NFL Offensive Line Tiered Rankings: Bucs, Cowboys and Eagles Lead the Pack

  • August 22, 2026

This piece originally began as a standard ranking of offensive lines, but it has since transformed into a set of subjective tiers. In all honesty, separating the raw capability of these blocking units from external influences—such as coaching, offensive design, and the players around them (namely quarterbacks and running backs)—proved incredibly challenging.

These categories provide a general overview of each team’s status heading into the second week of exhibition play. My evaluation factors in the elite ability of the starting players, potential vulnerabilities, backup options, developing prospects, coaching staff, playbook philosophy, and supporting personnel.

Even so, my outlook on the state of offensive lines across the NFL remains largely positive. Defensive coordinators continue to devise clever tactics to disrupt protection structures, yet we are not seeing many completely dreadful groups—at least for the moment, given how frequently health issues alter the landscape once the regular season begins. Indeed, several squads projected to struggle overall still boast promising, youthful lines with high upside (the Miami Dolphins are a prime example).

Without further ado, here are six distinct tiers classifying the league’s front lines for the 2026 campaign. 

NFC East: Cowboys | Giants | Eagles | Commanders
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Falcons | Panthers | Saints | Buccaneers
NFC West: Cardinals | Rams | 49ers | Seahawks

AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Patriots | Jets
AFC North: Ravens | Bengals | Browns | Steelers
AFC South: Texans | Colts | Jaguars | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chiefs | Raiders | Chargers

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 3: Baker Mayfield #6 and Tristan Wirfs #78 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers run onto the field prior to an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield benefits from having a premier tackle like Tristan Wirfs anchoring the line. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

(Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images)

Tampa Bay’s front five is anchored by Tristan Wirfs at left tackle, who stands as one of the premier blockers in football (he sits firmly near the absolute top of my list). Cody Mauch enters the year fully fit to occupy the right guard slot. At center, Graham Barton offers high-level play with the potential to perform at a Pro Bowl tier, while Luke Goedeke has developed into a highly effective right tackle. While left guard Ben Bredeson represents the line’s most vulnerable spot, he remains a dependable contributor capable of executing in both ground-and-pound and drop-back scenarios.

Following a season hindered by persistent health setbacks, this offensive line is positioned to contend for the league’s top ranking. The Buccaneers are bringing back the identical starting lineup for a third consecutive campaign, and they currently project to be fully healthy. Kevin Carberry also returns to guide the group as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Under newly appointed offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who utilized a heavy zone-run system in his previous stint, the scheme should remain highly supportive of the blockers, regardless of how much he tweaks things to fit the current roster. Finding a team with five quality, above-average starters ready for the season opener is extremely rare, but the elite caliber of Wirfs, alongside the immense potential of Barton and Goedeke, secures the top spot for this group.

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Denver Broncos
Philadelphia Eagles
Buffalo Bills
Dallas Cowboys

Denver and Philadelphia represent the strongest challengers to Tampa Bay’s claim on the top ranking. Both squads boast high-caliber starters across the entire line. The Broncos particularly benefit from an offensive system that eases the burden on blockers through heavy formations, frequent play-action, run-pass options, and designed rollouts. For Philadelphia, the primary concerns lie in the longevity of Lane Johnson’s elite play and how the unit transitions following the departure of legendary coach Jeff Stoutland. Theoretically, coordinator Sean Mannion’s system should be highly accommodating to the front five. Given the sheer talent of the roster, the Eagles’ line can succeed in virtually any scheme, keeping them firmly in the elite class. The evolution of Philadelphia’s offense will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the year, especially as new line coach Chris Kuper attempts to revive a ground game that saw a decline in productivity in 2025.

Buffalo boasts a stellar run-blocking front under the guidance of new position coach Pat Meyer. They are set to insert Alec Anderson at left guard to fill the void left by David Edwards, representing a slight downgrade in performance at that position. However, the remaining four starters are highly accomplished in paving the way for the ground game, demonstrating great coordination on combo blocks, even if their pass-blocking remains solid rather than elite. (As an aside, tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown struggled at times with edge rushers during exhibition matchups. While not a major panic point, there were signs of physical and mental regression last season that bear watching.)

