NFL 2023-24 Position Group Rankings: Offensive Line

We’re just over one month away from the 2023-24 NFL season, and the excitement is building as the preseason is almost underway. Over the next few weeks, I’ll dive into each position group, from the quarterbacks to the kickers, and rank them before the season kicks off in Kansas City on Sept. 7. We turn to the big guys and rank the top offensive line units heading into the season.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles enter this season with the best offensive line in football, just like they ended 2022. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is becoming a household name as the best in the business. The Eagles have the talent to back it up. Lane Johnson has long been one of the top tackles in the game. Jordan Mailata has progressed into a good tackle on the other side. On the interior, veteran Jason Kelce is still one of the best centers in the game, and left guard Landon Dickerson is elite. Right guard Isaac Seumalo is gone, but in his place is 2022 second-round pick Cam Jurgens. I’ll give Stoutland the benefit of the doubt and assume Jurgens will be fine as a part of this league-leading unit.

Photo Cred: Eagles Wire – USA Today

2. Detroit Lions

The Lions broke out as one of the top offenses in the NFL last season, and one of the reasons was their elite front five. Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell allowed just six sacks combined from the tackle spots, and both played all 17 games. Frank Ragnow was also very consistent for Detroit at center in 2023. They cycled through numerous guys as they dealt with injuries at guard, but Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaati Vaitai are back healthy to start 2023 at those spots.

3. Cleveland Browns

The Browns have everything you could want in an offensive line. Center Ethan Pocic, guards Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio form the best interior trio in the league. They excel at paving holes for Nick Chubb in the run game. Their two shakiest links last season were their two most talented players: left tackle Jedrick Wills and right tackle Jack Conklin. If those two superstar talents can stay on the field and cut down on the penalties a bit, this has the potential to be the best unit in football.

4. Dallas Cowboys

If this unit stays healthy for the entire season, it could end up as the best front line in football. Tyron Smith is always beat up but will be back to start the season at left tackle. Tyler Smith will slide inside to left guard after blowing away expectations as a rookie at both tackle and guard. On the right side, Terence Steele is back at tackle, and All-Pro right guard Zack Martin is back at camp after signing a new contract extension. On paper, this is one of the best units in the league and is a force to be reckoned with when they’re all healthy.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City has revamped its offensive line in recent years; it has become an even scarier offense. Creed Humphrey has been one of the best centers in football since he stepped onto an NFL field, and guard tandem Joe Thuney and Trey Smith allow Kansas City to excel in both the run and pass game. The Chiefs are experiencing some turnover at tackle in 2023, with Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor coming in, but both are solid enough to make this an elite unit once again.

Photo Cred: Arrowhead Pride

6. Green Bay Packers

The Packers return all five starters from a strong unit a season ago, and star left tackle David Bakhtiari should only be getting healthier after his catastrophic knee injury in 2021. Zach Tom played well in limited snaps at right tackle last season, and the interior of this line is very experienced. Left guard Elgton Jenkins, right guard Jon Runyan, and center Josh Myers are a talented and experienced trio. Last season, Packers running back Aaron Jones averaged three yards before contact, one of the best marks in the league.

7. Atlanta Falcons

Arthur Smith loves to run the football. He’s got an excellent group of bruisers on the front line to help him do that. All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom is paired with one of the top tackle duos in the league to form one of the best front fives in football. Kaleb McGary is back at right tackle, and Jake Matthews returns on the left side. There are questions at quarterback for Atlanta, but Bijan Robinson running behind this offensive line will be a scary sight for defenses.

8. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have a strong group on paper, with a great interior duo of Kevin Zeitler and Tyler Linderbaum and the consistent Morgan Moses at right tackle. But the ceiling of this group is determined by left tackle Ronnie Stanley. He’s one of the best tackles in the league when healthy, but he has played just 18 games over the past three seasons due to injury. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken will throw the ball more than Greg Roman did. The Ravens will need a consistent year from Stanley on Lamar Jackson’s blindside.

9. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings allowed a ton of pressure on Kirk Cousins last season. They return all five starters and should see improvement in 2023. They are strong at tackle with the tandem of Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, and Garrett Bradbury becoming an above-average starter at center. As this group meshes and builds more chemistry, their pass protection should catch up to their already-strong pedigree in the run game.

10. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have continuity up front in 2023, returning all five starters from last season’s team. Ikem Ekwonu played well in the back half of his rookie season last year, and if he can match his pass protection to his ferocious power in the run game, he can be a franchise tackle. Center Bradley Bozeman was banged up and should have a better season if he can stay on the field. Overall, Carolina had a solid group in pass protection last season, which should only be helped by the pocket presence and mobility of Bryce Young.

