Today NFL Rankings Week gets to my favorite positional rankings on the board — seriously — the offensive lines.
It's not particularly glamorous analyzing those five behemoths in the trenches, but if you think about it, five is almost half of the 11 men on offense! These guys almost never touch the ball outside of snapping it, but even in 2026, football is still won and lost in the trenches.
No position group in football is more impactful yet overlooked than the offensive line — and that can give us a serious edge as bettors and analysts.
A good line can elevate an average supporting cast, but even the most talented quarterbacks and skill players can't do much if the defense is living in the backfield on every play. Offensive lines are more multiplicative than additive. A great line multiplies an offense's greatness, while a bad one can stymie the entire attack.
Last year's offensive line rankings gave us an orange flag for two Super Bowl favorites, and the Lions and Chiefs went on to miss the playoffs. It also gave us great value on the Broncos and Bears as sleepers featuring top-five lines.
So, what are some of the key considerations when ranking offensive lines?
- Offensive lines are a team effort. It's less about one or two stars elevating the unit and generally more of a "weakest link" game. Much like an NBA defense, an O-line needs five guys working together in sync at its peak.
- Continuity is extremely valuable, especially early in the season, since the five guys on the line are working together. This season, as usual, there's an especially high amount of turnover on the lines for some teams.
- Depth and versatility are always significant value adds. Guys will inevitably miss time during a long, grueling season, so which teams are built to withstand?
- Scheme matters. It's easier to run block (attack!) than pass block (react and defend!). Run-heavy teams tend to get better O-line results, and play-action-heavy schemes make things much easier on lines. Run blocking can be floor raising for bad teams, but elite pass blocking is harder to come by and more meaningful at the top of the league.
Let's rank all 32 NFL offensive lines, focusing on continuity, depth, scheme, and balance as we head into the new season. What are the implications for NFL bettors?
Be sure to check out the whole NFL rankings series:
2026 NFL Offensive Line Rankings
| Tier Number | Category |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Consensus No. 1 |
| Tier 2 | Could End the Year No. 1 |
| Tier 3 | The Ol’ Stalwarts |
| Tier 4 | Good Not Great |
| Tier 5a | Wild Cards I Believe In |
| Tier 5b | Wild Cards I'm Skeptical Of |
| Tier 6 | Much Improved |
| Tier 7 | League Average Would Be a Surprise |
| Tier 8 | All Downside |
| Tier 9 | Dregs of the League |
| Betting Takeaways |
Tier 1 — Consensus No. 1
It's tough to evaluate offensive lines, so it's wise to rely on the outstanding work from experts like Brandon Thorn, PFF, and others who've done plenty of work in this area already — and virtually every expert opinion I looked at agreed the Broncos are at the top for 2026.
It's been a steady climb for Denver over the past couple years and this team now returns all five starters a third consecutive season.
LT Garett Bolles and RG Quinn Meinerz are the standouts, but OL coach Zach Strief makes this whole unit look good. So does the quick offensive scheme Denver uses to get the ball out of Bo Nix's hands quickly.
This unit is better pass blocking than run blocking, and it's probably not a towering No. 1 like the Eagles or Lions have been in recent seasons, but there's little doubt Denver's line is set up to finish at or near the top of the league this season.
Tier 2 — Could End the Year No. 1
This may not look like a big leap for the Buccaneers compared to last year's ranking, but it would be a significant step forward.
Tampa Bay started last season high in my rankings but quickly fell as injuries mounted. The team lost 27 games combined to right tackle and both guard positions, and Baker Mayfield's play suffered as the season went along.
The line looks healthy now, and that sets the Bucs up for a big year.
Tristan Wirfs is arguably the best tackle in football and especially elite in pass protection, and he gets a healthy return from his RT counterpart Luke Goedeke, who has really come into his own next to rising star RG Cody Mauch.
This unit is better blocking for pass than run and could take a minute to adjust to new OC Zac Robinson's wide zone scheme, but Mayfield's legs help and this line should be in for a huge step forward if it stays healthy.
The Colts look like the league's best run-blocking line for 2026.
Indianapolis has bounced back in a huge way under OL coach Tony Sparano, with future Hall of Fame LG Quenton Nelson anchoring the unit. Four of five starters return, and really all five since second-year RT Jalen Travis started the final month of the season.