Despite an unresolved left tackle competition during training camp, Dallas remains in the upper echelon of these rankings. The interior of their line is particularly impressive, with Tyler Smith serving as the anchor of the group. Rookie Cooper Beebe has adapted rapidly to the center position, appearing to be the next in a long line of highly capable pivots to establish an immediate connection with Dak Prescott. At guard, Tyler Booker operates as a powerful run blocker whose massive frame and physical playstyle align perfectly with Dallas’ offensive identity. Right tackle Terence Steele has displayed high-level play in the past when healthy; he remains a viable option, though he can struggle when isolated without help. Fortunately, the offensive design from coordinator Klayton Adams and assistant Conor Riley should help shield any individual weaknesses. Rookie Tyler Guyton represents the biggest wild card on the blindside, yet his physical tools are undeniable, and the coaching staff has a strong history of maximizing prospect potential. Having reliable backup options like Nate Thomas further bolsters my confidence in this unit and the entire Dallas offense.

This group represents the “above-average to strong” tier. Kansas City’s front has the ceiling to climb even higher before the season concludes. There is plenty of reason for optimism here, particularly with the explosive running style of Kenneth Walker III in the backfield. Josh Simmons possesses elite athletic traits and showed All-Pro flashes during his debut campaign. Kingsley Suamataia took significant strides forward last season, while Creed Humphrey remains the premier center in the sport, and Trey Smith provides overwhelming physical force when healthy. The primary uncertainty lies at right tackle with Jaylon Moore, but the strength of the other four positions helps compensate. Furthermore, undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson put together a highly encouraging preseason, offering valuable insurance behind Smith and potentially challenging Moore for starting duties.

Chicago featured a top-tier group a year ago in an offensive system designed to accentuate their strengths. However, they benefited from exceptional health fortunes (excluding the left tackle spot) while Caleb Williams did a massive amount of heavy lifting to neutralize incoming pressure. Following Drew Dalman’s retirement, the front office acquired Garrett Bradbury via trade; while he represents a middle-of-the-pack option at center, he remains an upgrade over Chicago’s historical options at the position. Veteran Joe Thuney remains an elite presence despite his advancing age, while the combination of Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright forms one of the most physically imposing right-side tandems in football. If Ozzy Trapilo can make a swift return from his injury setback, it would be a major boost, as he was displaying the makings of a franchise left tackle prior to getting hurt. Even a slightly diminished version of Trapilo would outperform the team’s alternative options on the blindside.

Assistant coach Tony Sparano Jr. has coaxed excellent play out of an Indianapolis group centered around former top pick Quenton Nelson. On the left edge, Bernhard Raimann has developed into a highly effective tackle, using exceptional movement skills and technical discipline to make up for a lack of ideal reach. The biggest change comes at right tackle with the departure of Braden Smith; his replacement, developmental prospect Jalen Travis, possesses great athletic traits but needs to build functional strength. Fortunately, the other four starting roles remain stable. Tanor Bortolini showed notable growth during his first full season as a starter; while his anchor in pass protection remains a work in progress, the scheme helps mask these flaws, turning him into a dependable contributor. Meanwhile, Matt Goncalves made positive strides after transitioning to the interior, showing far more comfort paving paths in the run game than matching interior pass-rushers. His development is another credit to Sparano’s ability to extract value from mid-round draft selections. Head coach Shane Steichen’s system also does wonders to cover up individual limitations. However, aside from Nelson, this unit is short on elite star power, and Travis remains an unproven commodity.

Here are five offensive lines that will command my attention throughout the year. Cincinnati features far more talent than national narratives suggest, and they belong in the upper half of the league rather than the bottom tier. Position coach Scott Peters has done an admirable job developing their youthful assets, several of whom took big steps forward last year. Dylan Fairchild put some impressive physical strength on display during his rookie year, while Amarius Mims began to realize his immense potential once he put his health issues behind him. Mims possesses a rare combination of physical stature and athleticism, and a healthy campaign could launch him into the national spotlight.

New York is built to establish a physical ground game this year, and their personnel upfront fits that vision perfectly. Andrew Thomas continues to perform at an elite level, Jermaine Eluemunor is coming off a breakout campaign on the right side, and rookie Francis Mauigoa has already made an impact with his powerful run-blocking during exhibition play. Lacking any glaring liabilities, this group has a legitimate opportunity to push for a top-ten ranking by year’s end. 

