Most of the attention goes to the offensive side of the ball, but the old cliché of “defense wins championships” didn’t arise out of nowhere. With the 2024 NFL season in the books, how do all 32 teams shape up in our defense rankings?

Using our Defense+ metric, we examine each team’s performance this season. We’ll keep every team in the same order they finished the regular season. However, for the 14 teams that made the playoffs, we’ve added an extra line denoting their grade and rank to include games played this postseason.

PFSN’s defense rankings combine statistics such as yards per play, points per drive, sack percentage, turnover percentage, success rate against the run and pass, third-down conversion rate, red-zone efficiency, pressure percentage when not blitzing, and various expected points added (EPA) measures against both the run and pass.

These are then weighted accordingly to produce our rankings for each season.

1) Denver Broncos

All stats referenced in this article are from TruMedia unless stated otherwise.

The Denver offense gets plenty of attention because of its young quarterback and creative head coach, but this defense was as good as it got from start to finish a season ago, after grading 23rd in Defense+ in 2023.

Patrick Surtain II is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and projects to stifle pass games for a long time. The Broncos also showed a lack of compliance during the draft, as they not only added Jahdae Barron (a corner out of Texas) with the 20th overall pick but also a pair of high-pedigree edge rushers in the middle of the proceedings.

This is the gold standard for defense right now, and that doesn’t appear likely to change given the roster they’ve constructed.

2) Philadelphia Eagles

Consistency is vital in any profession, but the 2024 Eagles proved that you can reach the ultimate goal if you run hot. By our metrics, they’ve been as volatile as any unit in the sport: 23rd in Defense+ in 2021, sixth in 2022, and 30th in 2023 before a runner-up finish in 2024. If you’re going to be all over the map like this, your good must be excellent, and that was the case last season.

Philly posted the second-lowest blitz rate in the league (16.2% compared to a league average of 25.2%), which worked last year. Still, it’s fair to wonder about the sustainability of that with defensive end Josh Sweat taking his talents to Arizona this offseason.

3) Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota finished 2024 as our third-ranked defense, their first finish better than 20th since 2019. The result sticks out, but the process to get there doesn’t — they’ve now led the league in blitz rate in consecutive seasons.

Notably, the defense dialed back its aggression a bit last season. The unit’s sack rate rose meaningfully, a sign that they are getting better at executing this scheme. This is a scary thought for the rest of the league, and something that will need to continue to be the case with a first-year starter under center.

4) Los Angeles Chargers

Jim Harbaugh came to town and posted a top-5 finish for a franchise that had been in the bottom 10 in our rankings for three straight seasons. This team may function as an old-school group, but they were the top-scoring defense a season ago. As this coaching staff gains comfort, it’s easy to project them as an elite unit again in 2025.

5) Detroit Lions

Losing Aidan Hutchinson in mid-October (broken tibia/fibula) indeed capped this unit’s upside, but they still managed to post the fifth-highest rate — their first above-average ranking since we began tracking in 2019.

This is the use case for offense impacting defense. In part because of their success on the other side of the ball, the Lions had the second-highest opponent average throw depth a season ago. Most of the NFL is designed to make those deep throws minus-EV (expected value) plays. With Hutchinson trending in the right direction, this defense can be a key cog for a Super Bowl run in The Motor City.

6) Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks rebounded from an ugly showing in 2023 (29th) on the back of the third-highest pressure rate in the league. We will see if that can sustain, but in a league where QB comfort is priority No. 1, Seattle’s ability to disrupt projects favorably moving forward.

7) Houston Texans

DeMeco Ryans has the ear of this team, and it shows. The Texans ranked 31st in defense in 2020, 29th in 2021, 23rd in 2022, and 12th in 2023, before finishing seventh in 2024. This opportunistic bunch forced the fifth-most turnovers last season (29) and profiles as a unit that can reach elite status very much in the Detroit mold if C.J. Stroud can bounce back after a bumpy sophomore campaign.

8) Baltimore Ravens

Nothing to see here, just another top-10 finish for a team that has reached that level in five of our six seasons of charting, with the exception coming in 2021. They had some down moments, but with Kyle Hamilton swarming around and Kyle Van Noy continuing to produce, this defense is capable of flipping the game quickly.