The right side of the line isn't as strong as the left and there's not great depth, but there's lots to like here between continuity, coaching, scheme, and talent.
The Colts may not necessarily have a QB depending on Daniel Jones' health, but this is a top-seven QB-agnostic offensive setup because of blocking and head coach Shane Steichen's playcalling.
If they ever actually get and stay healthy, the Chargers could contend for best offensive line in the league.
It's the Chargers, though, so that remains a forever if.
LT Rashawn Slater missed all of last season with a patellar tendon injury, and RT Joe Alt missed half of it with an ankle problem. Slater is still working his way back, and now C addition Tyler Biadasz is out indefinitely with a knee injury, which likely means second-round rookie Jake Slaughter snapping the ball at C for the foreseeable future.
If that trio can get on the field together, this could be a really strong line, with potentially the best tackle duo in the league. It could take time, though, with three new starters on the interior of the line plus a major scheme change under new OC Mike McDaniel.
McDaniel had great success elevating an under-talented line in Miami and developing some diamonds in the rough, so that should help. So should the quiet investment of a couple off-radar signings: FB Alec Ingold, who was key to McDaniel's rushing attack in Miami, and TE Charlie Kolar, who was practically a sixth offensive lineman for the Ravens at times.
This unit finished last season ranked 30th by PFF. If the Chargers' line can stay healthy and on the field, this might be the single biggest unit improvement in the entire NFL, with the potential to swing everything for Los Angeles.
NOTE: The Biadasz injury is not a great start and might already be enough reason to drop the Chargers closer to the lower top 10 until we see Slater and Alt dominating on the field. Stay tuned.
Tier 3 — The Ol' Stalwarts
The Eagles were in the top-two of my rankings in each of the last four years, but I'm worried Philadelphia could take a serious step back.
There's no questioning the talent on this line. LT Jordan Mailata is an elite run grader, and RT Lane Johnson is as good as anyone at pass blocking. That duo has anchored this line for years, when they stay healthy and on the field.
The interior of this line is mostly fine now, and RG Tyler Steen is a weak link, something this line hasn't dealt much with. Philadelphia also faces another significant loss with legendary OL coach Jeff Stoutland finally retiring, leaving this team short on answers.
New OC Sean Mannion's offense will likely feature more zone runs and playaction, which could lift the line, but that might also mean more passing, and that means more of Jalen Hurts holding the ball and making things tough on his protection.
Add in the growing injury concerns with a lack of depth and this Eagles line feels more top-5 than No. 1 this time around.
The Bills also lost a legendary OL coach in Aaron Kromer.
This line's biggest strength has been its continuity over the years, but the loss of Kromer and finally one of its starting guards means a bit less continuity than usual. Buffalo has also had insane injury luck, without a single missed game by its starting linemen in three years.
Joe Brady's attack is run-heavy, and the line gets plenty of help from good blocking receivers and tight ends. This unit is has a great chance at finishing in the bottom half of the top 10 but is unlikely to finish at the top.
The Bears were our favorite sleeper last year, in part because of the huge expected leap on the offensive line, and that came to fruition as Chicago finished third in PFF rank by season's end, benefiting from Ben Johnson's condensed formations and play-action-heavy system.
C Drew Dalman's unexpected retirement is a step back, but LG Joe Thuney is a stud and cashed our +4000 Protector of the Year ticket, and RT Darnell Wright just signed a massive extension and leads the league's best run-blocking right side of the line.
Caleb Williams has taken huge strides in pocket management too, helped by the line improvement in a chicken-and-egg situation.
Chicago may not quite meet last year's standard, but should be great again.
Tier 4 — Good Not Great
We're likely past teams contending for top of the league at this point, but these five teams should all expect to finish in the top half of the league at least.
The Chiefs line isn't what it once was but still retains great OL coach Andy Heck and should be ready to take a step back in the right direction.
Losing RT Jawaan Taylor is addition by subtraction for Kansas City after all his mistakes, and the rest of the line started to come together as LT Josh Simmons settled into his rookie season. Creed Humphrey is the league's best center, and RG Trey Smith should have a better season without Taylor's liability next to him.
