NFL Offensive Line Rankings 2022: Spot fantasy sleepers, busts by knowing the best offensive lines

Everyone watching NFL football falls in love with the skill position players, especially fantasy football owners. There’s nothing better than watching Josh Allen launch a ball 70 yards downfield to Stefon Diggs or seeing Derrick Henry obliterate a defender with a stiff arm. Indeed, these skill position players and fantasy darlings make some huge plays, but they don’t do it alone. Often, they get a lot of help from their offensive lines, and knowing the rankings of the best offensive lines in 2022 can go a long way toward helping you find fantasy sleepers (or avoid busts).

Yes, the big uglies don’t get much attention, but often, the best NFL teams have the best blocking. Good blocking allows more time for downfield passes, which boosts the ceilings of quarterbacks and deep-threat receivers. It also can have a big impact on rushing yardage, as good blockers allow running backs to travel farther downfield before being contacted.

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Take David Montgomery and Josh Jacobs, for example. Both are getting RB2 buzz given that they are favored to be the leaders of each of their respective backfields in 2022, but can you really trust them as they run behind porous offensive lines? It’s a decision that fantasy owners will have to weigh with care on draft day.

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In short, yeah, the playmakers are the guys you want to know the most about in fantasy football, but don’t sleep on the impact that offensive lines have in creating sleepers and busts.

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Without further ado, let’s kick off our 2022 O-Line rankings, starting with a familiar group in the No. 1 spot.

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NFL offensive line rankings for 2022

1. Cleveland Browns

  • LT Jedrick Wills
  • LG Joel Bitonio
  • C Nick Harris
  • RG Wyatt Teller
  • RT Jack Conklin

The Browns were our No. 1-ranked offensive line in 2021 and they repeat as the top team in ’22. They have arguably the best guard tandem in the NFL — Bitonio and Teller — and though center J.C. Tretter is gone, they have a capable replacement for him in Harris. And if Harris, a fifth-round pick in ’20, falters, veteran Ethan Pocic is in tow as a backup.

At tackle, Willis improved from his rookie year to ’21, cutting his penalties to four from 11. Meanwhile, Conklin played in just seven games but was an All-Pro first-teamer in ’20. The two should help to keep Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson clean in the pocket.

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt also get a stock up from this. The Browns tied for the league lead in yards per carry last year at 5.1, and the offensive line played a big role in that success. Chubb averaged 2.5 yards before contact thanks to the O-Line, and if he does that again, he should end up being an RB1 in standard leagues and high-end RB2 in PPR leagues — provided that Hunt doesn’t vulture too many goal-line touches from him.

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2. Philadelphia Eagles

  • LT Jordan Mailata
  • LG Landon Dickerson
  • C Jason Kelce
  • RG Isaac Seumalo
  • RT Lane Johnson

The Eagles gave the Browns a run for the No. 1 overall spot, but ultimately, the loss of Brandon Brooks to retirement outweighed Cleveland’s loss of Tretter.

Still, there are a lot of reasons to be excited about Philly’s line. This unit played together without Brooks last year and was strong. Kelce came back for another year and should continue to be one of the top centers in the game unless a right elbow injury keeps him out to start the season. As for Mailata and Johnson, one could argue that they are the best tackle tandem in the league.

Dickerson and Seumalo aren’t quite as good as the other three, but they are solid starters and will glue the line together nicely while players like Andre Dillard, Jack Driscoll and Cam Jurgens provide high-quality depth.

The Eagles logged a league-high 2,715 rushing yards last season at a more-than-respectable 4.9 yards per carry. Jalen Hurts (4.6) and Miles Sanders (3.4) both ranked top-five league-wide in yards before contact thanks to this O-Line, so they once again have a high yardage ceiling. The only issue is the touchdown distribution, as players like Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott could vulture some scores.

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3. Detroit Lions

  • LT Taylor Decker
  • LG Jonah Jackson
  • C Frank Ragnow
  • RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai
  • RT Penei Sewell

Some eyebrows might rise when seeing the Lions ranked this high, but their offensive line is, in fact, among the best in the league. Ragnow is arguably the best center and the toughest, as he once played through a broken throat (let’s say that again, a broken throat) before briefly landing on IR.

Decker and Sewell are a great tackle tandem that bring different things to the table. Both are huge, but Decker brings worthwhile experience to the table, while Sewell is young and improved greatly as the 2021 season went on.

The line is tied together by Jackson and Vaitai, who have each emerged as rock-solid guards. Vaitai, known as Big V, has some tackle versatility, too, which adds to the team’s already strong depth headlined by another huge tackle, Dan Skipper, and center Evan Brown.