Photo Cred: AL.com

11. Los Angeles Chargers

All the Chargers need on the offensive line (and everywhere else on their roster) is to get healthy. Rashawn Slater was an All-Pro left tackle as a rookie in 2021. Then he missed most of last season with a bicep injury, and he will be back in 2023. Corey Linsley is a standout at center, and Jamaree Salyer will move inside to left guard after filling in for Slater at tackle a season ago. On the right side, tackle Trey Pipkins showed improvement a season ago, while 2022 first-round pick Zion Johnson should improve in year two.

12. Cincinnati Bengals

People scrutinized Cincinnati’s offensive after their Super Bowl loss, but they have invested a lot of resources into it and improved in 2022. They should continue to improve this season. New addition Orlando Brown Jr. will slide into left tackle and allow Jonah Williams to move over to the right side. Williams struggled last season but should be better at right tackle. Add in the veteran interior duo of Alex Kappa and Ted Karras, and Bengal’s front line should be a strength in 2023.

13. Denver Broncos

The Broncos tried to rectify last season’s problems up front by adding left guard Ben Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey. That alone won’t solve all of Denver’s problems. Center Lloyd Cushenberry III will have to take a step forward, and left tackle Garrett Bolles needs to find his 2020 level in his return from injury. At a minimum, the Broncos should have a good run-blocking offensive line.

14. New York Jets

The Jets could end up making this ranking look foolish, for better or worse. Alijah Vera-Tucker is a good right guard. The combination of him left guard Laken Tomlinson, and rookie center Joe Tippmann should give the Jets a solid interior offensive line. The question mark is the health of the tackles. Duane Brown will be 38 when the season starts. Along with Mekhi Becton who has played just one game in the past two seasons. If they both can stay healthy and one can adjust to playing right tackle, the Jets could have a stellar front five.

15. San Francisco 49ers

We’ve grown accustomed to the 49ers having elite offensive lines, but it could be the group that holds this offense back in 2023. Trent Williams is still the cream of the crop at left tackle. But it gets bleak quickly after that in the Bay Area. Center Jake Brendel was average at best last season, and the other three starters are inexperienced heading into 2023. Longtime right tackle Mike McGlinchey is gone, and new right tackle Colton McKivitz will need to step up.

Photo Cred: 49ers

16. Indianapolis Colts

There’s no way around it: Colt’s offensive line was a massive disappointment in 2022. Quinten Nelson was banged up and had the worst season of his career. Center Ryan Kelly has started to decline over the past two seasons. However, I’m giving this Colts group the benefit of the doubt. Nelson should be back closer to his usual self. Left tackle Bernhard Raimann should be better in year two after being forced into the lineup prematurely as a rookie. Additionally, new head coach Shane Steichen will use more play-action. The mobility of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will make this group’s job much easier than it was last season. Expect a bounce-back season from the Colts up front.

17. Seattle Seahawks

After years of turmoil on the offensive line, the Seahawks scored in the 2022 draft. They picked two tackles who look like long-term starters. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas were both stellar as rookies. The duo had their difficulties (16 sacks allowed, 14 penalties combined), but both should improve in year two to form one of the best tackle duos in football. Damien Lewis is a strong veteran at left guard. Seattle is weak at the other two spots, but they should have a good enough unit to protect Geno Smith in 2023.

18. Houston Texans

The Texans’ offensive line has quietly developed into one of the best units on their roster in recent years. This is thanks in no small part to the stellar play of left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil is one of the best offensive linemen in the game. But he isn’t the only talented blocker in Houston. Right tackle Tytus Howard had a rough 2022. But has flashed a lot of potential and should improve this season in his fifth year in the NFL. Shaq Mason is an experienced veteran guard, and 2022 first-round pick Kenyon Green should be much better in year two at left guard. The situation is everything for rookie quarterbacks, and the Texans have a good enough front to keep C.J. Stroud upright.

19. Buffalo Bills

Buffalo is solid but unspectacular. They are helped a lot by the mobility of Josh Allen at quarterback. But the Bills will need to improve up front in 2023 if they want to have more consistency on that side of the ball. Connor McGovern, Ryan Bates, and Mitch Morse form a trio on the interior. Dion Dawkins is coming and had a strong season at left tackle. The question mark comes on the right side, as Spencer Brown was the weak link for the Bills last season and will need to improve for this unit to vault up these rankings.

20. New Orleans Saints

Trevor Penning, a first-round pick in 2022, is the x-factor for this unit. Penning has potential at left tackle but played just 66 snaps last season. New Orleans is good at center (Erik McCoy) and right tackle (Ryan Ramczyk), but Penning is the difference in this group from becoming average and or particularly good.

Photo Cred: USA Today

21. New York Giants

The interior of the Giants’ offensive line is underwhelming. It’s holding them back in this ranking, but the tackles should be strong in the big apple. Andrew Thomas is one of the elite left tackles in football; should only continue to improve. On the right side, 2022 first-rounder Evan Neal struggled a bit as a rookie but has superstar talent and got better as the season went along. If Neal can take a leap in year two, this Giants group should be in decent shape for this season and beyond.

