2025 Offensive Line Rankings
Writer: Chris Helle (ChrisHelleQBL on Twitter/X, Reddit)
It all starts up front. The fantasy realm tends to hyper-focus on the skill position players, because, after all, they’re the ones who earn you points. In reality, the trenches decide how the games play out, which shapes the opportunities for our skill position darlings. We don’t want to end up in a situation where we’re throwing our hands up in the air and complaining, “Well, this player would’ve been a great pick if it weren’t for that stinky o-line!”
The most productive offenses usually have a strong balance between their rushing and passing attacks. Without a strong running game, defenses can play off the ball and more easily drop into coverage. Without a strong pass protection, defenses can pack the box for both pass rush and run-stopping.
These rankings are not a product of some magic formula using PFF grades, because ranking offensive lines requires nuance and context. In some cases, chemistry across the line can elevate their play, whereas talented linemen who are inserted on a new team might not have the same impact that the fanbase would hope for. Coaching staff and scheme can also elevate what would otherwise be a weak unit. For every team, I took a deep dive into their snap shares and statistics from 2024 and then assessed the coaching turnover and personnel changes heading into this season.
Tier 1 – The Tomahawk Steaks
1 – Philadelphia Eagles
2 – Minnesota Vikings
3 – Denver Broncos
4 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It should be no surprise to see Philly atop the rankings. Their only major loss was Mekhi Becton, but Tyler Steen played a lot of meaningful snaps last season when Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens were working through minor injuries. Minnesota poached both Will Fries and Ryan Kelley off the Colts to solidify their interior while maintaining a high-end tackle duo in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Denver and Tampa Bay return all their starters from last season, both fielding extremely strong units from inside out (keeping an eye on Tristan Wirfs’ health, though).
Tier 2 – Prime Cut
5 – Baltimore Ravens
6 – Detroit Lions
7 – Buffalo Bills
8 – Kansas City Chiefs
Baltimore lost Patrick Mekari, but Andrew Vorhees started the first 4 games in 2024 ahead of Mekari. Their 3rd-round pick, Emery Jones Jr., is currently injured, but that’s no concern, as GM Eric DeCosta had already brought in Joe Noteboom from the Rams during free agency to back up Ronnie Staley. The Lions held onto their OL Coach, Hank Fraley, who is heading into his sixth season in this role. The retention of Fraley creates optimism that this line can remain elite without Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler as they fill those holes with new youth: Christian Mahogany and 2nd-round pick Tate Ratledge.
It’s smooth sailing for Buffalo as they had no major losses and were able to take some low-cost shots to fill out their depth chart. Kansas City lost their swiss army knife, Joe Thuney, leaving big shoes to fill for Mike Caliendo. They found their new LT in the draft, selecting OSU’s Josh Simmons in the first round. On paper, depth could be a concern, but their coaching staff is too respectable to knock this OL any lower.
Tier 3 – Choice
9 – Green Bay Packers
10 – Atlanta Falcons
11 – Los Angeles Chargers
12 – New York Jets
13 – New England Patriots
14 – Chicago Bears
15 – San Francisco 49ers
16 – Los Angeles Rams
The Packers’ interior should be improved by letting go of Josh Meyers, sliding Elgton Jenkins to fill that spot at center, and inserting Aaron Banks at guard. Atlanta lost Drew Dahlman, but Ryan Neuzil played enough last year to call it only a minor downgrade from what was a strong unit last season. If it weren’t for the season-ending injury to Rashawn Slater, the Chargers would no doubt be in the elite “Tomahawk Steaks” tier. As it stands, Trey Pipkins is expected to side out to RT, which makes the addition of Mekhi Becton all the more significant.
You might scoff at the New York Jets being in this tier after losing their veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. But it’s out with the old and in with the new as their former and current 1st-round picks, Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, get a chance to be sculpted by an all-new coaching staff (HC, OC, & OL) who collectively come over from Detroit. For the Patriots, Mike Onwenu slides into RG to make way for veteran Morgan Moses at RT, with the LT locked and loaded with 4th-overall pick Will Campbell. Garrett Bradberry also comes in at C as a former 18th overall pick who didn’t miss a single snap for the Vikings last season, making for a balanced unit that is much improved from 2024.