Both D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams averaged 2.5 yards before contact per carry last season, so they are clearly benefitting from this big line. Considering that the unit is pretty young at left guard, center and right tackle, their blocking should only get better moving forward, which helps both the backs and even the WRs, as Jared Goff should have plenty of time in the pocket.

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4. Kansas City Chiefs

  • LT Orlando Brown Jr.
  • LG Joe Thuney
  • C Creed Humphrey
  • RG Trey Smith
  • RT Lucas Niang

The Chiefs rebuilt their entire offensive line after their embarrassing 31-9 loss to the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55. The results in 2021 were strong, and they figure to continue to pay dividends in ’22.

The Chiefs may have the best interior line in the NFL. Thuney is an iron man at left guard and can play every position up front; Humphrey was arguably the NFL’s best center during his rookie year; and Smith turned into a draft-day steal and excelled as a rookie next to Humphrey. That trio could continue to play together for the better part of a decade, depending on how long Thuney, 29, wants to keep playing.

The tackles aren’t bad either, but they come with questions. Brown wasn’t happy about playing on the franchise tag in ’22, but he ended his holdout at the start of August. Meanwhile, Niang suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 17 last year, so it’s unclear whether he or Andrew Wylie will start at right tackle this season.

Either way, the Chiefs still have a rock-solid line and Patrick Mahomes should have plenty of time to find his receivers as a result. Consider that good news for JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

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5. New England Patriots

  • LT Isaiah Wynn
  • LG Cole Strange
  • C David Andrews
  • RG Mike Onwenu
  • RT Trent Brown

The Patriots lost two key offensive linemen during the 2022 offseason when Ted Karras left the team in free agency and Shaq Mason was traded to the Buccaneers. Still, the team has a strong unit that should be one of the best in the NFL again.

The strength of the Patriots’ line should be on the right side. Andrews is a solid center, Onwenu has found success at both tackle and guard and Brown has been a top-tier tackle talent when healthy.

The left side of the line is a bit more questionable. Wynn has dealt with injury issues while Strange was widely considered a reach as a first-round pick, but both players have talent. If either falters, swing tackle Justin Herron can step in and help solidify the team’s offense.

Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson (and possibly Pierre Strong Jr., should an injury arise) should benefit from these blockers, and Mac Jones should, too, as he will have more time to throw. That could help to make a deep threat like Tyquan Thornton a bit more viable in best ball and DFS formats.

6. Indianapolis Colts

  • LT Matt Pryor
  • LG Quenton Nelson
  • C Ryan Kelly
  • RG Danny Pinter
  • RT Braden Smith

The Colts’ offensive line has lost a starter in each of the last two offseasons. In 2021, long-time starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo retired. This offseason, Mark Glowinski left in free agency to join the Giants.

Despite these losses, the Colts’ blocking remains consistent and solid. That is thanks, in part, to the presence of Nelson, arguably the league’s best guard, and two more solid starters in Kelly and Smith. That trio forms the core of Indy’s O-Line and will be instrumental in keeping Matt Ryan upright.

Pryor and Pinter represent a couple of question marks for the Colts, but the upside is there. Pryor played just 94 snaps at left tackle last year, but he handled himself well there in that limited action. As for Pinter, he didn’t allow a sack in 226 snaps and committed just two penalties.

Even if Pryor and Pinter don’t live up to their projections, the Colts should still give Ryan better protection than he had in Atlanta while continuing to open up running lanes for Jonathan Taylor as they did last year.

7. Cincinnati Bengals

  • LT Jonah Williams
  • LG Jackson Carman
  • C Ted Karras
  • RG Alex Cappa
  • RT La’el Collins

The Bengals allowed Joe Burrow to be sacked a whopping 70 times during the regular and postseason in 2021. They couldn’t let that happen again in 2022, so they opted to do what the Chiefs did last year and remake their offensive line. Returning will be one starter, left tackle Jonah Williams. Every other position will have a new starter in ’22.

Free agent acquisitions Karras, Cappa and Collins will rebuild the right side of the Bengals’ line, which was a massive problem for the team last year after Riley Reiff was injured. Carman will serve as an internal replacement at left guard; the ’21 second-round pick was a backup last year and was up-and-down in his action, but he should be better with more experience.

Burrow’s blocking now looks good, and it’s scary to think about how good he can be with more time to find Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins downfield. All three of those players get stock-ups, while Joe Mixon could be poised for a career year after averaging 4.1 yards per carry or fewer in four of his first five seasons.

8. Los Angeles Chargers

  • LT Rashawn Slater
  • LG Matt Feiler
  • C Corey Linsley
  • RG Zion Johnson
  • RT Trey Pipkins

The Chargers’ line was once a problem for the team, but in recent years, they have built it into a strong unit.