Both New York and Miami feature high-end talent on their front lines. Armand Membou put together an impressive rookie campaign for the Jets, signaling his trajectory toward becoming a top-tier right tackle. Olu Fashanu is a prime candidate for a rebound year, especially with a more stable pocket environment compared to the unpredictable scrambling of Justin Fields. Furthermore, the interior of the Jets’ line is quite dependable at both center and right guard. Meanwhile, the Dolphins boast an elite center in Aaron Brewer alongside left tackle Patrick Paul, who appears primed for a breakout (though his performance outside of Mike McDaniel’s scheme remains to be seen). Jonah Savaiinaea also showed positive development at right guard in his early preseason appearances following a challenging rookie campaign on the opposite side. With the addition of the massive Kadyn Proctor at left guard, Miami is incredibly close to fielding a highly formidable line across four positions (though right tackle remains a concern).

New Orleans has quietly assembled a highly promising, youthful core upfront. While assembling this group required significant draft capital and key free-agent signings, the resulting blend of athleticism, football IQ, and physical traits is highly compelling when everyone is healthy. Should this unit take a collective step forward alongside the rest of the roster, the Saints could easily push into the top ten and perhaps even earn the coveted label of “elite.”

Zach Frazier acts as the centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s line. As a highly intelligent, agile, and powerful blocker, Frazier is primed for national recognition if he continues on his current trajectory. He is joined on the left side by his fellow members of the 2024 draft class, forming a unit with immense potential. Troy Fautanu showed great progress last year as he regained full health, recapturing the form that made him a standout prospect at Washington. Mason McCormick has also provided steady play at guard; while his athletic ceiling might not match some of his peers, he projects as a long-term, reliable starter. While the right side of the line and the coaching staff undergo changes, Aaron Rodgers’ quick-release style should help protect the unit’s overall efficiency metrics.

While the addition of Blake Miller was a strong move for Detroit, the center position seems plagued by misfortune in the post-Frank Ragnow era, especially with newcomer Cade Mays sidelined by a major wrist injury. Relying on either Seth McLaughlin or Juice Scruggs—both of whom project as depth-level starters—leaves the pivot position as a vulnerability heading into the season. The guard play also fluctuated last year, though the raw ability is there. Penei Sewell’s transition to the left side should be seamless given his previous experience and elite skill set that made him a premier prospect out of Oregon. This group should show improvement over last season, though they remain a notch below the dominant lines Detroit fielded earlier in Dan Campbell’s tenure.

The aggressive nature of Kevin O’Connell’s offense is a double-edged sword for his blockers, offering schematic advantages while demanding a high level of execution. Despite battling constant injury setbacks, Minnesota’s ground game achieved historic efficiency under O’Connell last year. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw remains a dominant force when active, though his durability remains an ongoing concern. Opposite him, Brian O’Neill provides high-end play at right tackle. On the interior, the powerful Donovan Jackson is poised for a breakout campaign if he can avoid the injury bug that has previously slowed his progress. Center remains the glaring weak link, but the surrounding cast of four quality starters around Blake Brandel is solid, and the additions of Ryan Van Demark and Caleb Tiernan provide much-needed insurance for the tackle positions.

Atlanta is anchored by the remarkably durable Jake Matthews alongside an expensive interior tandem. The departure of position coach Dwayne Ledford hurts, even if his replacement is the highly respected Bill Callahan. Jawaan Taylor’s quickness is paired with a history of pre-snap penalties at right tackle, while center Ryan Neuzil maintains the team’s unusual preference for left-handed blockers. Evaluating this group is difficult; while they have the potential to exceed expectations, there are valid questions beyond the reliable presence of Chris Lindstrom and Matthew Bergeron.

This specific tier represents the ultimate embodiment of blind faith in schematic design.

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The raw ability varies across these rosters, but they all benefit from coaches (with the Ravens being a unique exception discussed below) who run variations of the highly effective Shanahan-Kubiak offensive tree—including the actual namesakes themselves.

For the majority of these squads, the narrative is identical: two or three standout performers offset by major weak links that leave you wondering how they manage. I have ordered them according to my assessment of their baseline talent level.

