It's preseason, and that means we're finally getting some real news on the 2023 NFL offensive lines. Last week, we talked about the best run blocking units and, this week, the best in pass protection.
In fantasy football and DFS, the quality of a team's pass-blocking can directly lead to big performances. This is especially true later in the season when inclement weather occurs.
Feel free to check out our comprehensive offensive line rankings. But for now, let's talk about the groups who will keep their quarterback clean in 2023.
1 - Dallas Cowboys
Starters with pass-blocking grades:
LT Tyron Smith: A
LG Tyler Smith: B
OC Tyler Biadasz: A-
RG Zack Martin: A+
RT Terence Steele: B
This high ranking might be surprising in light of Zack Martin's current contract hold-out and to those who remember their injury-plagued finish last season. By the end, Tyron Smith moved to right tackle for Terence Steele, who tore his ACL in December. But Steele's rehab was successful, and he reported to camp in shape. Meanwhile, Smith is looking like his usual Hall-of-Fame caliber self at left tackle. Amazingly, Smith has been in the league for 12 seasons (8 Pro Bowls), but he's only 32 years old. This is why scouts factor age into a prospect's draft worth.
Assuming Martin and the Cowboys work out their financial differences, this group grades out exceptionally well in pass protection. Center Tyler Biadasz is in a contract year, coming off his first Pro Bowl selection. Last year's first-round selection Tyler Smith played at a high level at several spots. His job will be easier bumped back inside to left guard. New positional coach Mike Solari arrives from Seattle, where he was effective in developing their young tackle duo.
It's absurd to say this about the top-rated pass-blocking line, but their grade might even be slightly underrated. This most significant concern is the holdout of Martin (another likely Hall of Famer). But assuming Martin is in the lineup in week one, this is a top-3 line overall and has the upside to overtake DET and PHI for the top spot.
2 - Los Angeles Chargers
Starters with pass-blocking grades:
LT Rashawn Slater: A+
LG Zion Johnson: B
OC Corey Linsley: B+
RG Jamaree Salyer: B+
RT Trey Pipkins: B
Left tackle Rashawn Slater made All-Pro as a rookie but only made it through three games last year before suffering a season-ending biceps injury. Entering his third year, all indications are that Slater is fully healthy. He's a lock-down player, boasting almost perfect technique in pass protection. Just as his loss had a cascading negative effect across the line last year, his return brings great joy. It allows Jamaree Salyer to bump inside to his more natural guard position. Then, coaches shuffled the lineup a little, returning last year's first-round pick Zion Johnson to his college position of left guard and putting Salyer next to Trey Pipkins on the right side. Our model emphasizes returning the same lineup, but this subtle change by positional coach Brendan Nugent could be excellent right away. Holding the unit together is the veteran center Corey Linsley, another former All-Pro.
Right tackle is probably the weak link, with Pipkins missing time in the preseason with a left knee injury. This is the same leg Pipkins had trouble with last year, and it's not clear if Pipkins will miss any regular season time. If he does, the backups behind him grade out similarly. Fifth-round rookie Jordan McFadden out of Clemson has elite speed scores but, like Salyer, is slightly undersized for a tackle. Sarell is running with the first team (for now), but Zack Bailey is also in the conversation as the backup right tackle. Bailey also has guard versatility, putting Branden Jaimes' roster in jeopardy. This group grades as the second-best pass blocking group and 12th overall. They are well coached, with upcoming talent at several spots and real star power in Slater, easily one of the best pass blockers in football.
3 - Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are excellent in both phases of the game. That's why they are number one overall.
I already addressed them extensively in the run-blocking article, so let's just "pass" on this one and say they're outstanding. The same goes for Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, who also have top-10 scores in pass-blocking (and elite overall scores) but were heavily featured in last week's article. If you want to know more, check out the top 5 run-blocking lines article.
4 - Green Bay Packers
Starters with pass-blocking grades:
LT David Bakhtiari: A+
LG Elgton Jenkins: A-
OC Josh Myers: B
RG Jon Runyan: C+
RT Zach Tom: B+
Left tackle David Bakhtiari missed almost all of 2021 and only played 11 games last year, in and out of the lineup at unpredictable times. I hate the modifier "when healthy," but it chronically applies to Bakhtiari's situation. When number 69's knee is good, he's one of the best pass-blocking tackles in the entire league. He has game-changing potential for the offense. That was still the case last season when he played. Along with left guard Elgton Jenkins, the Packers have two shutdown pass protectors. It's perhaps the best left-side duo in the league.
New offensive line coach Luke Butkus (nephew of Chicago Bears legend Dick Butkus) has been shuffling the rest of the lineup in intelligent ways. The hot news out of Green Bay camp has projected right tackle Zach Tom working over Josh Myers at first-team center. Myers' play has been erratic, and if Tom wins the job, it would leave restricted free agent Yosh Nijman at right tackle. Nijman is an underrated starter with tons of experience filling in for Bakhtiari at left tackle. That lineup could represent an even higher pass-blocking score than the projected lineup above.
