Who has the best offensive line in the NFL and why is it the best?

Who has the best offensive line in the NFL and why is it the best?

Ciku Njuguna
updated at August 14, 2023 at 8:58 AM

An offensive line in the NFL is a group of players in five offence positions, including the centre, left guard, right guard, left tackle, and right tackle. This article dives into the best-performing offensive lines in the NFL, whose functions range from blocking to opening running lanes. Discover who has the best offensive line in the NFL currently and in the past.

Who was the best offensive line in NFL 2023?
Derek Carr (#4) of the Las Vegas Raiders calls out coverage to his offensive line of scrimmage in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 24, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo by Gaelen Morse.
Source: Getty Images

The best thought-out offensive line schemes and plays are responsible for protecting the quarterback while creating open creases. Scroll down to find out which teams have the best offensive lines in the league.

What is the offensive line, and what do they do?

Players in the offensive line are positioned on the line of scrimmage at the start of a play or down. Regarded as the most gruelling positions on the field, the five players are responsible for blocking opposing defences, protecting the ball carrier and quarterback, opening running lanes, and preventing sacks while defending the quarterback.

Why is the offensive line so important?

The defensive line's task is to counter the opposing team's run and rush the quarterback. The opposing team's success lies in the offensive line's ability to counter this defence.

Who was the best offensive line in NFL 2023?
The ball gets snapped to Los Angeles Rams' quarterback Matthew Stafford (far left) during Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 13, 2022. Photo by Valerie Macon/AFP.
Source: Getty Images

What are the offensive line positions?

What is the lineup for the offensive line in football? All players on the offensive line are called offensive linemen. The football centre is positioned in the middle of the offensive line with the left and right guards on either side and the right and left tackes on each far end.

The centre, who is lined in the neutral zone opposite the nose tackle, is tasked with snapping the football to the quarterback. Positioned to the left and right of the centre are the guards, whose primary role is to block the defensive tackles and clear a path for the ball carrier.

On the farthest end of the line of scrimmage are the right and left tackles, positioned directly opposite the defensive end players. They protect the quarterback's blind side while blocking the team's running and passing plays.

Who was the best offensive line in NFL 2023?
The Colorado Buffaloes offence (right) lines up against the Oregon Ducks offence (left) at Folsom Field on November 5, 2022, in Boulder, Colorado. Photo by Dustin Bradford.
Source: Getty Images

Who has the best offensive line in the NFL in 2023?

Sports Brief has used the latest verified analysis of NFL teams, including the PFF power rankings of the best offensive lines entering the 2023 football season. The Buffalo Bills, who have had the best offensive line in NFL history, do not appear among the top 20 teams. Scroll down for the latest comprehensive list of the top 20 teams with the best offensive line in pro football.

20. Miami Dolphins

Since 2016, the Dolphins have drafted nine linemen, two of whom have become starters. Although at the start of the season, 16 linemen entered into Training Camp, here is a list of the unit's starting proposed lineup.

LT

Terron Armstead

LG

Liam Eichenberg

C

Connor Williams

RG

Robert Hunt

RT

Isaiah Wynn

19. Las Vegas Raiders

Although the Raiders ranked nine spots lower than their 2022 position, they entered the 2023 season in the 19th, according to Pro Football Focus. The team's inside trio (Dylan Parham, Andre James and Alex Bars) scored an average PFF grade of 56.7.

Who is the greatest offensive lineman in NFL history?
Quarterback Derek Carr (#4) of the Las Vegas Raiders prepares to run a play with guard Lester Cotton Sr. (#67), running back Josh Jacobs (#28), guard Dylan Parham (#66) and guard John Simpson (#76) against defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence (#90) of the Arizona Cardinals on the line of scrimmage in overtime of their game at Allegiant Stadium on September 18, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 29-23 in overtime. Photo by Ethan Miller
Source: Getty Images

LT

Kolton Miller

LG

Dylan Parham

C

Andre James

RG

Alex Bars

RT

Jermaine Eluemunor

18. San Francisco 49ers

Out of all the 32 offensive lines in the NFL, the 49ers ranked 18, down 11 positions from the previous season. Have a look at the proposed San Francisco 49ers starting lineup for the 2023 regular season.

LT

Trent Williams

LG

Aaron Banks

C

Jake Brendel

RG

Spencer Burford

RT

Colton McKivitz

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Does Cincinnati Bengals have a good offensive line? Not only do the Bengals occupy one of the top positions on PFF rankings, one of their best offensive linesmen, Orlando Brown Jr., is the best left tackle in the NFL currently with a 74.4 PFF pass-blocking. The team that held the best offensive lineman in NFL history, Anthony Munoz, also appears third on the AFC North list after Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns.

