There wasn't room for the Offensive Line story in this year's magazine, but it lives on anyway. On Tuesday, we ran the 16 NFC teams, today the 16 AFC teams. Those who purchased the magazine and want to see the whole thing assembled can find a downloadable PDF of the story right now under Your Stuff.
This is our estimation of how to rank the offensive lines as we approach training camp. (Numbering indicates overall ranking among the league's 32 teams.) In the colorful table (above, and in the PDF), blue is All-Pro caliber, green is above-average, yellow is average, orange is probably below-average and red is definitely below-average. Player grades also factor in injury risk (an above-average player who's missed half of the last two seasons or is coming off surgery might show up with an average grade) and age.
2. Denver Broncos
The Broncos were the only team with two first-team All-Pros in 2025 (Bolles, Meinerz), and they’re set to return all five starters. That continuity has been a key piece of Bo Nix’s development. Left guard Ben Powers played only eight regular-season games last year; fourth-round pick Kage Casey and veteran Alex Palczewski are the insurance. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey is coming off his first full 17-game season since 2022, with two years remaining on the big contract he signed in 2023.
4. Buffalo Bills
Dion Dawkins is still the face of the Bills line, with five straight Pro Bowls and almost as durable as they come. Connor McGovern made the Pro Bowl in 2024, and O’Cyrus Torrence and Spencer Brown have been reliable. Losing left guard David Edwards is a real void, but the team has options: Alec Anderson, plus free agent pickups Austin Corbett and Lloyd Cushenberry will compete for the spot.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
After allowing 60 sacks, overhauling the interior was non-negotiable: three new starters up the middle. The bigger story, though, is getting Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) back; the pair played a combined six regular-season games in 2025. Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange arrived via free agency, and Jake Slaughter was a second-round pick at left guard. There’s a new offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, so cohesion will take time, but the talent up front is hard to argue with.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
Losing All-Pro Joe Thuney and starting a rookie at left tackle was always going to cost them, and it did in 2025. Now they need a bounce-back with Patrick Mahomes returning from ACL surgery. Creed Humphrey is the best center in the game; Trey Smith has back-to-back Pro Bowls despite missing time to injury last season. The left guard situation is less certain: third-year Kingsley Suamataia will get another shot after showing flashes last season, and right tackle is also unsettled as the team moves on from the heavily penalized Jawaan Taylor in favor of 2025 signing Jaylon Moore.
8. Indianapolis Colts
The left side, eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson and fifth-year starter Bernhard Raimann at left tackle, is as good as it gets. Both are paid like it, averaging over $20 million annually. Tanor Bortolini stepped in at center and held his own; the team is hoping Jalen Travis (fourth-round pick last year) can do the same at right tackle, replacing the departed Braden Smith. Right guard Matt Goncalves impressed in his first full season as a starter, and a fourth-round pick, Jalen Farmer, adds depth.
10. New York Jets
The draft investment is starting to pay off. First-round tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou are developing, and second-rounder Joe Tippmann earned a massive extension. Last year’s big free-agent addition was center Josh Myers; this year it’s guard Dylan Parham ($16 million over two years), replacing Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson. Beleaguered Jets fans finally have something to feel good about up front.
17. Cleveland Browns
The Browns are used to rebuilds. After an offseason spending spree worth more than $100 million, plus a first-round pick on left tackle Spencer Fano, they’ll have four new starters this year. Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, and Tytus Howard are the veteran additions. The lone holdover at right guard is Teven Jenkins, who started four games after arriving last year and brings second-round pedigree if not consistency.
18. New England Patriots
A knee injury derailed Will Campbell’s rookie season at left tackle, one of the Super Bowl LX storylines, and the hope is offseason rest takes care of that setback. Former Jets first-rounder Alijah Vera-Tucker (three-year deal despite missing all of 2025) arrives to help at left guard. Right guard Michael Onwenu has been the steadiest piece, starting 66 of 68 games over four seasons. Morgan Moses played every game at right tackle last year at age 34, reestablishing his durability. First-round pick Caleb Lomu is the long-term plan there. Jared Wilson, a plug-and-play draftee at guard last year, shifts to center in Garrett Bradbury’s absence.
