Cincinnati Bengals, 36% 30. Los Angeles Rams The Packers have a knack for drafting and developing guys and making them immediate impact players. 31. Continuity is something thats required to get to the top of this list, and the Saints have that, with all five starters returning. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, Projected offensive line (left to right) and 2020 PBWR ranks at position: Jedrick Wills Jr. (ninth), Joel Bitonio (first), JC Tretter (third), Wyatt Teller (20th), Jack Conklin (fifth). Join our Discord to Chat with Experts and FantasyPros Subscribers >>. -San Francisco 49ers (PFF rank - No. They did go out and snag guard Gabe Jackson, whos at least been competent throughout his seven years in the league. 14. Arizona Cardinals, 29% This line is sneaky good, and I love the fact that they snagged Quinn Meinerz in the third round of the draft, who is an upgrade over Lloyd Cushenberry. They drafted Walker Little in the second round as what may be Robinsons replacement, but hes not guaranteed to be an upgrade. That hasn't happened yet, be it due to injury or workload or offensive environment or all of the above. We know them for dominating in the run game, right? For instance, many fantasy football players know that Kenyan Drake is now on the Raiders, but most cant tell you Pro Bowl center Alex Mack went from the Falcons to the 49ers this offseason or that the Bears will have two new starting tackles. David Bakhtiari is one of the best in the game, and Billy Turner is a solid replacement for Wagner, so there shouldnt really be any major weakness on the line. CEH underwhelmed in his first season, finishing 22nd among RBs in Yahoo half-PPR scoring. Name. 7 overall pick Penei Sewell at tackle, Tyrell Crosby and Jonah Jackson/Logan Stenberg at guard, and then Frank Ragnow at center? Many want to anoint the Colts as the top offensive line in the game, but Im pumping the brakes a tad. The Cowboys offensive line last year was a straight up joke towards the end of the year. While there are certainly question marks about Darrisaws ability on true pass-sets coming from the play action- and RPO-heavy Virginia Tech offense, there probably isnt a better landing spot for him than the Vikings who will get the most out of him as a run-blocker and protect him a bit as he develops his pass-pro technique with their enormous play action usage. They dont necessarily have a stud to hang their hat on, but they dont have anyone getting whooped on a down-to-down basis either. His wonky pass-pro technique got abused in his rookie campaign as he gave up double-digit sacks in the process. Pittsburgh Steelers, 67% Unfortunately, we don't have answers to those questions right now, so they fall to eighth place. But with Ronnie Staley at left tackle, they werent going to play Brown there. These dudes are all freaks. One player who came into the combine with a top-five draft stock and likely will keep it is edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr., who didn't necessarily turn heads with a 4.69-second 40-yard dash but impressed with his get-off: Will Anderson Jr. with a 4.69u on his first run. Denver Broncos, 28% For reference, there were 62 qualifiers at tackle, 70 at guard and 35 at center last season. 13. The talent is there, and so is the continuity: This group started a collective 73 games out of a possible 80 for Cleveland last season. Ten different offensive linemen have seen snaps for Washington so far this season, and not one of them has a PFF pass-blocking grade lower than 62.2. Sure, drafting Christian Darrisaw in the first round helped fill the void, but offensive tackles drafted in the mid-to-late first round dont always pan out, and Reiff was a proven commodity. These stats are explained further here. The following stats are not adjusted for opponent: Why are these rankings different from team DVOA ratings for rushing? Not Travon Walker. Lets take a look at how the offensive lines around the NFL have fared so far through the 2021 NFL season. If a defender earns a run stop win, his blocker earns a loss, and vice versa. Teams are ranked according to Adjusted Line Yards. It seems likely with Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary on the edge. Fran Duffy. Los Angeles Rams, 71% 12. Dallas Cowboys, 58% Tennessee Titans, 69% Chicago Bears, 27% Stat to know: Washington generated 1.73 yards before contact per carry in 2020, which ranked ninth in the NFL. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Day 2 Recap (Fantasy Football), NFL Free Agency Rumors & News: Tony Pollard, Tua Tagovailoa (2023 Fantasy Football), NFL Free Agency Rumors & News: Mac Jones, Josh Jacobs (2023 Fantasy Football), Dynasty Players to Give Up On (2023 Fantasy Football), 2023 NFL Draft Burning Questions: No. His numbers don't jump off the page, but his athleticism will have NFL teams coveting him. 22. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. Whether it be outside zone, inside zone, duo/gap, or counter/power the Browns have the versatility to keep defenses guessing. Check out the 2020 leaderboard here. The other big story that continued to develop surrounded Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, a potential top-five pick who was arrested Wednesday and charged with reckless driving and racing after being accused of racing his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy, who was in a 2021 Ford Expedition, on Jan. 15. 5. That change may simply have been getting healthy, with Richie Incognito and Trenton Brown missing most of the season. If so, they have a solid offensive line that wont hold offensive skill-position players back. No one really knows what the Panthers are doing with their offensive line. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Responsible Gaming. Baltimore Ravens, 62% Brett Whitefield @BGWhitefield. Among other reasons, they don't include quarterbacks or fumbles, long runs are truncated, and a different set of adjustments is used, attempting to isolate line play rather than total team offense or defense. That kicks Onwenu inside to join Shaq Mason and David Andrews for what is one of the most well-rounded offensive lines in the game. I fully expect a comeback this year with the return of Lewan and the addition of second-round pick Dillon Radunz. Carolina Panthers, 51% 1. Buffalo Bills, 46% The Packers running backs averaged a massive 3.21 yards after contact last year, but dont let that overshadow the fact that the line created 1.84 yards before contact, which ranked fourth in the league. Will Hernandez has never lived up to expectations, nor has Nate Solder, their prized free agent from a few years ago. 5. To join our email list and get notified when we launch the 2023-24 NFL section (probably late May), register for a free account. Its not a shock to see 39.6 percent of the Patriots running backs yards came before contact, the sixth-highest mark in the league. Jon Feliciano is someone Id describe as below average, while Mitch Morse isnt far from that. A team with a low ranking in Adjusted Line Yards but a high ranking in Open Field Yards is heavily dependent on its running back breaking long runs to make the running game work. Here are position-by-position unit rankings for all 32 teams covering the 10 key offensive and defensive positions. Or will we be disappointed yet again? Jacksonville Jaguars, 39% The Patriots also got Trenton Brown back via trade, so hell slot in at RT. Still, we cant forget Whitworth, their best offensive lineman, is going to be 40 at the end of this year and may decline rapidly. Justin Pugh and Justin Murray up the middle isnt the best duo at guard, but the play of D.J. KANCEY HIVE LETS GO , Nolan Smith and Calijah Kancey are small for their positions, so testing like elite athletes was crucial. After passing on offensive tackles in the draft, they were able to land Eric Fisher in free agency, but hes not likely to be ready for Week 1 after suffering an Achilles tear during the playoffs. Michael Onwenu, who played out of his mind as a rookie in 2020, is that guy for the upcoming season. The Colts' deep line sports four starters who have graded in the top-20 at their positions multiple times in their careers, so there's no doubting their capability. 32. Mar 04, 2023 at 06:04 AM. 26) Minnesota Vikings. 9. Taylor Decker and No. Pittsburgh Steelers Power Success Rate. Of course, talking about the Ravens line and their running back is probably a moot point. Baltimore Ravens There isnt a player on this line that you can say is above average right now, which is certainly an issue for the skill-position players, especially when it comes to their efficiency. After almost multiple seasons off, Trent Williams proved he is still an elite player and might just be the best left tackle in the game. 11. The Colts OL is the definition of nasty with several guys who take pride in getting their man to the ground. Enjoy. 7. One of the toughest offensive lines to judge heading into the 2021 NFL season is the Minnesota Vikings. Miami Dolphins, 71% Here are the leaders for the 2021 season. The only offensive lineman to play 16 games was Conner Williams, and it showed. If not for the unfortunate season-ending ACL injury suffered by J.K. Dobbins, this combo would be ranked much higher up this list. To achieve this we used a regression model that considers every projected starter's individual pass block win rate over the past two seasons. 27. 22. On top of stellar pass-protection, the Browns can smack you on the ground using a multitude of run concepts to get the job done. Playoff Previews (previously Game Previews). With 14.