Feel free to check out our comprehensive offensive line rankings. You don't normally get breakdowns to that level.
In that vein, over the next few weeks, we'll have a series breaking down the best and worst run-blocking and pass-blocking lines.
That series starts today with the top five run-blocking units.
1 - Philadelphia Eagles
Starters with run-blocking grades:
LT Jordan Mailata: A-
LG Landon Dickerson: A
OC Jason Kelce: A+
RG Cam Jurgens*: B
RT Lane Johnson: A+
* = Projected
The best lines make their job look easy. And what was easier than the 2022 Philadelphia QB-sneak push play? Threatened to be outlawed for its effectiveness, the Eagles' throwback sneak play, a.k.a. the "tush push", was darn near unstoppable last season. As it remains legal, look for other teams to try their luck with it. But not every team has the luxury of running behind 370+ pound left tackle Jordan Mailata and 330+ pound left guard Landon Dickerson. That power on the left side is unrivaled, and, in fact, the Eagles have the 2nd heaviest line in the league. Add in the flawless play of Lane Johnson at right tackle and another year of center Jason Kelce's dangerous pull blocks, and it's easy to see how the Eagles' offensive line ended up so high in the rankings. This is also a top pass-blocking group, third by that metric.
The only uncertainty is at right guard, where there's an open competition between Jack Driscoll, Cam Jurgens, Sua Opeta, and Alabama rookie Tyler Steen. If the Birds had to play one game for all the marbles, the decision would lean toward Driscoll, who has started 16 games over the past few seasons. And the signing of Dennis Kelly allows for that possibility. But if Driscoll stays swing tackle, last year's second-round pick Jurgens will face off against this year's third-round pick Tyler Steen. The team sees Jurgens at center long-term, but he is getting the first-team reps in training camp. Behind him lurks Steen, who is connected to offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland through the Alabama pipeline. Sua Opeta is a powerful player but a long shot for starting reps. Whoever wins the battle, this group has excellent depth.
2 - Cleveland Browns
Starters with run-blocking grades:
LT Jedrick Wills: B
LG Joel Bitonio: A+
OC Ethan Pocic: B
RG Wyatt Teller: A+
RT Jack Conklin: A
Part of being a top run-blocking line is having the mentality that the offense will take these rushing yards, come what may. The Browns' offensive line has this attitude. They return all five starters from last season for perfect cohesion. Line coach Bill Callahan is one of the best line coaches in the game. And simply put, this group mashes. The starters have three impact players: Joel Bitonio at left guard, right guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Jack Conklin. Few other teams boast that level of push in the run game. At center, Ethan Pocic established himself as a starter last year and could be a cheap long-term solution. The weak spot (run blocking-wise) is at left tackle, where Jedrick Wills does only an average job. The team still picked up Wills' fifth-year option, as being an average left tackle has real value in the NFL (See Donovan Smith signing with Kansas City, below).
As usual, injuries make the difference in these rankings on a week-to-week basis. While Bitonio has been an ironman, both Teller and Conklin missed a few games last season. Conklin is two years removed from a significant knee injury, yet the team rewarded him with another extension in the offseason. In many ways, Conklin is the key to this group. The guards will most likely do their thing, but a healthy Conklin gives this group elite potential. Callahan will have plenty of clay to mold for depth, as James Hudson, Nick Harris, Colby Gossett, Luke Wypler, Michael Dunn, Dawand Jones, and Drew Forbes are all floating around the roster. Hudson has started about a season's worth of games in place of Conklin, while Forbes and Dunn were used as blocking backs in short-yardage packages in 2022. As a bonus, Callahan is always working to develop talent from out of nowhere, like Hunter Thedford. Having this pipeline assures the Browns will have a high floor in the rankings, should anything happen to the starters.