This line quietly helped the Chiefs have a pretty strong Success Rate running the ball last season, but the run game never felt great because Kansas City could not generate any explosives. If that was the fault of the terrible RBs, Kenneth Walker's explosiveness could fix that and flip the script for this rushing attack.
At this point, we should probably just give the 49ers the benefit of the doubt until Trent Williams retires or Kyle Shanahan leaves.
Williams is 38 with a long list of injuries, but he's played 14+ games in five of the last six seasons and finds a way to power through. He's still an elite run blocker, even as the pass blocking slips, and there's no question how important he is to this team. Brock Purdy is now 44-10 all-time with Williams in the lineup, but 2-7 without him.
Shanahan's efficient offense helps this line, and it's usually run-first too but had to pass more often last season with the defense struggling and leaving the team in more negative game scripts than usual.
Purdy's pocket navigation helps the line, but more time in the run game should help too. If Williams disappears for any stretch though, this line immediately drops to bottom 10.
The Rams had outstanding line play last season and have earned a spot in the top 10, considering every starting lineman returns after ranking in the top 10 in PFF grade at their positions last season.
Again, the system is key.
Sean McVay runs one of the most line-friendly systems in the league, marrying the run and the pass with playaction and heavy formation, and he's gotten elite play out of RG Kevin Dotson and the interior of this line, especially run blocking.
The tackles are the relative weak spot, especially with the uncertainty surrounding LT Alaric Jackson with health and off-field issues. Los Angeles needs him out there because the weakest part of this line is the depth behind the starting five.
This is four straight seasons with the Falcons ranked in this 7-to-11 range.
LT Jake Matthews is an iron man, and RG Chris Lindstrom is as good as any guard. This line is far better at run blocking, especially inside.
The big transition this year is from top OL coach Dwayne Ledford to the legend Bill Callahan, so that could mean a transition period as the team adjusts to new schemes and a new starting RT in Jawaan Taylor.
Stop me if you've heard this before, but the Cowboys are another unit being helped by scheme.
In this case it's Klayton Adams' system propping things up like he did in Arizona, and Dak Prescott's pressure handling helps too.
This line is much better at run blocking and far better on the interior with the Tylers, Smith and Booker, one of the league's better guard duos.
Tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are the weak spot on the line, especially on pass plays.
Tier 5a — Wild Cards I Believe In
This tier at the middle of the pack runs six deep, but I'm splitting it into two — with three wild card teams I believe in here, and then three I'm not as optimistic about after that.
The Vikings made a huge investment in the line last season but never got healthy. C Ryan Kelly retired after a disappointing season, but the talent on this line is mostly still there if everyone can get on the field.
That has to start with LT Christian Darrisaw, a top-10 lineman when healthy, but he's played only 17 games the last two years combined. Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill are an excellent run-blocking tackle duo.
The Vikings line could take a big step forward with Frank Smith's zone background scheme if Darrisaw is out there leading the way.
The Saints line is on the rise, thanks to a huge investment.
New Orleans returns four starters, and the fifth starter is new LG David Edwards, who signed a huge free-agent contract. The other four starters on the line were all drafted in the first two rounds over the past six seasons, including both starting tackles taken with the last two first-round picks.
It's a balanced starting five, with no stars but no major weakness — other than health.
Like much of the rest of the Saints offense, health is always a major concern here, so New Orleans needs to see how often it can keep its five guys together on the field.
The Ravens line has been hard to pin down during the Lamar Jackson era.
Baltimore has ranked 9th, 14th, 6th, 27th, 7th, and now 15th in this exercise for me over the past half decade, vacillating from great to rebuilding. That's been in part due to the health of LT Ronnie Stanley.
This year, it's an entirely new interior of the line. C Tyler Linderbaum is a big loss but Ethan Pocic is a worthy replacement, and rookie LG Vega Ioane is a tone setter and perfect team fit to bring some attitude back to this reshaped line.
Add in new OL coach Dwayne Ledford and new OC Declan Doyle's likely run-friendly scheme, and this Ravens line should find its way and trend back towards a strength soon enough.
Tier 5b — Wild Cards I'm Skeptical Of
The Seahawks take a big step forward from last year's rankings, but I'm worried this line may take a step back from last year's success.