Who was the best offensive line in NFL 2023?
The Cincinnati Bengals offensive line (right) lines up against the Kansas City Chiefs defensive line (left) during the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Kevin Sabitus.
Source: Getty Images

LT

Orlando Brown Jr.

LG

Cordell Volson

C

Ted Karras

RG

Alex Cappa

RT

Jonah Williams

16. Carolina Panthers

How good is the Carolina Panthers offence? In 2022, Carolina ranked last in the league in total offence scoring 260 yards per game, and 28th in scoring with 17.2 points per game with 90.3 rushing yards per game. Entering the 2023 season, the club climbed up from 31st place to 16th position.

LT

Ikem Ekwonu

LG

Brady Christensen

C

Bradley Bozeman

RG

Austin Corbett

RT

Taylor Moton

15. Minnesota Vikings

According to the Pro Football Network, the team has one of the best offensive tackle groups in the NFL, with right and left tackles Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw, who have proved to be the best Vikings linemen. Here is a list of offensive players proposed to be in the Minnesota Vikings' 2023 depth chart.

Who is the number 1 O-line in the NFL?
Minnesota Vikings offensive guard Michael Harris (#79) stands on the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers Monday, September 14, 2015, in San Francisco, California. Photo by Tom Hauck.
Source: Getty Images

LT

Christian Darrisaw

LG

Ezra Cleveland

C

Garrett Bradbury

RG

Ed Ingram

RT

Brian O'Neill

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are down about 10 places from the 2022 PFF rankings. However, the team is expected to take a chance on one of the best right tackles in the league, Wirfs, following the exit of some of its best performers, Jensen, Cappa and Marpet retiring.

LT

Tristan Wirfs

LG

Matt Feiler

C

Ryan Jensen

RG

Cody Mauch

RT

Luke Goedeke

13. New England Patriots

Where does the Patriots' offensive line rank? In the 2022 rankings, the Patriots were placed among the top ten tier 1 teams. The team, fans, and other stakeholders hope for a similar end-of-season ranking with the proposed lineup below.

Who was the best offensive line in NFL 2023?
New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney (centre) looks to block Denver Broncos cornerback Michael Ojemudia (front) for New England Patriots running back James White (right) during a game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos on October 18, 2020, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire.
Source: Getty Images

LT

Trent Brown

LG

Cole Strange

C

David Andrews

RG

Mike Onwenu

RT

Riley Reiff

12. Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2022 end-season PFF ranking of the Steelers' offensive performance disappointed fans, particularly in the pass-blocking efficiency and run-blocking unit ranking. However, their pre-season position in 2023 shows promise.

LT

Broderick Jones

LG

Isaac Seumalo

C

Mason Cole

RG

James Daniels

RT

Chukwuma Okorafor

11. Denver Broncos

How good are the Denver Broncos? The 2022 PFF rankings appraised the Broncos as the sixth-best O-line in the AFC. The team got a similar top placement by ESPN’s Seth Walder, who slotted the team as the fourth-best O-line with a predicted top 10 pass-blocking and run-blocking rank for the 2022 regular season.

LT

Garett Bolles

LG

Ben Powers

C

Lloyd Cushenberry III

RG

Quinn Meinerz

RT

Mike McGlinchey

Who will have the best offensive line in 2023?
The Denver Broncos offensive line (orange) lines up against the Las Vegas Raiders O-line (white) in the first half of a game at Empower Field at Mile High on November 20, 2022, in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Dustin Bradford.
Source: Getty Images

10. Indianapolis Colts

Do the Colts have the best O-line? Although the Colts were highly ranked going into the 2022 regular season, the players recorded a problematic performance. Although the team is highly compensated, with salaries ranging between $50 million and $80 million, the number of QB sacks increased from 21 to 60 sacks between 2020 and 2022, with the highest number of sacks let in occurring in 2022 (60).

LT

Bernhard Raimann

LG

Quenton Nelson

C

Ryan Kelly

RT

Braden Smith

RG

Will Fries

9. Los Angeles Chargers

Do the Los Angeles Chargers have the best offence of all time? While the team's O-line is ranked among the top 10 in the league, its performance is expected to climb higher. After analysing the team's offence in training, The Atlantic's Daniel Popper said,

This is the best offensive line group the Chargers have built since 2019. It has three capable tackles. While teams struggle to find two. The quality of the depth begins there."