The power of this system is perfectly illustrated by Coleman Shelton’s career trajectory: after yielding an alarming one-on-one pressure rate with Chicago in 2024 (prompting the team to replace him with Drew Dalman), his return to Sean McVay’s scheme in 2025 saw his pressure numbers plummet from double digits to just 6.1%. This phenomenon applies to the entire Los Angeles line. They are a physical, intelligent group, and Warren McClendon Jr.’s development is worth watching. However, Alaric Jackson’s off-field complications might force the team to dip into their reserves sooner than expected. 

Green Bay relies on a highly cohesive approach, focusing on avoiding individual liabilities across the front five. I am particularly interested to monitor rookie Jordan Morgan’s performance on the left side. Los Angeles features outstanding bookend tackles when healthy, but even with coach Mike McDaniel’s knack for shielding protection issues, their interior group remains a concern. On a positive note, Jake Slaughter has shown promise at center to help cushion the loss of Tyler Biadasz.

In Jacksonville, coach Liam Coen uses creative play-calling to protect his front line, which has settled into a productive starting group thanks to the development of Emmanuel Pregnon at guard. Seattle brings back a highly familiar lineup defined by a strong left side featuring Charles Cross and Grey Zabel, offset by continuing concerns at center and right guard. San Francisco has limited elite talent beyond the legendary Trent Williams and rookie Dominick Puni, yet the strength of their system ensures they will likely remain a top-ten offensive unit regardless of who fills the left guard vacancy. Similarly, Las Vegas should see a dramatic improvement over last season’s struggles under far more capable leadership.

Arizona also fits this classification. I anticipate a strong developmental jump from Paris Johnson Jr., and the acquisition of Isaac Seumalo looks like an excellent move. Hjalte Froholdt provides stable play at center, though the right side of the line remains unproven. While Chase Bisontis’ injury is a setback for my projections, coordinator Mike LaFleur’s offensive structure should foster much better cohesion than we saw last year, even with continuity at the position coach level. 

Baltimore is included because of their projected transition to a heavy zone and bootleg attack under Declan Doyle and new assistant Dwayne Ledford. While the center position remains a concern, the front office made great strides in reinforcing both guard positions. The roster features an encouraging infusion of new talent that could easily exceed baseline expectations within this scheme.

This tier highlights four teams that have reshuffled their front five. Evaluating New England’s line is tricky, but they possess the potential to perform at a respectable, league-average level. I respect their bold decision to move on from Garrett Bradbury and install Jared Wilson at his natural center position. The addition of Alijah Vera-Tucker offers immense talent but comes with undeniable durability concerns. Fortunately, drafting Caleb Lomu provides crucial depth; he can operate as the primary swing tackle, allowing Will Campbell—who showed promise during his rookie year despite a rough closing stretch—to slide inside if injuries strike the interior.

Houston prioritized depth and versatility with several new additions, aiming to elevate a line that has struggled mightily in recent years. Their ground-game efficiency and overall protection should see a modest upgrade, lifting them out of the basement to a more respectable tier. Left tackle Aireontae Ersery shows real promise, and the selection of Keylan Rutledge could secure their center position for the future. However, the health profiles of Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith remain major variables, and Ed Ingram’s consistency remains highly unpredictable.

Cleveland undertook a total overhaul of their front five out of sheer necessity. The eventual starter at center remains an open question, but the roster’s overall versatility—bolstered by the addition of Spencer Fano—allows the coaching staff to mix and match to find their strongest combination. I am also eager to see if Austin Barber can earn playing time as the year progresses. Ultimately, this represents a much more stable environment to support and develop a young signal-caller.

Tennessee’s new-look front showed highly encouraging signs during their limited preseason action. Peter Skoronski remains the undisputed star of the group, while JC Latham displayed remarkable power in his early reps, and fifth-round selection Fernando Carmona Jr. emerged as a breakout performer at guard. Assistant coach Carmen Bricillo, who worked wonders with New York in 2025, seems to be having an immediate impact on this roster. While Dan Moore’s contract remains a talking point, Bricillo’s coaching could help him play closer to his potential.

On a brighter note, I remain incredibly optimistic about the potential of Josh Conerly Jr. and have exceptionally high expectations for Monroe Freeling!