Slater is the leader of Los Angeles’ line, and he starred as a rookie. He was so good that he finished fourth in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and earned a second-team All-Pro nod, too. Along with Feiler and Linsley, two recent free agent signings, the left side of the line proved to be a strength for the Chargers in 2021, but the right side needed help to improve in 2022.

Zion Johnson should suffice at right guard. The first-round pick from Boston College has solid technique and was widely viewed as a potential plug-and-play starter at the position. Right tackle remains a question mark for the Chargers, but Pipkins showed well in limited action last year. He committed just one penalty and allowed no sacks in 173 offensive snaps.

Even if Pipkins is merely decent, the Chargers should have strong blocking in front of Herbert and Austin Ekeler. That will continue to help their offense succeed and will benefit Mike Williams most of all. He is the team’s best downfield receiver and had a career year in ’21 largely thanks to the worthwhile blocking in front of him.

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9. Green Bay Packers

  • LT David Bakhtiari
  • LG Jon Runyan
  • C Josh Myers
  • RG Royce Newman
  • RT Elgton Jenkins

The Packers would rank higher on this list if more was known about the health of Bakhtiari and Jenkins. Bakhtiari missed all but one game last season due to a torn left ACL suffered in 2020 while Jenkins tore his left ACL in Week 11. It’s unclear when either will be ready to play, but Jenkins seems closer to ready as Bakhtiari had another knee surgery during the offseason.

If both Bakhtiari and Jenkins miss time, the Packers will be a bit short on tackle talent. If only one is absent, Yosh Nijman can help replace the other, as he fared well in relief of both last season. Still, the injuries at tackle are less-than-ideal for the Packers.

So, the bill of health at tackle will certainly impact the Packers’ ranking in 2022. The good news is that the line still has a high floor. Why? Because the interior line of Runyan, Myers and Newman looks like a solid core, and that should help the team as they look to protect Aaron Rodgers in 2022. 

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • LT Donovan Smith
  • LG Luke Goedeke
  • C Robert Hainsey
  • RG Shaq Mason
  • RT Tristan Wirfs

The Buccaneers had one of the best offensive lines in football each of the past two years. However, expect some regression in 2022 thanks to the upheaval on the interior line.

Left guard Ali Marpet retired, right guard Alex Cappa joined the Bengals in free agency and center Ryan Jensen suffered an injury during training camp that will likely keep him out for the entire season. The Bucs have one proven replacement in Mason, a former Patriot, but Goedeke and Hainsey are two young, recent draft picks with little experience. They will need to perform well to keep the 45-year-old Tom Brady out of harm’s way in 2022.

Smith and Wirfs are a great tackle tandem — Wirfs is one of the best right tackles in football — but the interior blocking has always been of the utmost importance for Brady’s teams given his lacking mobility. The Bucs line has upside thanks to their proven trio, but there is reason for at least a little worry up front after Jensen’s injury. That could hurt RBs Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White more than Brady and the WRs.

11. Los Angeles Rams

  • LT Joe Noteboom
  • LG David Edwards
  • C Brian Allen
  • RG Logan Bruss
  • RT Rob Havenstein

The Rams’ line isn’t as solid as it was last season thanks to Andrew Whitworth’s retirement. Still, they are returning three starters and a fourth player in Noteboom, who played well in relief of Whitworth last season.

Noteboom allowed just one sack in 176 snaps while committing zero penalties. That should allow him to continue to fare well in place of the stalwart Whitworth. The other swap comes at right guard, where third-round rookie Bruss is set to take over for Austin Corbett. Corbett was solid for the Rams but Bruss hails from Wisconsin, a school known for churning out solid offensive linemen.

So, the Rams have two question marks and also will need Edwards to improve just a bit after allowing six sacks (tied for the sixth most among guards) last season. Still, this line looks like it should be pretty good and open up plenty of running lanes for Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson, but Akers in particular will need to be better than he was in the playoffs last year.

12. Carolina Panthers

  • LT Ikem Ekwonu
  • LG Brady Christensen
  • C Bradley Bozeman
  • RG Austin Corbett
  • RT Taylor Moton

The Panthers had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season. Don’t expect that to continue in 2022. Carolina is rolling with four new starters up front including three new acquisitions that should bolster their line.

Carolina brought in two free agents — Bozeman and Corbett — to upgrade their interior line. Bozeman was PFF’s 11th-ranked center in ’21 while Corbett was their 22nd-ranked guard, meaning both profile as above-average starters.

The Panthers didn’t stop with free agency. They also drafted Ekwonu with the sixth overall pick. The NC State product will become the blindside blocker for Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold and profiles as a strong, plug-and-play starter from a great tackle class.

Add in Moton, who has long been a great right tackle, and Christensen, who is moving to guard in ’22, and this line should be the best Carolina has had in quite some time. Maybe giving them a top-12 ranking is a bit premature, but the potential is there. That should help the team’s quarterback, Christian McCaffrey and their primary deep threat, Robbie Anderson.