Klint Kubiak's system lifted this line, and he's gone now, but all five line starters return. That should mean a second-year step forward for LG Grey Zabel, though right guard is still one of the more glaring weak spots in the league.
If Seattle doesn't play with a lead as often this season and Sam Darnold has to pass more, this line could look significantly worse.
It's a real fall for grace for the Lions, from the top of these rankings two years ago and three straight years in the top-3 all the way to bottom half of the league in 2026.
It's certainly not Penei Sewell's fault, but he moves back to the left side and that will be a transition. That leaves room for new RT Blake Miller, taken in the first round, and it means Detroit will start three guys at new positions on the line.
The Lions will also be without C Cade Mays for the first half of the season after his injury, and that loss drops them to average or worse to start the season.
Longtime OL coach Hank Fraley has his hands full, and the interior of this line looks particularly shaky to start the season.
That could be a big problem for a QB in Jared Goff, who looks great in a clean pocket but struggles mightily with quick pressure.
I'm relatively bullish on the direction of the Steelers, but this is another unit that will need some time and could look better later in the season.
Like Detroit, Pittsburgh is moving two of last year's linemen to a new position, flipping the right side of the line to the left. That means four of five guys starting in new positions, including raw first-round RT Max Iheanachor fighting for playing time, plus a new OL coach in James Campen.
C Zach Frazier has a mean streak in the middle and he should anchor this line, but Aaron Rodgers no longer lifts his line with his play.
Pittsburgh is headed in the right direction, but it may take some time — and possibly a new QB — to get there.
Tier 6 — Much Improved
Notice the rankings from last year — these three lines are all trending in the right direction, even if they're not actually good yet.
The Giants can be pretty good, but they'll need LT Andrew Thomas out there.
Thomas is a top-5 superstar when healthy — but he has played only 29 games the last three years, and this line craters without him.
Perhaps No. 10 pick RG Francis Mauigoa can change that, but this looks like a poor run-blocking unit, and new OC Matt Nagy didn't exactly help the Chiefs' line in recent years in Kansas City.
The Bengals return all five O-line starters for the first time in Joe Burrow's career.
That line found some success late in the season, especially in the run game, and if Cincinnati's intention to play Burrow under center more often is real, that should help the line.
Cincinnati doesn't have a real strength on its line yet but finally may not have a glaring weakness. Even being closer to middle of the pack than bad would be a huge positive swing for Burrow and this offense.
No line made a bigger leap last season than the Patriots, who jumped from dead last in PFF's previous rankings to 11th heading into the playoffs.
Of course, the playoffs did not go so well. Rookie LT Will Campbell was up and down all year but dreadful in the playoffs. He'll need to be much better, and it will help if new LG Alijah Vera-Tucker can actually stay on the field. He's a top-10 guard when healthy, but has played only 29 games the last four years.
New England is better blocking for the run than the pass, so Drake Maye will have to continue to play at an MVP level to offset that.
Tier 7 — League Average Would Be a Surprise
For these four teams, even getting out of the 20s in the rankings by the end of the season would be a huge success.
The Raiders invested heavily into the line by splashing big on C Tyler Linderbaum, a great run grader.
Even better, it looks like LT Kolton Miller is back healthy. He can be a top-10 tackle and is especially good at pass blocking, but he played only four games last season.
The other three starters are subpar, especially RT DJ Glaze.
New OL coach Rick Dennison should team up with Klint Kubiak to raise the floor for this Vegas unit like Kubiak did for the Seahawks last year.
The Jets spent their last two first-round picks on tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou. That duo is young but improving, though the interior of the line is weaker, especially C Josh Myers.
I also have some concerns about new OC Frank Reich, whose lines were both terrible at his last two stops before immediate leaps right after he left.
The Cardinals felt the loss of OL coach Klayton Adams last season, and this is five straight seasons ranking 22nd or worse to start the year.
LT Paris Johnson has become a real strength for Arizona, and the truth is that the entire left side of the line is pretty good.
Unfortunately, the right side is just as bad, especially now that No. 34 pick RG Chase Bisontis is sidelined for the entire season with an injury.
We don't know much about Mike LaFleur yet, but coaches from the Shanahan tree typically help the line out.
It might honestly be an accomplishment for the Texans to make it all the way up to No. 25 this season.