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in the past two seasons, Kancey's production showed up on the field in a big way. Washington Football Team, 75% Miami Dolphins, 43% Chicago Bears Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk are the stars, but the interior of the line is not to be downplayed, either. If last years third-round pick Josh Jones were to have panned out, they would be looking great right now, but instead, theyre near the middle of the pack. Team. 30 overall prospect in the Class of 2023. New York Giants The expected starters are listed along with their 2020 PBWR rank (if they qualified). Atlanta Falcons, 67% New England Patriots The main portions of the NFL offseason are in the rearview mirror, at least the player acquisition stage. We often talk about a players talent level and sometimes well reference their coach and offensive scheme, but when talking about running backs, why dont we talk about their offensive line more often? Right tackle was still a big question mark after James tore his Achilles this offseason, and was then released from the team, but the Bears made life easier on the Broncos by releasing Bobby Massie, who will walk in and start right away. Pro Football Focus Ben Linsey ranked the best offensive lines heading into the 2021 season, placing the Lions near the top of the list at No. It's hard to win a championship without having that foundational back. A team with a low ranking in Adjusted Line Yards but a high ranking in Open Field Yards generally allows runners to get past the defensive line but the linebackers and secondary are good at pursuit and tackling. 12. Players who did not play in either or both seasons (including rookies) were assigned a below-average PBWR for their position, and anyone who failed to meet the qualifying threshold had their win rate regressed toward that below-average target. The potential of this group is there though and assuming those guys take even a modest step forward, the Broncos unit, led by Garett Boles, should be pretty good and at least a unit that wont tank the offense. 22. Cann, and Brandon Linder are a solid unit up the middle. 1 considering the departure of Orlando Brown, who was a massive presence for them. Projecting the NFL's best and worst pass-protecting offensive lines: 1-32 ranking, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Edey leads Wooden finalists; Bama's Miller off list, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Shiffrin, in fifth, gets 'big goal' with overall title, Ledecky sees 9-year win streak in U.S. snapped, Inside the long-awaited return of Jon Jones and his quest for heavyweight glory, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Certainly a candidate for most improved offensive line with the addition of vet Riley Reiff and rookie Jackson Carman, the Bengals OL still has a long way to go. Oh, and Harris gets to run behind yet another elite Patriots offensive line. Skip Are you looking to contact Customer Support about a subscription or account related question? Pittsburgh Steelers, 49% Stat to know:Ranked top-10 in both time to pressure per dropback (2.45 seconds) and yards before contact per carry (1.97 yards). , Reminder to everyone that the 1.61 split is the important part for Will Anderson, not the 4.69 (which is still okay at 250+). 19. Something to remember with all of these outstanding EDGE testing numbers at the NFL Combine
Your favorite pass rusher was likely a great tester. It was a surprise when the Jon Gruden/Mike Mayock regime blew up what many considered to be a good offensive line in the offseason. Chicago Bears, 41% Byron Young also looked like a special athlete, testing incredibly well. Tennessee Titans, 56% 7. Washington Football Team 23. 15. The release of Charles Leno made little sense to me. However, Christian Darrisaw is my favorite pick they have made on the OL in some time. Pass protectionstats are explained further here. This offensive line isnt going to prop up any running backs and it wont make life easier on whichever quarterback they have under center. Some recent updates working in Harris' favor, however: The Pats making Mac Jones their Week 1 starter after cutting Cam Newton and the team trading Sony Michel. We'll go 1-32 based on projected PBWR for 2021, using ESPN fantasy analyst Mike Clay's offensive line starter projections to give us each team's starting five. Tennessee Titans, 39% 5): Like the 49ers, the Bucs are expected to have a running rotation of Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, and Giovani Bernard in the backfield. Exclusive Premium Content For Subscribers. Green Bay Packers, 35% WebOverall Totals By Team. AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons. Dallas Cowboys, 42% While some veterans looking to find a home with a winner may sign late deals heading into camp, it's safe to say that for the most part all of the big-time fantasy football difference makers have landed somewhere. Fortunately for them, they have an offensive lineman who can play multiple positions in Elgton Jenkins, who might slide to center, while second-round draft pick Josh Meyers starts at guard. Health is the biggest concern with this line, but if they remain healthy, theyre a top-10 unit. After a ton of hype following his selection in the 2020 NFL Draft running behind Mahomes, coached by Andy Reid, the second coming of Brian Westbrook, etc, etc. New Orleans Saints, 36% You don't currently have any notifications. Are there players you should move up or down in your rankings because of this? This OL group is absolutely nasty and fits the identity and scheme of the team perfectly. Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker might be one of the best tackle combos in the league a few years from now, but we cant automatically assume they both pan out. Expect him to get at least a slight bump. That question moves them down the list, but theyre still a top-tier unit who created the fifth-most yards before contact for their running backs. To develop the rankings, I considered my own film study, our data here at FTN Data, and each team's depth chart top to bottom. 28. 4. Stat to know:Bears ranked bottom third in both average time to pressure (2.25 seconds) and yards before contact on non-QB runs (1.27). 23. Looking for free betting tools to help you win? Buffalo Bills, 69% 3. 7. Assuming the Eagles line stays healthy this year, it has a chance to be a phenomenal unit. PRWR: Players | Team Its just a collection of mediocre linemen, similar to what theyve been trotting out there for years. 6. Detroit Lions, 58% The Kansas City offensive line had maybe its worst game of the young season last week, allowing two sacks and 15 pressures, both season-highs, but the team still managed to score 31 points against the Washington Football Team. LIVE Transfer Talk: Bayern still keen on Kane despite new Choupo-Moting contract, Previewing the 2023 college baseball season: Teams and players to watch, key storylines, Top moments from Brady, Manning, Jordan and other athletes hosting 'Saturday Night Live', Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Theyll move Germain Ifedi from guard to right tackle, which is likely to be a downgrade from Massie. 10. Las Vegas Raiders, 67% and Las Vegas' offensive line is a work in progress. Los Angeles Chargers, 30% If you watched the Super Bowl, you understand why. 31. 21. The Vikings have not been shy about trying to improve their offensive line over the past five years. Humphries, who had a breakout 2020 campaign, established himself as a dominant run blocker as well. Minnesota Vikings, 71% The Texans werent really able to address the offensive line this offseason in any major way and outside of Tunsil will be counting on major developments from youngsters Max Scharping and Tytus Howard to see any type of improvement. Houston Texans, 40% With that in mind, I decided to rank the top-10 running back and offensive line combinations for the fantasy season ahead. Please contact support, See All {{active_sport.toUpperCase()}} Pick History >>. Both checking boxes, not that there was much doubt, On the overlay, Calijah Kancey is neck and neck with Aaron Donald through at least the first 20 yards of the 40.
Elite get off, For reference, Aaron Donald was 1.59 (99th percentile). They signed freshly released Charles Leno who is likely to take over the starting left-tackle job traded for Ereck Flowers who had a career year with the team back in 2019 and spent the 51st pick in the draft on Samuel Cosmi who could eventually start at offensive tackle. Atlanta Falcons, 54% 32. The first day of the NFL Scouting Combine undoubtedly had a few stars of the show, and chief among them were Georgia edge-rusher Nolan Smith and Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who each blazed impressive 40-yard dash times. 23. The Panthers didnt do much in free agency but did add three rookies that I like in Brady Christensen, Deonte Brown and David Moore. Please be aware that quarterbacks bear responsibility for some of their own sacks and these metrics are not a pure rating of pass protection. The 1.14 yards before contact they gave their running backs last year highlights that, as it was the fourth-lowest number in the league. Stats in blue represent pass protection. Pittsburgh Steelers, 41% Having Duane Brown at left tackle is certainly a score booster, as its the most important position on the line, even if theres not another above average player (maybe Jackson now) on the line. No guarantees are made for any specific outcome. They created just 1.05 yards before contact for their running backs last year, which ranked as the second-worst mark in the league. Cincinnati Bengals, 49% 16. 13. 8. 