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13. Dallas Cowboys

  • LT Tyron Smith
  • LG Tyler Smith
  • C Tyler Biadasz
  • RG Zack Martin
  • RT Terence Steele

Yes, the Cowboys still have a solid line. It’s just not as strong as it was when Travis Frederick and Connor Williams were both on the team. The team still has Martin, who is one of the league’s best guards, and Tyron Smith, but there are enough issues to knock them down a few pegs.

First off, Tyron Smith has dealt with injuries over the years that have taken a toll on him. He hasn’t played a full season since 2015, and when he has been out of the lineup, Dak Prescott has had his share of struggles.

The team’s tackle depth used to be solid, as both Steele and La’el Collins were available. Now, Collins is with the Bengals, so Steele is the full-time starter at right tackle. That hurts the team’s depth and means either Matt Waletzko or Josh Ball would have to step in if Smith can’t stay healthy.

Add the middling Biadasz and first-round rookie Tyler Smith into the mix, and this is a boom-or-bust offensive line. If both Smiths pan out, it could be a top-10 unit.

However, if the injury bug bites Tyron again, Prescott may have a bit less time to throw which could hurt his stats. The running game won’t be affected as much thanks to Martin, who will provide plenty of space for Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard to run behind.

14. Washington Commanders

  • LT Charles Leno Jr.
  • LG Andrew Norwell
  • C Chase Roullier
  • RG Trai Turner
  • RT Samuel Cosmi

This might be a bit low for the Commanders’ offensive line. They have a couple of top-tier blockers in Leno — who was PFF’s second-graded pass blocking tackle with a grade of 87.3 — and Roullier, PFF’s fourth-ranked center and have added a solid free-agent guard to the mix in Norwell, a former All-Pro.

The right side of the line is a bit weaker but has a bit of upside. Cosmi is a second-year player but graded out as the No. 30 tackle in football last year, per PFF. Meanwhile, Turner was the No. 31 guard for the Steelers last year, bouncing back after a down year with the Chargers in 2020. He won’t be as good as the departed Brandon Scherff, but having Turner and Norwell raises the overall floor of the offensive line.

There’s a lot to like about the Commanders, including their backups at each position (tackle Cornelius Lucas, guard Wes Schweitzer and center Keith Ismael). You could easily make the case for them as a top-10 unit, but their upside can be questioned, as Cosmi is the only starter under 28.

Still, this blocking should help Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and become downfield threats while Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. will have ample running room. 

15. Baltimore Ravens

  • LT Ronnie Stanley
  • LG Tyre Phillips
  • C Tyler Linderbaum
  • RG Kevin Zeitler
  • RT Morgan Moses

Baltimore’s offensive line has a lot of upside, but they also come with significant injury issues.

Stanley was once one of the best left tackles in the NFL, but he has played just seven games over the last two seasons due to persistent ankle injuries. Phillips missed seven games last season after he suffered a left knee injury in Week 1 that was initially reported to be a torn ACL but wasn’t.

Rookie center Tyler Linderbaum is also dealing with a Lisfranc injury. The team is hoping he will miss just a week or two of action during training camp and the preseason, but Lisfranc injuries often linger.

So, the entire left side of the Ravens’ line is talented but banged up. If all are able to play and play well, then the unit could be a top-10 group given that Zeitler and Moses are steady veterans, and Moses should be an upgrade over the now-retired Alejandro Villanueva.

If Stanley and Phillips stay healthy, that would be a huge stock-up for Lamar Jackson in all facets of the game. It will also allow the Ravens’ running backs — JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Mike Davis and more — to perform well, per usual. But, again, the injury pose a major threat to this unit’s productivity.

16. San Francisco 49ers

  • LT Trent Williams
  • LG Aaron Banks
  • C Jake Brendel
  • RG Daniel Brunskill
  • RT Mike McGlinchey

Here’s another boom-or-bust unit. The 49ers have Trent Williams, who graded out as the best tackle in the NFL last season, but aside from him, they don’t have a lot of proven talent.

San Francisco lost two starters up front during the offseason, as guard Laken Tomlinson left in free agency and center Alex Mack retired. As such, some combination of Banks, Brendel, Brunskill and rookies Spencer Burford and Nick Zakelj will have to start on the interior.

Banks, Brendel, and Brunskill are the three veterans, so they have the edge right now. That said, Banks and Brendel only have a combined three career starts among them, so Burford and Zakelj could challenge them for their starting jobs.

All told, there is a lot of uncertainty up front for the 49ers. Williams should be a top-tier talent, but all other players — including McGlinchey, who is coming off a torn quad — have some question marks. If the line doesn’t mesh well, that could create some problems for Trey Lance as he enters his first year as a starter.