LT

Jamaree Salyer

LG

-

C

Corey Linsley

RG

Zion Johnson

RT

Trey Pipkins III

Who was the best offensive line in NFL 2023?
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (#70) pictured during a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Inglewood, California. The Chargers defeated the Rams 13-6. Photo by Tom Hauck.
Source: Getty Images

8. Green Bay Packers

According to the BR, the Packers have the most underrated and best-performing offensive lines in the NFL. The Mile High Club's analysis of the linesmen's pass-block proficiency range between 99.17% and 96.30%, with centre Myers scoring the highest PBP with 599 pass-blocking snaps.

LT

David Bakhtiari

LG

Elgton Jenkins

C

Josh Myers

RG

Jon Runyan

RT

Zach Tom

7. Atlanta Falcons

What is the PFF offensive line rank for the Falcons? Ahead of the 2022 regular season, the Falcons were placed at position 28. Of the five linemen, Matthews, Wilkinson, Hennessy, Gossett, and Edoga playing in 2022, Matthews is expected to remain in the 2023 lineup.

LT

Jake Matthews

LG

-

C

Drew Dalman

RG

Chris Lindstrom

RT

Kaleb McGary

Who was the best offensive line in NFL 2023?
Jalen Mayfield (#77) of the Atlanta Falcons and offensive tackle Jake Matthews (#70) defend against Trysten Hill (#72) of the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL game at AT&T Stadium on November 14, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Cooper Neill.
Source: Getty Images

6. Dallas Cowboys

Does Dallas have a good offensive line? The Cowboys' quarterback got sacked 104 times between 2020 and 2022, with the fewest sacks let in occurring in 2022 (27). However, they won almost similar sacks against opposing defences, with 117 sacks between the 2020 and 2022 seasons.

LT

Tyron Smith

LG

Tyler Smith

C

Tyler Biadasz

RG

Zack Martin

RT

Terence Steele

5. Detroit Lions

Where does the Detroit Lions' offence rank? At the start of the 2022 regular season, PFF ranked the squad third out of all 32 NFL teams. Entering the 2023 season, the squad is ranked fifth and remains a high contender with top-tier players such as two-time Pro Bowler Frank Ragnow.

What NFL team has the heaviest offensive line?
Detroit Lions centre Travis Swanson (#64) and the Detroit offensive line wait for the snap of the ball during a game against the Cleveland Browns on November 12, 2017, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire.
Source: Getty Images

LT

Taylor Decker

LG

Jonah Jackson

C

Frank Ragnow

RG

Halapoulivaati Vaitai

RT

Penei Sewell

4. Baltimore Ravens

From the 17th position in the 2022 PFF analysis, the Ravens climbed 13 positions to the fourth place of NFL teams with the best offensive lines. The team's O-line scored 90 points in the third position on the 2023 Sharp Football Analysis.

LT

Ronnie Stanley

LG

Ben Cleveland

C

Tyler Linderbaum

RG

Kevin Zeitler

RT

Morgan Moses

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Tier one football club, Kansas City Chiefs, runs a multiple offence scheme. However, as the PFF ranked the team's offence among the high-floor squads in position 9, ESPN predicted the team's O-line would top the NFL with a number 1 pass blocking and number 5 run blocking ranks for the 2022 regular season. Heading into the 2023 season, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to win their fourth Super Bowl, while the PFF ranked it third.

Who has the highest rated OT in the NFL?
The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line (red) lines up against the Denver Broncos defensive line (orange) during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 31, 2017, in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Dustin Bradford.
Source: Getty Images

LT

Donovan Smith

LG

Joe Thuney

C

Creed Humphrey

RG

Trey Smith

RT

Jawaan Taylor

2. Cleveland Browns

Heading into the 2023 regular season, the Browns are expected to perform excellently with the offensive lineup drafted. Rated as the second NFL team with the best offensive line, a place down from 2022's performance prediction.

LT

Jedrick Wills

LG

Joel Bitonio

C

Ethan Pocic

RG

Wyatt Teller

RT

Jack Conklin

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles lead the way in having the best offence in the NFL in 2023 with no changes from their 2022 rankings. Although they scored 15.0% against Kansas City Chiefs' 25.2% Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) rating, the squad is expected to outperform all other NFL teams.

LT

Jordan Mailata

LG

Landon Dickerson

C

Jason Kelce

RG

Cam Jurgens

RT

Lane Johnson

As the backbone of any team, O-line allows the quarterback and the running back to victory. Each gridiron team needs to draft and play the best offensive line in the NFL.

READ ALSO: Who is the best offensive lineman to ever play American football?

Sports Brief recently published an article rating the best lineman ever to play American football. The players who protected Hall of Fame QBs created running holes for legendary running backs, and stood down opposing defences were undeniably the backbone of their teams. Click on the link above to learn more about the best O-linemen ever.

Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.