22. Miami Dolphins

In 2022, Terron Armstead was the difference between the Dolphins being a solid unit and a bad one. When Armstead missed time, the Dolphins crumbled up front. On the other side, right tackle Austin Jackson also has shown promise but played just 84 snaps a season ago. The interior of the Dolphins line is solid with center Connor Williams and right guard Robert Hunt, but it’s all going to come down to the health of the tackles for Miami in 2023.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers

Reinforcements are coming on the left side of the line for the Steelers in 2023. First-round pick Broderick Jones will step in immediately at left tackle. Pittsburgh also picked Isaac Seumalo from Philadelphia to play left guard. This should be a solid unit in pass protection, but they were terrible in the run game last year and made Najee Harris run into a ton of traffic at the line of scrimmage.

24. New England Patriots

The Patriots return four out of five starters up front and have a lot of pedigree on the offensive line, but they’re an older group, and the production wasn’t there in 2022. The Pats struggled to block in the run game, a problem for a team that wants to grind defenses down. If Trent Brown can find his Pro Bowl form again at left tackle, he can be a centerpiece of this unit, but he hasn’t found that level from 2019 since returning to New England.

25. Chicago Bears

The Bears bolstered one of 2022’s worst units by completely remaking the right side of the line. They brought in former Titan Nate Davis at Guard, and drafted Darnell Wright to play right tackle. On the left side, second-year man Braxton Jones has upside at right tackle. Teven Jenkins should improve as he gains more experience after transitioning to guard last season. The youth of this group bring their ranking down a bit, but it’s a unit that has the potential to overperform.

Photo Cred: Shaw Local

26. Arizona Cardinals

The tackle duo of D.J. Humphries and Paris Johnson Jr. is enough to keep them from the bottom of this list. I can’t move them any higher than 26 when the interior of their line looks the way it does. Guards Elijah Wilkinson and Will Hernandez were both penalty machines a season ago. Center Hjalte Froholdt has never started a game. Johnson Jr. was the best tackle prospect in the 2023 draft, while Humphries remains a good tackle, but the interior makes this a below-average group overall.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs’ interior offensive line should be better in 2023. Center Ryan Jensen returning from injury, but there are still questions abound for this unit. Jensen may not be ready for week one but will stabilize when he returns. Star tackle Tristan Wirfs is moving over to left tackle after the departure of Donovan Smith, so it remains to be seen if he can keep the same level from the other side. In his place at right tackle is 2022 second-round pick Luke Goedeke, who struggled mightily last season.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

The offensive line will be a make-or-break unit in Jacksonville in 2023. They’re loaded everywhere else on that side of the ball. They will have to hold up upfront and keep Trevor Lawrence clean if they want to reach their goals. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor is gone from last season. Starting left tackle Cam Robinson is suspended for the first four games. First-round picks Anton Harrison and Walker Little will be filling the gaps at tackle. So who will stay in the starting lineup at right tackle when he returns? On the inside, Brandon Scherff is still one of the best guards in the game, but the rest of the interior is below average-at best.

29. Las Vegas Raiders

Massive left tackle Kolton Miller has been consistently solid protecting the blind side in Vegas. But the quality up front for the silver and black drops off significantly after that. Guards Alex Bars and Dylan Parham were both shaky at best last year. Parham was just a rookie last year. He could improve, but right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor could also be due for regression after having the best season of his career last year.

30. Washington Commanders

Washington could scrap together a decent offensive line, but they don’t have any high-end talent up front. Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. is on the wrong side of 30. The right tackle Andrew Wylie spent most of his five years in Kansas City inside at guard. On the inside, Washington will need one of Chris Paul, Sam Cosmi, or Nick Gates to take a leap to bolster this group, or they risk putting a shaky offensive line in front of their young quarterback.

Photo Cred: USA Today

31. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams offensive line injuries piled up in 2022, so injury regression could help them outperform this ranking. However, there is no doubt that this group has regressed significantly over the past few years. Tackles Rob Havenstein and Joe Noteboom are coming off bad years last season. Both will need to find their old form if they want to keep Matt Stafford upright in 2023. On the interior, the Rams are very inexperienced at guard. On top of that, center Brian Allen has struggled to stay on the field for most of his career.

32. Tennessee Titans

First-round pick Peter Skoronski out of Northwestern should bolster the group. He’ll probably slide over to guard in the NFL. The problem for Tennessee is that Skoronski might immediately be the best man on the front line. Ben Jones and Nate Davis are also gone from a unit that was already bad last season. The Titans will be playing with new pieces without depth or talent up front.