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17. New Orleans Saints

  • LT Trevor Penning
  • LG Andrus Peat
  • C Erik McCoy
  • RG Cesar Ruiz
  • RT Ryan Ramczyk

The Saints are returning four starters, but the key is that they are losing their left tackle Terron Armstead. In terms of replacements, it’s worth wondering if they have a pro-ready one.

New Orleans spent a first-round pick in 2022 on Penning, but he played at the FCS level and may need time to develop in the NFL. He plays with a mean streak, but that has cost him some practice time, as he was tossed from a session during camp. If he starts slowly, that could make the left side of the line a problem for the Saints.

New Orleans’ other starters are solid, especially McCoy and Ramczyk, but they are also looking for more from Ruiz, a first-round pick in ’20 who graded as PFF’s No. 56 guard of 82 last season. He will need to step up along with Penning.

The Saints’ line has a high floor thanks to their returning starters, but the Penning question makes it particularly volatile. Alvin Kamara shouldn’t be affected too much by this, but the Saints’ deep threats will be. It also means the players who separate quickly on slants, like Michael Thomas, should get a stock up, especially in PPR leagues.

18. Denver Broncos

  • LT Garett Bolles
  • LG Dalton Risner
  • C Lloyd Cushenberry
  • RG Quinn Meinerz
  • RT Billy Turner

It’s tough to project exactly who will start for the Broncos and who will serve as the backups. They have a lot of solid veterans on their roster along with some recent draft picks that give them a good mix of experience and upside.

However, the Broncos’ line is far from settled at most positions. It’s generally accepted that Bolles and Risner will remain the starters on the left side with the former being solid but needing to cut down on his penalties allowed. Elsewhere across the line, things are wide open.

Cushenberry and Meinerz are two recent draft picks with interior experience and the athleticism needed to be solid starters, but veterans Tom Compton and Graham Glasgow could push them for playing time. At right tackle, Turner has the edge after coming over from the Packers, but another veteran, Cameron Fleming, is there to challenge him. Turner can also play guard, so he could be in the mix at that position if either Meinerz or Cushenberry falters.

With so much uncertainty and not many top-tier talents, the Broncos’ line looks like an average one. Still, that will be a boon for Russell Wilson, who never had a great line while playing with the Seahawks, and Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon should be in line for similar seasons as last year.

19. Minnesota Vikings

  • LT Christian Darrisaw
  • LG Ezra Cleveland
  • C Garrett Bradbury
  • RG Ed Ingram
  • RT Brian O’Neill

The Vikings’ offensive line may not look great on paper, but it is a potential boom unit. O’Neill is the only above-average starter on the line at the moment, but that could change quickly.

Darrisaw has been impressing the Vikings during the offseason, which makes sense considering that the 2021 first-round pick was thought to have immense potential at the time of his selection. If he takes a leap forward, he and O’Neill could be a strong tackle tandem that will keep Kirk Cousins out of harm’s way.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has been a solid guard (three penalties, one sack in 1,140 snaps in ’21) while Ingram, a second-round rookie, looks like he could emerge as a solid starter too. If Ingram isn’t ready to start, the Vikings signed Chris Reed as a free agent. He looked good in limited action for the Colts last year and will provide quality depth.

Bradbury is the only weaker link up front. He is athletic but committed eight penalties last year, tied for third most among centers. Minnesota doesn’t have an obvious replacement for him unless Reed, Jesse Davis or Wyatt Davis converts to the position.

Still, with just one weaker link up front and plenty of upside at each other position, the Vikings have a lot of potential for ’22. They aren’t guaranteed to succeed, but there is reason to be optimistic about them which gives a stock up to Cousins, Dalvin Cook, and Justin Jefferson.

20. Buffalo Bills

  • LT Dion Dawkins
  • LG Rodger Saffold
  • C Mitch Morse
  • RG Ryan Bates
  • RT Spencer Brown

The Bills don’t have a bad offensive line, but it is probably one of their weaker position groups on the roster. That should tell you everything you need to know about how good the team is.

Buffalo has a solid left side of the line comprised of veterans Dawkins, Saffold and Morse. Dawkins has been particularly underrated as a solid left tackle, and having a veteran like Saffold (157 starts) next to him should only help him improve.

The right side of the Bills’ line is a bit more questionable. Bates was a solid pass blocker in limited action during his career, but he has played just 33 snaps at right guard. Brown, meanwhile, is massive at 6-8, 311 pounds but he’s still honing his technique in his second season out of Northern Iowa.

Both Bates and Brown could pan out, but the Bills did well to add other options in case they don’t. They acquired a bevy of depth on the line, including run blocking maven super-sub David Quessenberry and former Jets and Panthers starter Greg Van Roten. They also have experienced players like Cody Ford, Ike Boettger, and Tommy Doyle on the line.