We’ve all heard the hype around the big names the Bears brought in for their interior (Joe Thuney, Drew Dahlman, and Jonah Jackson). These vets will have to build some chemistry, while the tackle room is hopefully a respectable duo after adding 2nd-rounder Ozzy Trapilo. The 49ers return almost all their starters, and their camp seems to have faith in Ben Bartch to fill in for Aaron Banks. This tier is closed out with the Rams, who lost meaningful contributors Joe Noteboom and Jonah Jackson. They did bring in a serviceable center in Coleman Shelton, but depth might be a concern.
Tier 4 – Select Beef
17 – Carolina Panthers
18 – Arizona Cardinals
19 – Washington Commanders
20 – Tennessee Titans
21 – Houston Texans
22 – Indianapolis Colts
23 – Cincinnati Bengals
Continuity is a major plus for a Panthers unit that deserves more respect than they’re given. The biggest loss for the Cardinals is their previous OL coach, Klayton Adams, who had done an amazing job last season. They bring in Justin Frye from Ohio State, whose experience in adjusting for injuries is important given that Isaiah Adams will have to fill in for the injured Will Hernandez. The Washington Commanders bolstered their tackle room with Laremy Tunsil and first-round rookie Josh Connerly. Their interior is definitely serviceable, but nothing to hang their hat on.
There was a ton of turnover in both Tennessee and Houston. The Titans potentially upgraded at LT with the addition of Dan Moore Jr., which should be a serviceable tackle room with JC Latham on the opposite side. Kevin Zeitler is a big addition to the interior, but he might not be enough on his own. Houston swapping Laremy Tunsil for Cam Robinson is a risky move, and they’ll hope for good returns out of their 2nd-round rookie Aireontae Ersery at RT. Replacing Shaq Mason with Laken Tomlinson feels lateral at best.
Somehow, the Colts did next to nothing to address the major losses of Will Fries and Ryan Kelley. Their left side is an elite duo of Quenten Nelson and Bernhard Raimann, but they’re thin and relatively inexperienced outside of those two. Lucas Patrick and 3rd-rounder Dylan Fairchild replace the loss of Alex Cappa for the Bengals’ interior, but depth out wide is a concern with Trent Brown departing.
Tier 5 – Standard
24 – Seattle Seahawks
25 – Jacksonville Jaguars
26 – New Orleans Saints
27 – Pittsburgh Steelers
28 – Miami Dolphins
Out west, Seattle’s saving grace is drafting Grey Zabel in the first round, but the single piece of duct tape probably won’t keep the ship afloat on its own. They’ll have to hope for a bump from the new coaches (OC: Klint Kubiak, OL: John Benton) to set a course in a positive direction. Jacksonville attacked the interior of their line machine gun style, acquiring Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, and Chuma Edoga in free agency, as well as drafting Wyatt Milum in the 3rd Round. Their new OL coach, Shaun Sarrett, comes over from Minnesota to make something out of these pieces, but the tackle duo of Walker Little and Anton Harrison could have also been addressed.
Injuries prevented us from seeing what the Saints’ line was really made of in 2024. They drafted Kelvin Banks at 9th overall this year to take over at LT, so there’s a chance this group is underrated purely for being relatively unproven. It was a less-than-impressive 2024 season for Pittsburgh’s OL, and they did nothing to address the major losses of LT Dan Moore Jr. and C James Daniels. Miami also had an awkward offseason. They emphasized the interior by bringing in the aforementioned James Daniels and sliding him over to LG. Second-rounder Jonah Savaiinaea will fill in at RG, but the exterior is in rough shape after letting go of Terron Armstead. Maybe their fast-paced offense mitigates the risk of a thin exterior, but, in a bubble, this shapes up to be a very frail unit.
Tier 6 – Rotten
29 – Dallas Cowboys
30 – Las Vegas Raiders
31 – Cleveland Browns
32 – New York Giants
Zack Martin’s retirement leaves Dallas with their rookie Tyler Booker at RG. The free agency additions were very questionable, which is cause for concern with their new coaching staff (HC, OC, and OL Coach all new in 2025). It’s a ragtag group in Vegas, but Pete Caroll hired his son, Brennan Carroll, to be the new OL coach with Chip Kelley at OC. Cleveland’s only upgrades appear lower in their depth chart, and while continuity is helpful, it’s more important to actually field talented players. That sentiment can be shouted from the rooftops and land of deaf ears in New York. The Giants had 10 different starting OL combinations in 2024 (tied for the most in the league) and made no meaningful transactions to address their continual weak link.
Photo by Christopher Leduc | Adapted by Parker McDonald (@TheCarbonFox on Twitter/X)