3 - Kansas City Chiefs
Starters with run-blocking grades:
LT Donovan Smith: B
LG Joe Thuney: A
OC Creed Humphrey: A+
RG Trey Smith: B+
RT Jawaan Taylor: B+
While the Browns might have the two best guards in the game, the Chiefs have the best interior trio - no squads have the dominance of left guard Joe Thuney, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith. Thuney and Humphrey are almost perfect All-Pros, while Smith was a steal in round six. Entering his third year, Trey Smith has earned a reputation as a tough guy, the unit's enforcer. Using the Football Outsiders' stat "Adjusted Line Yards," the Chiefs rank 4.82 per run, a mark that's good for third in the league. Line coach Andy Heck is one of those institution types, entering his 31st year coaching and 10th as the Chiefs' line coach.
If there is uncertainty in this group, it is at the tackle position, where last year's starters Orlando Brown and Andrew Wylie departed for greener pastures. The team moved fast, acquiring free agents Donovan Smith (Tampa Bay) and Jawaan Taylor (Jacksonville) for the bookend spots. Taylor has his shortcomings in pass protection, but he is an outstanding run blocker and was given a massive contract, making him the highest-paid right tackle in the league. For the purposes of this run-blocking article, Taylor is a strong player, far better than the Chiefs have had in years at the right tackle spot. But new left tackle Donovan Smith has always been a mediocre starter, and the one-year contract he received reflects that status. The team drafted massive Oklahoma tackle Wanya Morris in the third round, with the hopes of Morris replacing Smith by next season (if not sooner). Fun fact: Morris and Trey Smith played together at Tennessee, with Smith at left guard and Morris at left tackle.
4 - Indianapolis Colts
Starters with run-blocking grades:
LT Bernhard Raimann: C+
LG Quenton Nelson: A+
OC Ryan Kelly: A+
RG Will Fries: C+
RT Braden Smith: A
I am aware that based on the 2022 play, this is a controversial ranking. Many sources will have the Colts as an average or even below-average line going into this season, and it's easy to understand why. Left guard Quenton Nelson looked off for most of the year after dealing with various injuries. Meanwhile, veteran center Ryan Kelly and right tackle Braden Smith, the supposed stalwarts of the lineup, also had down years. Then there's uncertainty at other positions, as left tackle Bernhard Raimann had a rough rookie campaign. And after starting nine games as a rookie, right guard Will Fries is far from a sure thing.
Still, there are reasons for hope. The Colts are an athletic group boasting the 2nd best total RAS score in the league. Coaching "wonder kid" Tony Sparano Jr. takes over positional duties. And since arriving, new offensive-minded head coach Shane Steichen has had nothing but praise for Nelson, comparing his mindset to that of Jason Kelce's. Nelson appears fully healthy, aware that last year wasn't good enough, and ready to recapture his All-Pro form. Bernhard Raimann and Will Fries both ended the year on an upswing, and the expectation is that their improvement will lessen the burden on the other three vets. In terms of the offensive system, the line should have an easier time blocking in Steichen's run-heavy offense, which is expected to be molded after the Eagles' offense.
5 - Detroit Lions
Starters with run-blocking grades:
LT Taylor Decker: B
LG Jonah Jackson: B+
OC Frank Ragnow: A
RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai: B+
RT Penei Sewell: A
The last time we all saw right tackle Penei Sewell, he was bashing through walls at the Pro Bowl skills competition. Sewell has emerged as one of the top run-blocking tackles in the game, and the drafting of this player was a pivotal moment in this offense's development. Sewell and center Frank Ragnow represented the Lions at the exhibition game, and both are among the best maulers at their positions.
At left tackle, Taylor Decker does an underrated job. While he's good in both phases, he's better in pass protection than in run blocking. Left guard Jonah Jackson enters a contract year, and will be highly motivated to take his game to the next level. Jackson, Ragnow, and right guard Hal Vaitai have both been somewhat injury prone in recent seasons, but the Lions resigned versatile player Graham Glasgow from Denver to provide an alternate plan backing up the interior spots. As with most groups, injury luck will determine their ultimate success, but with Glasgow, Matt Nelson, Germain Ifedi, and Logan Stenberg, at least the Lions have exciting depth options.
Honorable Mentions
- New Orleans Saints
- Dallas Cowboys
- Baltimore Ravens
Click here for the full offensive line rankings.