19. Baltimore Ravens
John Harbaugh’s departure wasn’t the only major change; the interior was completely remade. A first-round pick went to left guard Olaivavega Ioane, and former Jets guard John Simpson signed a three-year, $30 million deal. Center is the big unknown after losing Pro Bowl Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. Danny Pinter, Jovaughn Gwyn, and others are competing. Ronnie Stanley has shed his injury-prone label over the past two seasons, and Roger Rosengarten started all 17 games last year.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
All five starters return from 2025, and that continuity matters. Cole Van Lanen has played everywhere on the line and is penciled in at left tackle after signing a big extension. Anton Harrison has missed only three games since being drafted in the first round in 2023. The interior: Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, and Patrick Mekari each started at least 14 games last season. Third-round pick Emmanuel Pregnon adds depth, and Walker Little remains around as a fallback at tackle.
26. Las Vegas Raiders
With No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza coming in, building the line around him was a priority. Signing Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum was a strong start. Kolton Miller is a known commodity at left tackle, but he’s coming back from a leg injury that cost him 13 games last season. 2024 picks Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze are still developing; Powers-Johnson missed nine games last year and faces a competition at right guard from Caleb Rogers. Left guard is also unsettled, with Spencer Burford and third-round pick Trey Zuhn battling to replace Dylan Parham.
27. Miami Dolphins
The new regime isn’t hiding that this is a rebuild, and the line reflects that. The centerpiece of the plan is massive first-round pick Kadyn Proctor, likely at left guard this season. Second-team All-Pro center Aaron Brewer is the one established anchor. Patrick Paul (2024 second-rounder at left tackle) and Jonah Savaiinaea (2025 second-rounder at right guard) are still developing. Savaiinaea played all 17 games but had his growing pains. Right tackle Austin Jackson enters a critical year after missing the bulk of two of the last three seasons to injuries.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
This line is in flux. Broderick Jones underwent neck surgery and is very questionable entering the year, a major concern at left tackle. First-rounder Max Iheanachor and third-rounder Gennings Dunker were drafted to address the needs, and Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook are likely to have large roles as bookends if Iheanachor isn’t ready. Spencer Anderson has been a depth piece but could see more action. Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier provide stability on the interior, both playing all 17 games in their second NFL seasons.
29. Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud’s stagnant development has partly been blamed on the line, and they’ve made significant changes two years running. A first-round pick on center Keylan Rutledge and big contracts for guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Braden Smith are this offseason’s big moves. The durability concern with Teller (missed time two straight years) applies to Smith, too. The former Colt has missed 4-plus games three seasons in a row. Ed Ingram was a boost at right guard in year one with Houston and signed a three-year extension. Aireontae Ersery stepped up to fill the Laremy Tunsil void last year and showed promise.
30. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati’s offensive line play is often criticized, with Joe Burrow’s struggles staying on the field one result. The team is bringing back all five starters from 2025, headlined by former Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown with a new contract extension. Recent draftees Amarius Mims and Dylan Fairchild have shown potential, while center Ted Karras has a veteran pedigree, missing only one game since coming on board in 2022. Dalton Risner provided a boost at guard after coming over from Minnesota, and re-signed on a one-year deal.
32. Tennessee Titans
A lot of moving parts for the Titans offensive line in the offseason, with multiple free agent additions and two late-round draft picks. Former first-round picks Peter Skoronski and JC Latham are the known commodities, and veteran Dan Moore provided stability on the left side of the line after signing a big free agent deal last offseason. Elsewhere, there are questions. The team is looking to replace Lloyd Cushenberry and Kevin Zeitler on the interior, but doesn’t have encouraging replacement options. Newcomers Austin Schlottmann (a backup with the Giants) and former Bengal Cordell Volson (hurt all last season) will get long looks in training camp, with 2025 fifth-rounder Jackson Slater also in the picture at guard.
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Read the NFC Offensive line rankings: HERE
--Seth Trachtman