So, what the Bills lack in high-end talent they make up for in depth. They should be stable enough to keep Josh Allen clean and let him target Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis downfield. Devin Singletary and James Cook should do just fine between the tackles, especially if the Bills opt to mix Quessenberry in as a sixth offensive lineman.

21. New York Jets

  • LT George Fant
  • LG Laken Tomlinson
  • C Connor McGovern
  • RG Alijah Vera-Tucker
  • RT Conor McDermott

The Jets’ line had a lot more upside when Mekhi Becton was set to play left tackle. However, he will miss the season with a right knee injury and McDermott, a veteran with six career starts, is set to take over for him.

New York may sign another tackle to compete with McDermott if they don’t believe that fourth-round rookie Max Mitchell is up for the task. The team recently met with Duane Brown, who has 203 starts at left tackle, so they could sign him and flip Fant to the right side if they so desire.

While the tackle situation is a bit in flux for the Jets, they do have a solid interior offensive line. Tomlinson has 104 career starts and developed into a solid left guard for the Jets; McGovern is another experienced starter, though he has ranked worst and third worst in sacks allowed each of the past two seasons (10 total). As for Vera-Tucker, he was solid at left guard as a rookie but will be flipping over to the right side.

Again, without Becton, the ceiling of the Jets’ line is lower, but they still have some solid starters up front. If McGovern can improve his pass blocking and McDermott or Mitchell can step in for Becton, then the line shouldn’t be a problem for the Jets. However, if either center or right tackle becomes a weakness, Zach Wilson may be under a lot of pressure and the passing game may suffer as a result. Breece Hall and Michael Carter will have a tougher go of things, as well.

22. New York Giants

  • LT Andrew Thomas
  • LG Shane Lemieux
  • C Jon Feliciano
  • RG Mark Glowinski
  • RT Evan Neal

The Giants are another team that has almost totally retooled their offensive line. It should be better than it was in 2021, but there are still some question marks along the front.

New York has upside at the tackle spots, as Thomas has recovered from a woeful rookie year to develop into a good starter on the blind side. Neal was the seventh pick in the ’22 NFL Draft, and despite being 6-7, 351 pounds, he has elite movement skills. They could be a good tandem for a decade if they live up to their respective potentials.

The interior is a bit less settled, though Glowinski should be an upgrade for the team at right guard. Lemieux is the most intriguing option of the group, as he looked good last season in one game before a knee injury prematurely ended his season. Feliciano is a decent starter who hasn’t allowed a sack since ’19, albeit in a part-time role with the Bills.

The Giants have third-round pick Josh Ezeudu waiting in the wings to take over on the interior should anyone struggle, but their depth beyond him isn’t any great shake. Daniel Jones should be protected a bit better than he was last year, however, so long as injuries aren’t an issue. The same goes for Saquon Barkley.

23. Miami Dolphins

  • LT Terron Armstead
  • LG Connor Williams
  • C Michael Deiter
  • RG Robert Hunt
  • RT Liam Eichenberg

The Dolphins, like the Giants, have significantly improved their offensive line through two key free-agent signings.

Armstead is one of the NFL’s elite pass-blocking left tackles while Williams developed into a strong starter at left guard for the Cowboys. Along with Deiter, who allowed one sack and committed three penalties in 526 snaps last year, they should be an improvement on Tua Tagovailoa’s protection.

The right side will be manned by two recent draft picks, Hunt (2020) and Eichenberg (2021). Both have their share of issues, as Hunt was penalized eight times last year while Eichenberg committed 10 and allowed nine sacks. Both could improve, though, especially Eichenberg, who is better suited to be a right tackle but played left tackle last year because of the Dolphins’ dearth of talent at the position.

Miami’s line is a bit thin, as its depth is comprised of recent draft picks Austin Jackson, Greg Little, and Solomon Kindley who have yet to prove themselves at the NFL level. Still, the left side upgrades should give Tagovailoa a chance to hang in the pocket a bit more without being crushed. It will also allow time for Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike Gesicki to make some downfield plays and take advantage of Tua’s accuracy, of which Hill has been complimentary.

24. Houston Texans

  • LT Laremy Tunsil
  • LG Kenyon Green
  • C Justin Britt
  • RG Tytus Howard
  • RT Charlie Heck

The Texans are hoping that drafting Green will give them a good partner for Tunsil on the left side of the line. That should pan out.

Houston took Green earlier than many expected at 15 overall, but he was still largely viewed as a plug-and-play starter. He will pair well with Tunsil, who has been a top-10 NFL tackle when healthy. Tunsil missed all but five games with a left thumb injury last season but had never played fewer than 14 in a season before that.