Truthfully, this ranking is part projection for Houston and part a charitable move up above the next tier the Texans didn't fit into.
Still, call me crazy but I do have a slight amount of optimism for this group. Rookie C Keylan Rutledge has culture-changing potential, and RT Braden Smith can be top 10 at his position if he can stay on the field more than the 35 games he's played the last three years.
Guards Ed Ingram and Wyatt Teller have had peak moments too, and Houston is so desperate for bodies on the line that the Texans actually have a decent amount of depth around them.
This Texans line is piecemeal and will take some time to find itself, but there's reason to believe Houston might at least not be the worst line in the league again this season, and even that is a significant improvement.
Tier 8 — All Downside
Squint all you want, but it's hard to see anything but the glass-half-empty case for these four lines this fall.
Maybe that's not totally fair to the Dolphins.
Miami added mammoth G Kadyn Proctor in the first round and that could build a serious strength on the left side of the line with breakout candidate LT Patrick Paul and last year's breakout C Aaron Brewer.
But the right side of the line is in rough shape, particularly RG Jonah Savaiinaea, and I've got real concerns about what this line will look like following the departure of Mike McDaniel's system along with Tua Tagovailoa's hyper-quick release.
Miami's line needs to prove it wasn't just system and scheme.
The Panthers have invested heavily into their line but head into the season with key injuries to four of the five presumed starters.
LT Ikem Ekwonu is returning from a torn Achilles that happened during the playoffs, and RT Taylor Moton is out indefinitely with blood clots in his lungs. We may not see either of those guys any time soon, and guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt are nursing training camp injuries too.
Carolina brought in Rasheed Walker, knowing it needed a short-term solution with Ekwonu hurt, but now both he and raw first-round T Monroe Freeling are forced to start and anchor this line.
If the Panthers line can't get healthy, this could finally be the end of the Bryce Young era in Carolina.
Are you as shocked as me to see the Packers line this far down in the rankings?
Green Bay has ranked somewhere between 7th and 13th for half a decade in this exercise, reliably above average and never really a problem, but the line finally cratered last season.
RT Zach Bako-Bewele (formerly Zach Tom) is the one real strength, but even he is coming off a late season patella tear.
Everything else is pretty rough and near the bottom of the league, including disappointing Jordan Morgan moving to left tackle.
Matt LaFleur has a great track record of insulating the Packers line in pass protection to raise the floor, but this is a gigantic drop off from what Green Bay usually works with and it's a pretty big red flag for one of the top NFC contenders entering the season.
The Commanders already took what might end up the biggest offensive line loss of the season when they lost Laremy Tunsil for the season. Tunsil is one of the best pass blockers in the league, and his loss leaves a gaping hole on the line.
Brandon Thorn dropped Washington from 11th to 22nd in his rankings with Tunsil out, and PFF dropped the Commanders from inside the top 20 all the way to dead last. That's how valuable Tunsil is, and it's a reminder of just how important some of the other superstars mentioned in this article are too.
Washington's young tackles — Brandon Coleman and Josh Conerly — have upside but are huge variables with Tunsil missing.
There's a real chance that the loss of Tunsil has doomed the Commanders season before it ever even started.
Tier 9 — Dregs of the League
We made it to the bottom, and it's ugly down here.
That's not where you want to be if you're the Jaguars — coming off a 13-win season — but here we are.
Jacksonville has plenty of known names after investing a lot into its line, but the whole is far less than the sum of its parts.
The one relative strength on this team is T Cole Van Lanen, but he's still trying to return from a late season injury and will start the year on the PUP list, with rumors of a possible ACL injury that could keep him out longer.
Liam Coen's scheme helps, and so does Trevor Lawrence's quick release, but Jacksonville's offense will have to succeed in spite of its line, not because of it.
I believed briefly in the Titans line to start last season, and Tennessee did improve from bottom-5 to "just" bottom-10 after investing heavily into its product.
LG Peter Skoronski is a genuine strength, especially at pass blocking, but that's pretty much the end of the list of positives. Veteran G Kevin Zeitler leaves another whole, and last year's big investment in LT Dan Moore has not paid off. RT J.C. Latham hasn't progressed either.
