Each Friday, we'll take a look at NFL offensive lines, running through the latest developments -- injuries, benchings -- and highlighting specific positions and/or players. Up first, a run through some of the noteworthy occurrences since we put the magazine to bed, and how they affect the rankings.
The biggest news in the last few weeks involves some key starters at the most valued position: left tackle.
- In Washington, Trent Williams wants to be traded, unhappy with both his contract and how the team handled a medical issue (he recently had a tumor removed which he apparently believes team doctors should have discovered sooner). Reports discussing Williams' return to the team seem to lean more toward "if" than "when." Next man up for Washington is, er, former Giants flop Ereck Flowers. Not good.
This is a good place to mention that player grades factor in injury and/or holdout risk. An all-pro caliber player who seems likely to miss time either due to injury or holdout concerns has his grade ratcheted down to more of an average one. It's not that he becomes an average player, but that there's a strong chance the team will be starting a below-average player (in this case, Flowers) in that spot for a good chunk of the season. Washington had hoped to use Flowers at guard, so they'll be scrambling to fill that spot, too, if Williams doesn't return.
Taylor Lewan will miss the first four games due to a suspension for taking a banned supplement. He's appealing, but the league seldom reduces such suspensions. That’s a blow to the Titans offense early in the season, and the reason his grade is lowered (as discussed above). For a quarter of the season, they’ll be worse at that spot.
The Chargers expect Russell Okung to miss some -- perhaps all -- of the preseason as he recovers from what's recently been revealed to be a pulmonary embolism. Scary, and Okung has dealt with the other injuries in the past, so there's a little more bit risk with him than a lot of left tackles around the league. But sounds like he'll be OK for the start of the season.
Bengals first-round tackle Jonah Williams (shoulder) is out for the season. They'll move Cordy Glenn back into that spot -- they were planning to use him at left guard -- so it's not a disaster, but it's a downgrade from what they were hoping to get from Williams. They'll be worse at left guard, as well, since the best option behind Glenn, Clint Boling, retired last week. A concern for the offense; looks like one of the league's shakier lines.
Raiders guard Richie Incognito was hit with a two-game suspension. Brief, at least, but Oakland couldn't have picked much worse games to be shorthanded on the line (Denver and Kansas City, both of whom have a lot of good pass rushers).
The Bears have swapped last year's center (Cody Whitehair) and left guard (James Daniels). They'll now be playing their college positions, and the team obviously believes the overall performance of the line will be better. Both fared pretty well last year, so it should be an above-average line regardless.
In the wake of all these pre-camp developments, here's how the rankings shake out. On our Facebook page, you can see a colorful table showing how we grade each player. Feel free to weigh in and let us know where you think we've missed the mark. (And "like" our Facebook page to have these posts pop up in your feed.)
| OFFENSIVE LINE RANKINGS | |
|---|---|
| Rk | Team |
| 1. | Philadelphia |
| 2. | Pittsburgh |
| 3. | New Orleans |
| 4. | Dallas |
| 5. | Atlanta |
| 6. | New England |
| 7. | Indianapolis |
| 8. | Tampa Bay |
| 9. | Green Bay |
| 10. | Kansas City |
| 11. | San Francisco |
| 12. | LA Rams |
| 13. | Chicago |
| 14. | Oakland |
| 15. | Tennessee |
| 16. | LA Chargers |
| 17. | Jacksonville |
| 18. | Detroit |
| 19. | Denver |
| 20. | Cleveland |
| 21. | Buffalo |
| 22. | Carolina |
| 23. | Seattle |
| 24. | Washington |
| 25. | NY Jets |
| 26. | Baltimore |
| 27. | Minnesota |
| 28. | NY Giants |
| 29. | Houston |
| 30. | Cincinnati |
| 31. | Arizona |
| 32. | Miami |