The right side of the line is a bit less exciting for the Texans. Britt was average in 11 starts last season at center while the right guard and tackle positions aren’t yet settled. Currently, Howard and Heck should be favored to start, though Howard ranked 72nd of 82 qualified guards last year at PFF while Heck was 74th among 83 tackles. The other challengers at the positions — A.J. Cann, Max Scharping, and Justin McCray, are largely journeymen.

Houston could still cobble together a decent line if players take a step forward, but it looks like they will be short on right-side blocking. That could put Davis Mills under a lot of pressure while Dameon Pierce and Marlon Mack may not have as much success on runs going to the right.

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25. Arizona Cardinals

  • LT D.J. Humphries
  • LG Justin Pugh
  • C Rodney Hudson
  • RG Will Hernandez
  • RT Kelvin Beachum

The Cardinals have a lot of experience on their offensive line, as their five projected starters have played a combined 542 regular-season games. On paper, one would presume that is an advantage.

However, many of Arizona’s blockers are also on the older side now. Hudson and Beachum are both 33 while Pugh is 31. That means they could slow down without warning and might have injury issues in the latter stages of their careers. The trio have all been considered injury prone at various times during their career, so that could be a red flag even though each played at least 12 games in 2021.

Humphries, who made the Pro Bowl last year, should keep Arizona’s line from being among the worst in the league, but if any starter goes down or regresses, things could get rough on Kyler Murray fast. James Conner could struggle to find ample running room, while Marquise Brown might not be able to catch as many deep passes with Murray under pressure.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers

  • LT Dan Moore Jr.
  • LG Kendrick Green
  • C Mason Cole
  • RG James Daniels
  • RT Chukwuma Okorafor

The Steelers spent some resources improving their offensive line in free agency and still came up with a ranking of 26th overall. That’s not a great sign for Najee Harris and whoever quarterbacks the team in 2022.

The two signings — Cole and Daniels — were solid gets. Daniels is the better of the two, as the 24-year-old guard allowed just three sacks while playing for the hapless Bears offense last season. He should only get better as he continues to climb toward his prime. Meanwhile, Cole allowed just two sacks and committed no penalties in 471 snaps last year and should be a big upgrade over Green, who played out of position there last year.

The Steelers have some issues at tackle, as Okorafor committed a whopping 11 penalties last season while Moore flashed as a rookie but still committed five penalties and allowed seven sacks. Moore could improve and raise this line’s ceiling in ’22, but Okorafor seems to be just a low-end starter.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars

  • LT Cam Robinson
  • LG Tyler Shatley
  • C Luke Fortner
  • RG Brandon Scherff
  • RT Jawann Taylor

If there’s one reason to be pessimistic about improvement for the Jaguars, it’s their offensive line. It’s one of the few areas that they haven’t been able to improve much in recent seasons despite routinely having the resources to do so.

Adding Scherff was a splash for Jacksonville. The five-time Pro Bowler and 2020 All-Pro should lock down the right guard position. However, the team lost solid left guard Andrew Norwell in free agency after getting Scherff and then had long-time starting center Brandon Linder, their best offensive lineman, retire.

Now, Fortner, a rookie, and Shatley, a 31-year-old career backup who has been with the Jaguars since ’14, will be asked to start on the interior. Fortner has upside, losing Norwell and Linder will offset the addition of Scherff for now.

Meanwhile, Robinson and Taylor have both had their share of issues at tackle. Jacksonville signed Robinson to a three-year deal despite his average to below-average play while Taylor could cede time to Walker Little at right tackle.

Either way, the Jaguars’ O-Line still has some holes in it. That will make it a bit harder for Trevor Lawrence to connect with Christian Kirk on the deep ball while James Robinson and Travis Etienne won’t have as much room between the tackles as some may like.

28. Tennessee Titans

  • LT Taylor Lewan
  • LG Jamarco Jones
  • C Ben Jones
  • RG Nate Davis
  • RT Dillon Radunz

The Titans’ offensive line wasn’t great in pass protection last year, but it did a great job of blasting open running lanes. That probably won’t happen again in 2022.

Tennessee lost Rodger Saffold and David Quessenberry to the Bills in free agency. Both veterans are in their 30s and had issues in pass protection, but both were good run blocking. Quessenberry graded as PFF’s sixth-best run blocker with a mark of 86.5.

Those two are now gone, however, and the Titans are handing the reins over to second-year tackle Radunz and the unproven Jamarco Jones at guard. Radunz may be a better pass blocker than Quessenberry — who gave up 11 sacks, good for the most among NFL tackles, last season — but the Titans are still taking a risk rolling with a trio of younger starters in Jamarco Jones, Davis, and Radunz.

