FTN's Brett Whitefield ranks all 32 NFL offensive lines heading into the 2021 NFL season for betting purposes. 23. 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 created just 1.05 yards before contact for their running backs last year, which ranked as the second-worst mark in the league. While Teven Jenkins was one of my favorite prospects in this draft class, losing both starting offensive tackles isnt a good look for a team that already struggled. RSWR: Players | Team 29. 23. Power Success Rate. 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. If not for the unfortunate season-ending ACL injury suffered by J.K. Dobbins, this combo would be ranked much higher up this list. 5. Most peoples idea of building an offensive line doesnt look anything like the way the Bills did it. Arizona Cardinals Had the Chiefs not done anything in free agency and/or the draft, they wouldve been a bottom-10 offensive line, but they did the opposite of that. Still, we cant forget Whitworth, their best offensive lineman, is going to be 40 at the end of this year and may decline rapidly. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stat to know:Ranked second in yards before contact per carry on non-QB runs (2.04) and first if you include QB runs (2.38). Oh, and Harris gets to run behind yet another elite Patriots offensive line. The unit they had in place last year gave their running backs a league-worst 1.03 yards before contact. The Cowboys offensive line last year was a straight up joke towards the end of the year. 22. 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. Losing Alex Mack hurts quite a bit, as hes been a steady presence for them at center for the last few years. After the failed first-round pick that was Isaiah Wilson, the Titans had to try and replace Jack Conklin once again in this years draft, selecting Dillon Radunz in the second round. Cleveland Browns, 72% The Cowboys offensive line last year was a straight up joke towards the end of the year. Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Join our Discord to Chat with Experts and FantasyPros Subscribers >>. Not exactly what you want when it's time to draft. They also added Kevin Zeitler in free agency, wholl give the interior of the line a nice boost. 8. 27. Arizona was sneakily one of the better pass-pro units in the NFL last season. The fact that they have all five linemen returning definitely gives them a bump, though. Overall, the Bengals struggled in both pass pro and run-blocking. Our pass rush win rate metric tells us how often a pass-rusher is able to beat his block within 2.5 seconds. 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. 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. Los Angeles Chargers, 42% Los Angeles Rams We all know Lamar Jackson is the most electrifying runner on this team, one who can create on his own as much as he needs a blocker or two in front of him. 6. One of the toughest offensive lines to judge heading into the 2021 NFL season is the Minnesota Vikings. Pitt DT Calijah Kancey officially ran a 4.67

That's the fastest time at the Combine for a DT since 2003 . New Orleans Saints, 69% If this unit can make improvements in pass-pro this season they could end the year even higher on this list. 22. 23. Ever since they let go of Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler, the Bengals offensive line has been in shambles. Absolutely, and Im going to do my best to let you know why. 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. Justin Pugh and Justin Murray up the middle isnt the best duo at guard, but the play of D.J. That Patriots seemingly have good OL play in perpetuity. 3. RBWR: Players | Team, 1. Buffalo Bills, 46% The rebuild of the offensive line has begun, though theres still work to be done. Las Vegas Raiders Kentucky switched offensive coordinators and lost some key talent at receiver and offensive line. Atlanta Falcons, 34% There was a clear theme Thursdaythe prospects hitting the NFL, especially coming off the edge, are just a different level of athlete: Byron Young had an ELITE combine showing. 32. Regardless of who is making the calls at the line of scrimmage, Kamara has the luxury of running behind an elite line. 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). Los Angeles Chargers, 30% Thankfully, he has one of the best run-blocking units paving the way for him (he'd pave it himself with the scattered bodies of hapless defenders, but I digress); the Titans line finished sixth in 2020 run-blocking. New York Jets, 61% 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). Thats a stacked offensive line, especially if Sewell lives up to the hype. There are certainly questions on this offensive line, but its possible theyre a top-12 unit this time next year. Shaq Mason is the New England answer to Quenton Nelson and one of the best run-blockers in the league. On paper, this might actually be the most improved unit in the league with the addition of stud Corey Linsley, first-round pick Rashawn Slater and versatile guard/tackle Matt Feiler, who will all join Bryan Bulaga, the only likely 2020 starter returning, to form potentially the best unit the Chargers have had in years. 1 considering the departure of Orlando Brown, who was a massive presence for them. Las Vegas Raiders, 67% -Tampa Bay Buccaneers (PFF rank - No. That change may simply have been getting healthy, with Richie Incognito and Trenton Brown missing most of the season. WebAP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja'Marr Chase. Still, its promising to see them create 1.73 yards before contact for their running backs last year, which ranked sixth. AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Responsible Gaming. 2021 Draft Kit: View printable cheat sheets, sleepers & mistakes to avoid >>, Subscribe:Apple Podcasts|Spotify|Google Podcasts|Stitcher|SoundCloud|iHeartRadio. Pittsburgh Steelers, 41% You don't currently have any notifications. Arizona Cardinals, 70% -Los Angeles Rams (PFF rank - No. 2. For reference, there were 62 qualifiers at tackle, 70 at guard and 35 at center last season. 8. WebNFL Offensive Rankings & Stats, Visualized by Year Use our visualized & statistical data below for 2021 NFL Offensive stats, player & team rankings broken down by passing, rushing, receiving, play frequency, explosive plays, The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, 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. AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons. If a defender earns a run stop win, his blocker earns a loss, and vice versa. The Kansas City Chiefs were not the only team in the AFC West to completely overhaul its offensive line. They are also very productive in the run game. The main portions of the NFL offseason are in the rearview mirror, at least the player acquisition stage. 16. 21. Cincinnati Bengals, 36% It will be interesting to see if the departure of Arthur Smith to Atlanta changes anything of serious note with Tennessee's offensive philosophy, but one thing is for sure: Henry and his line are one of the toughest things for defenses to contend with in the NFL. Taylor Decker and No. 15. They did go out and snag guard Gabe Jackson, whos at least been competent throughout his seven years in the league. Seattle Seahawks, 68% The tackles are what make this line slightly above average because between David Edwards, Austin Corbett, and Brian Allen, theres not a standout talent. 19. Looking for free betting tools to help you win? Expect him to get at least a slight bump. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum. 14. , Nolan Smith's big-time athleticism is all over his tape.