16. Derrick Henry is special in that, because of his unique physical tools, you imagine he would probably produce no matter how good the line is in front of him. Still, on paper, the Chiefs have a top-five left side in LT Orlando Brown and LG Joe Thuney. Dallas Cowboys, 73% Recording a tackle within three yards of the line of scrimmage The Panthers have amassed a 68-percent rate here, nine percent off the league-leading Washington Football Team. New York Giants, 34% 14. Based on regression analysis, the Adjusted Line Yards formula takes all running back carries and assigns responsibility to the offensive line based on the following percentages: These numbers are then adjusted based on down, distance, situation, opponent, and the difference in rushing average between shotgun compared to standard formations. Our pass rush win rate metric tells us how often a pass-rusher is able to beat his block within 2.5 seconds. 23. Some teams have lost players and havent done much to replace them, which will impact their grade. They only had three draft picks, so its not like they couldve done much in the draft, either. 24. . Stat to know:The Steelers ranked bottom-five in both time to pressure per dropback (2.17 seconds) and yards before contact per carry (1.29). Thats a stacked offensive line, especially if Sewell lives up to the hype. That said, there is a serious reason for optimism. 32. At 250 pounds, Young timed 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a good mark for a receiver and a great time for an edge rusher.He timed a swift 7.19 seconds in the three-cone, touched 38 inches in the vertical 29. The Seahawks have a very interesting blend of young players and veterans with Duane Brown still playing like a top tackle in the NFL. They also roll into the season seven or eight players deep and will have the opportunity to shuffle things a bit to ensure they live up to the hype. They lost Kevin Zeitler in free agency, which created a void they really didnt repair, but maybe they slide Solder or Matt Peart to guard? Playoffs . Buffalo Bills, 64% Stat to know: New Englands OL produced a league-leading 2.13 yards before contact on non-QB runs in 2020. Landing a bottom-five ranking here is a tough look for a team that has a star left tackle in Laremy Tunsil, but this is just a microcosm of the Texans as a whole right now. Dion Dawkins and Daryl Williams are solid tackles that Id even call above average. Asim Richards (North Carolina) A Philadelphia native who attended The Haverford School, Richards started 38 games up front for the Tar Heels over the course of How are the Steelers down this far considering Ben Roethlisberger was sacked just 13 times? Well, thats a large part of the reason his average depth of target was so short; he was getting the ball out. Kentucky switched offensive coordinators and lost some key talent at receiver and offensive line. These guys join Brandon Scherff, who is still one of the best RGs in the league. Minnesota Vikings, 34% The Bucs also proactively added some high-quality depth in the form of Robert Hainsey, a third-round pick from Notre Dame who can likely back up multiple positions. Theyre an underrated unit, particularly on the inside where they created an average of 1.70 yards before contact for their running backs, ahead of teams like the 49ers, Vikings, and Eagles. They also added Kevin Zeitler in free agency, wholl give the interior of the line a nice boost. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores Jawaan Taylor was supposed to be a steal in the second round a few years back, but he hasnt looked like it. Brown might finally have some help. A few years ago, ESPN Analytics developed pass block win rate (PBWR) to measure how often individual players and teams sustained their pass blocks for at least 2.5 seconds, using player tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats. Minnesota Vikings This offense isnt projected to score too many points, but it wont be because of a bad offensive line. If we A) knew that the Patriots were going to give Harris a workhorse role and B) knew that Harris without a shadow of a doubt could be an elite workhorse, New England could crack the top 5 on this list. 4. 20. SAN 10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Theyll also get back Brandon Brooks, who didnt play a snap during the 2020 season. What we know is McCarthy repeatedly pointed to how the running game was used in 2022 as a sign of things to come and even expressed a disinterest in offensive The 13. Can't miss prospect. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. That Patriots seemingly have good OL play in perpetuity. Atlanta Falcons 22. Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season had a little bit of everything. PBWR: Players | Team For the full testing results from Thursday, be sure to check out NFL.com. 6. Theyve now stripped away all their continuity, as Trent Brown, Gabe Jackson, and Rodney Hudson are all gone. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Levis also was saddled with two major Insane athlete who loves ball and the process. Elliott and Pollard combined to post 74.3 percent of their yards after contact, which was the highest mark in the league.