Lewan and Ben Jones have long been solid starters for the Titans so they keep this line from being a total disaster. Still, Ryan Tannehill might be under pressure a lot this year after being sacked 47 times last year while Derrick Henry will have to run through contact a bit more than he has in recent seasons.

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29. Seattle Seahawks

  • LT Charles Cross
  • LG Damien Lewis
  • C Austin Blythe
  • RG Gabe Jackson
  • RT Abraham Lucas

The Seahawks have routinely had lower-end offensive line play over the last decade, and that is part of the reason that Russell Wilson is playing in Denver now. They once again have a bottom-five unit this year, but there is reason for optimism, particularly at tackle.

Cross and Lucas are both rookies, but each could become a stalwart starter for the team. Cross was the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft while Lucas was a third-round pick by the team. Cross is supremely athletic and has good size at 6-5, 310 pounds. Lucas (6-6, 322 pounds) posted a 7.25-second 3-cone drill at the combine and a 4.4-second 20-yard shuttle.

Lewis, Blythe, and Jackson create a solid interior for the Seahawks, so if Cross and Lucas pan out as rookies, Seattle could have a surprisingly strong offense. Of course, that’s the rosy scenario for the team. Cross and Lucas could also take time to develop while Jackson, 31, could start to regress. Add in that the team has little to no depth on the line and one injury could capsize this unit.

The good news for fantasy owners is that the Seahawks always seem to run-block well and should continue to do that considering that their interior line is the more proven unit. Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Walker III can still be trusted for that reason, but DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett don’t look as appealing as they have in recent seasons.

30. Las Vegas Raiders

  • LT Kolton Miller
  • LG John Simpson
  • C Andre James
  • RG Lester Cotton Sr.
  • RT Alex Leatherwood

Not long ago, the Raiders had one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. Now, they have one of the more unproven units instead.

Miller is a great left tackle, but aside from him, the Raiders have few proven blockers up front. Leatherwood, a first-round rookie in 2021, looked better at guard than tackle but seems likely to move back outside in ’22. He should develop well there, but if he doesn’t, swing tackle Brandon Parker would have to take over for him.

The interior of the Raiders line is a lot less exciting. Simpson has committed 14 penalties in just 1,364 career snaps; James had seven penalties last season in his first year as the team’s primary center; and Cotton is a cool story as a former ’19 undrafted free agent who has emerged as a potential starter, but he has played 12 career snaps, so that’s not much of a sample size.

Josh McDaniels comes from a Patriots team that has fared well developing blockers over the years, so perhaps his wisdom will help the Las Vegas unit to exceed expectations. Trusting that to happen would be a gamble, however, so the Raiders’ running game gets a stock down while Derek Carr should be OK at least on his blind side thanks to Miller’s top-tier pass-blocking skills.

31. Atlanta Falcons

  • LT Jake Matthews
  • LG Jalen Mayfield
  • C Matt Hennessy
  • RG Chris Lindstrom
  • RT Kaleb McGary

The Falcons have three former first-round picks on their offensive line in Matthews, Lindstrom, and McGary, but it’s hard to be too excited about the unit as a whole. Matthews remains a solid starter at left tackle while Lindstrom was PFF’s sixth-ranked guard last season, but the rest of the unit isn’t too exciting.

Hennessy graded out as an elite run blocker, but his five penalties and three sacks allowed ranked 10th- and third-worst among centers respectively. McGary has allowed an average of 8.7 sacks per season in each of three professional campaigns with the Falcons at tackle. Worst of all, Mayfield graded out 77th of 82 qualified guards at PFF last season, allowing a league-high 11 sacks and committing nine penalties.

If Atlanta had any depth with upside outside of 2021 fourth-round center Drew Dalman, perhaps they could replace some of their ineffective pieces. Instead, they will have to rely on them and hope that Marcus Mariota’s mobility can open things up for Cordarrelle Patterson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts in ’22.

32. Chicago Bears

  • LT Riley Reiff
  • LG Cody Whitehair
  • C Lucas Patrick
  • RG Michael Schofield
  • RT Teven Jenkins

How bad is Chicago’s offensive line? Well, for context, the Bears signed Schofield and Reiff on July 25th and 26th respectively. They both project to be Day 1 starters, Reiff at left tackle and Schofield at right guard.

The Bears certainly have to regret cutting Charles Leno Jr. to roll with the Teven Jenkins/Larry Borom duo at tackle. Neither played well as a rookie, with Jenkins looking awful in limited action on the left side. He has been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks, so that doesn’t offer hope about his ability, even if he is playing on the right side, where he is a better fit.

Chicago has little proven depth with which to replace Jenkins and will probably have to rely on a bevy of rookies to fill in should any of their marginal-at-best starters struggle. This will be a massive stock down for Justin Fields, David Montgomery, and other members of what looks like a low-powered Bears offense.

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