 New Starters.
10 Green Bay Adam Stenovich 4.0 C Josh Myers Rd2, 1 New Starter. LT David Bakhtiari questionable for start of season.
11 Jacksonville George Warhop 4.0
12 Arizona Sean Kugler 4.5 C Rodney Hudson - LVR, 1 New Starter
13 LA Rams Photos provided by Imagn Images

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