One random note, practice squad player Caleb Jones (6'9", 370, Indiana) has been making serious noise with the second team, despite missing time with a non-football illness. Jones went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft due to bad workouts. This player brings to mind Orlando Brown Jr., another owner of a low RAS score. Brown eventually became one of the league's better starters, and there's (perhaps overly) hopeful buzz coming out of camp that Jones could be on that same path long-term.
The catch with this group is predicting Bakhtiari's status on a week-to-week basis. The coaches obviously want him for all the practices and games, but they have to manage his workload. It might just be a coincidence, but looking at last year's game log, they prefer to keep his powder dry for the bigger conference and divisional games. It's a little like reading the tea leaves to predict when Bakhtiari will play, and it's been a constant source of frustration for my weekly rankings. But this is why a subscription to Footballguys is worth it: we sweat and update the offensive line rankings constantly with projected lineups, so you don't have to.
5 - New England Patriots
Starters with pass-blocking grades:
LT Trent Brown: A
LG Cole Strange: B
OC David Andrews: A
RG Mike Onwenu: B+
RT *Reily Reiff: C+
*= Projected
The headlines coming out of New England all focus on Mac Jones and projections of a last-place finish in the AFC East. But quietly, the Patriots have built one of the league's better offensive line groups, especially in pass protection. The key to the group is left tackle Trent Brown, who is simply a massive human, listed at 6'8", 370. Size like that brings run mauling to mind, but Brown uses his length to wall off pass rushers. Getting the edge on Brown is like trying to run around a house. Brown hasn't always been the most consistent of athletes in his career, but according to Bill Belichick, Brown reported in excellent condition to training camp.
But Brown isn't the only good player in this lineup. Right guard Michael Onwenu has been a great player these last two seasons, a Pro Bowl snub. He has exceptional versatility (can play tackle) and almost flawless technique coming out of Michigan. Onwenu was such a value pick, one of the best day-three draft picks on the line in recent years. With Onwenu slowed by an offseason ankle injury, fifth-round rookie Atonio Mafi from UCLA has been filling in, playing at a very high level. Mafi is a converted defensive lineman and has been mashing since OTA's. Long story short, it looks like they have another steal on their hands in New England.
The other interior positions are well-staffed. Left guard Cole Strange was lauded as a bad draft pick but was very solid last season in replacing Joe Thuney. It's not the most difficult job, playing between Brown and center David Andrews. Entering his eighth season, Andrews has become a real stalwart.
The problem of the lineup is at right tackle, where Conor McDermott and Riley Reiff are battling for the starting position. McDermott could easily win this job over Reiff, the lineup above is a coinflip prediction at best. Calvin Anderson is another possibility, perhaps the best option, but he has been on the non-football injury list this summer. Other than that right tackle spot and general tackle depth, this group grades out really well. Not many on the national stage know how good this line is, and knowing the Patriots, they probably want to keep it that way.
6 - Atlanta Falcons
Starters with pass-blocking grades:
LT Jake Matthews: A
LG *Matthew Bergeron: C+
OC Drew Dalman: C+
RG Chris Lindstrom: A
RT Kaleb McGary: B+
*= Projected
This Falcons group can be polarizing because their success is so tied to the specific zone-blocking scheme preferred by head coach Arthur Smith. Players like left tackle Jake Matthews and right guard Chris Lindstrom might not be every scout's dream, especially those employed by teams that emphasize power and size. But in Atlanta, these players not only fit the scheme but operate at the level of stars. This is an article about pass blocking, but it's impossible to talk about the Falcons without mentioning their unique outside-zone scheme. The slides in pass protection mimic the same actions as the run calls, and the play-action passing game dovetails nicely around it. Anyway, this is a good group coached capably by Dwayne Ledford. This is just a disclaimer: their lofty ranking is not just because of high-end talent but also because of how that talent fits the scheme.
With Drew Dalman winning the center competition over Matt Hennessy last year, the team pushed Hennessy out to left guard, where he was leading the competition over second-round rookie Matthew Bergeron (Syracuse). Hennessy isn't quite the athletic specimen of Bergeron, but he has strength and vet savvy. Unfortunately, Hennessy suffered a knee injury in camp last week, and it required an MRI. The team didn't specify the extent of his injury, but Bergeron has been getting the first team reps ever since. Bergeron is raw and was not expected to go from the ACC to the Senior Bowl to starting Week 1, but he certainly has the unique skills that fit the zone-scheme system.
One other random note, the team's 2021 draft pick, Jalen Mayfield, had, from all accounts, a terrible rookie season at guard. Then he missed all of last season with a back injury. But the team moved him back to his natural tackle position this year, and he appears to be settling into the swing tackle role behind Matthews and Kaleb McGary. It's not clear if Mayfield will ever live up to his draft status, but his improvement is good news from a depth perspective.
Honorable Mention
- New Orleans Saints
- Denver Broncos