Part of the belief in Tennessee last season was OL coach Bill Callahan, and he's gone now too. There's some optimism in new OC Brian Daboll's system with how the Giants improved in line play last season, but it's a step down from Callahan either way.
Cam Ward has not played well, but he isn't getting much help either. The Titans are bottom three in our Skill Position Rankings too. Tennessee isn't even giving Ward a chance.
The Browns return zero starters, and that's about the best thing you can say for Cleveland's line.
Last year's unit was a disaster, so a fresh start makes sense. But most of the new names are past-prime veterans with injury issues fighting for spots, so this line is a mess.
No. 9 pick Spencer Fano is super athletic but could take time to develop, and that will be tough with everything so unsettled around him.
It's hard to have continuity when you return nothing, and like Tennessee, Cleveland ranks bottom-3 in both skill positions and line. These teams are not helping their young QBs.
5 Key Takeaways for Bettors
1. Look at that Tier 2 again — could the Bucs, Colts, or Chargers make a leap?
None of those teams are among the presumed contenders, but look what No. 1 Denver did last year with a great line, or what Philadelphia has done year after year.
The Bucs could have the best line in the league and should have easily the best offense in the NFC South, and the Colts have an even bigger advantage on the line in the AFC South, where they rank 3rd but everyone else in the division is in the bottom-8.
The Chargers need their line to get healthy, but if it does, that could be the biggest single-unit swing from last season to this one.
Remember, last year's offensive line rankings suggested the Broncos and Bears as sleepers. Could it be the Bucs, Colts, or Chargers this time?
2. On the flip side, these rankings should be a giant red flag for the Packers, Jaguars, and Texans.
For three presumed Super Bowl contenders, the last place you want to be in the offensive line rankings is bottom quarter of the league.
Jordan Love has not always been great under pressure, so this could be a new test for Green Bay.
Between the poor line play and the injuries keeping Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons out early, there's no reason to invest in Packers futures now.
The Jaguars have a little more margin for error with Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence, but it will be hard to kick start the run game with so little blocking.
The division rival Texans still haven't found answers on the line either, and C.J. Stroud is getting perilously close to a case of the yips he may not be able to overcome with all that pressure.
3. Things might not be what they used to be for some usually rock-stead lines: the Eagles, Lions, and Packers.
We just talked about the Packers. This unit has been solidly above average for years so this is a new challenge.
Philadelphia's line isn't dropping off nearly as far, and the Eagles may barely drop at all, but there are reasons to at least hesitate before penciling the Eagles in at the top of the offensive line rankings for the first time in years.
The real worrying drop, though, is from the Lions. Detroit fell off last season, missed the playoffs, and now falls even further and possibly into the bottom half of the league after usually sitting right near the top.
That could be a big problem for Jared Goff this season.
4. If you're looking for a sleeper, offensive line trends might suggest the Falcons, Vikings, or Saints.
Everyone wants an NFC South pick in what feels like a wide open division.
If you don't believe the Bucs will dominate on the line as much as these rankings suggest, perhaps you'd like to invest in the Falcons or Saints. Both lines bring plenty of talent and have a shot at top-10.
The Vikings have a real chance to be the best line in the division with the downgrades to Detroit and Green Bay. If Christian Darrisaw can stay on the field, Minnesota could still make the offensive line leap it hoped to take last season.
5. With so much change early on, be careful investing in early futures for the Ravens, Steelers, Panthers, Lions, Texans, or Chargers.
Continuity is huge for offensive lines, so units with heavy turnover may take some time to gel and find their way. A new center also means finding new cadence and getting comfortable with the QB snap.
That means you should be careful about betting six playoff contenders at the start of the season and consider investing later:
Steelers: swapping two starters to the other side of the line, leaving new starters at four of the five positions
Lions: moving T Penei Sewell back to the left side, starting a rookie RT, and lost C Cade Mays for the early part of the season
Panthers: missing both tackles early, with their four best starters all banged up or missing to start the year
Ravens: three new interior linemen, including a rookie guard and a late signing at center that needs to settle in
Texans: starting a rookie at center in Keylan Rutledge, along with four of about 8-to-10 other options as the team finds its way
Chargers: still working both star tackles back from injury, now also starting rookie C in place of injured Biadasz