This isn't just a "workout warrior." 3. Why is this combo fifth on this list but the line half of it is ranked 15th? Not Travon Walker. Los Angeles Rams, 35% For offense: A team with a high ranking in Adjusted Line Yards but a low ranking in Open Field Yards is heavily dependent on its offensive line to make the running game work. Andre Dillard and Lane Johnson form a solid tackle group when healthy, which has been an issue. The Packers have a knack for drafting and developing guys and making them immediate impact players. Theyll also get last years third-round pick Lucas Niang back after he opted out in 2020. Read more about our pass-game metrics and run-game metrics. Indianapolis Colts, 36% His presence alone elevates this unit quite a bit. They replaced him at right tackle with Alexander Villanueva whos played his entire career at left tackle, so the transition may be more than most realize. Arizona Cardinals, 41% WebAP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja'Marr Chase. 10. Without further ado, here is my earnest attempt at ranking every NFL teams offensive line, 1 through 32. 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. Brown played his best football in New England before signing a massive deal with the Raiders. While there are things more important, offensive line play has a direct impact on the type of success a running back will have. AP Defensive Player of the Year: 24. Atlanta Falcons, 28% JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? Minnesota Vikings, 71% His wonky pass-pro technique got abused in his rookie campaign as he gave up double-digit sacks in the process. They also have one of the better centers in the league with Jason Kelce. 24. Mar 04, 2023 at 06:04 AM. Whatever the case, Greg Van Roten and Conner McGovern are both below average and drag down the overall ranking. 8. The Cardinals upgraded their worst position along the line by trading for Rodney Hudson, who should still have some good football left in him. 1. That number was 1.43 yards before contact in 2019. He hadn't planned on participating in testing or drills even before his arrest. Unfortunately for them, it hasnt worked out as well as they would hope. 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. New Orleans Saints, 66% Green Bay Packers, 73% Pittsburgh Steelers, 67% Team. The Jets have to prove it on the field before they climb the list a ton, but it's easy to look at Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker and be enthused about where this is headed. Or will we be disappointed yet again? 29. While last year's first-round rookie Austin Jackson didnt play as well as they had hoped, second-rounder Robert Hunt was a stud early on. 10. Carolina Panthers, 51% 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. Los Angeles Chargers, 61% His fantasy output plummeted last season as a direct result of those injuries, and with him being the President of the "Best-Shape-Of-Your-Life" club (2021 edition), the sky's the limit for the season ahead. 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. With Ali Marpet on the interior, they have some rock-solid pieces, though I still believe they could upgrade from both Alex Cappa and Ryan Jensen. , 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+). Theres nothing special about the Bills offensive line, but theres also not much wrong with it. 13. Chicago Bears, 71% 10. 21. The expected boost to their line should also, ideally, help Edwards-Helaire reach his vast potential. Lets rank every NFL offensive unit from 1 to 32 and look at why it matters for bettors in 2021, starting at the top with two very familiar teams. The expected starters are listed along with their 2020 PBWR rank (if they qualified). Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who served as the run game and offensive coordinator for the 49ers between 2017 and 2021, acquired Wilson from his Some teams have added significant talent through free agency, while others have added through the draft. We know them for dominating in the run game, right? NFL Team Passing Play Percentage The Giants offensive line should be better than it is. They also added a couple guards in free agency to replace Forrest Lamp and Trai Turner, who both turned out to be major disappointments. 18. Stat to know: New Englands OL produced a league-leading 2.13 yards before contact on non-QB runs in 2020. 24. Pancake central! To achieve this we used a regression model that considers every projected starter's individual pass block win rate over the past two seasons. The Lions running backs did them no favors last year, averaging just 2.48 yards after contact, but just know that 39.2 percent of their yards came before contact, which ranked as the ninth-most in the league, right in between the 49ers and Ravens. They will return the whole unit in 2021. 26) Minnesota Vikings. This unit features studs in Tristan Wirfs and Ali Marpet while also not really having a weakness to exploit. PBWR: Players | Team Can the Bills coaching staff resurrect Forrest Lamps career as a former second-round pick? They also went out and snagged Ereck Flowers, whos been much better as a guard than a failed tackle, giving them depth on the interior. 26. SAN The release of Charles Leno made little sense to me. Jon Feliciano is someone Id describe as below average, while Mitch Morse isnt far from that. 11. A low ranking in Adjusted Line Yards with a high ranking in Open Field Yards is often an indicator of a 3-4 defensive scheme, though there are exceptions. Seattle Seahawks, 32% Cleveland Browns, 67% 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. Stat to know: The Saints ranked third in the NFL in yards before contact per carry with a mark of 1.99 (non-QB runs). 27. Definitely a chance to climb the list here. Their moderate success/improvement last year was mostly seen in pass-protection and was yet another example of having at least five average guys without one or more glaring weaknesses. Theyve now stripped away all their continuity, as Trent Brown, Gabe Jackson, and Rodney Hudson are all gone. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 30% Kentucky switched offensive coordinators and lost some key talent at receiver and offensive line. Michael Onwenu, who played out of his mind as a rookie in 2020, is that guy for the upcoming season.