9) Cleveland Browns

It’s an understatement to say that the Cleveland organization has plenty of problems, but the defense wasn’t one of them. This fanbase deserved more on-field success based on where like-ranked units finished the season.

After an unusual offseason, Myles Garrett is back, which should give this defense every opportunity to repeat its impressive finish. Given the uncertainty on the other side of the ball, they will have to deliver it.

10) Green Bay Packers

Thanks to posting the seventh highest success rate against the run in 2024, the green and gold finished with easily their highest Defense+ finish on file. This was a similar group that finished 23rd in 2023, and if they can sustain the growth they showed during 2024, the Packers could make a deep run into January.

11) Miami Dolphins

Not all steps forward are massive ones. The Fins were our 17th-best defense in 2022 and 13th in 2023, before finishing 11th a season ago. Consistent progress like that is how you position yourself for sustained success.

We all know the potential on the other side of the ball, but this unit allowed the third-fewest yards per pass in 2024, thanks to posting the ninth-lowest opponent completion percentage. If this team can break into the 75th percentile in our rankings, why can’t they earn an invite to the postseason dance?

12) Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh forced a league-high 33 turnovers in 2024 and finished exactly where you’d assume (12th place is their three-year average). Nothing about this unit jumps off the page, and it doesn’t have to; stability is a strength.

If only the offense followed a similar line of thought.

13) Chicago Bears

Like the Browns, you could easily argue that the Bears’ fanbase deserved more success given how well their defense graded out.

The development of Caleb Williams will ultimately dictate the fate of this young team in a loaded NFC North, but it would appear that the defense is up to the challenge should a big Year 2 leap take place for the former top overall pick.

14) Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City has now bookended a fourth-place Defense+ finish in 2023 with a pair of 14th’s. Chris Jones missed a pair of games and recorded his lowest sack total since his rookie season, leading to concerns that his upcoming season at 31 years old could further provide evidence that his best days are behind him.

That said, this was still the fourth-best scoring unit a season ago. As long as Patrick Mahomes pressures opponents to be efficient, this defense will be in a position to succeed and finish as an above-average unit.

15) New York Jets

We saw the Jets post consecutive top-5 performances entering 2024, but they fell short of expectations and were a big reason this team underachieved. This remains a talented roster that projects to finish better than this. However, it should be noted that there is no easing into this season. After hosting the Steelers in Week 1, the Jets then face the Bills, Buccaneers, and Dolphins to round out September.

16) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s hard to get much more average than consecutive 16th-place finishes, and that’s where the Buccaneers find themselves. If Baker Mayfield’s 2024 was a sign of things to come and not a flash in the pan, this level of defense will justify Tampa Bay being the favorite to win the NFC South.

This profile has some upside to chase, as we saw the Bucs create pressure at the fifth-highest rate a season ago.

17) Washington Commanders

This defense was a liability early in the season, and while it wasn’t necessarily a strength by the end of the regular season, it was close enough to break even. If Jayden Daniels takes a step forward in Year 2, simply sustaining that level of production (don’t forget, this was the 31st-ranked defense in 2023) will be more than enough to make 2025 a successful season.

18) Buffalo Bills

The defense in Buffalo used to be a strength (top seven Defense+ finishes in 2021, 2022, and 2023), but that wasn’t the case in 2024. Josh Allen’s superpowers are plentiful, but asking him to overcome a limited supporting cast and a below-average defense is a lot.

Joey Bosa was brought in this offseason, but he will have to prove, at 30 years old this season, that he can stay on the field (he has missed 23 games over the past three seasons) and be productive in those snaps.

19) New Orleans Saints

Last season was easily the worst in our records for the Saints, fueled by them allowing the fifth-most yards per completion (11.7). Asking for a significant rebound is a long shot, especially if you believe the offense will struggle at such a rate that opposing offenses operate with leverage and positive game scripts.

20) New York Giants

While the offense in New York is stuck in the bottom tier, their defense has been on the low-end of mediocre for four straight seasons (Defense+ rank 18 to 25 in all of those years). Abdul Carter joins a Giants defense that ranked third in sack rate last season (8.2%), trailing only the Cowboys and Broncos.

If the G-Men are going to overachieve, it’s because the offense takes a mini step forward and the defense flirts with a top-12 ranking.

21) Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders have poured draft capital into the offensive side of the ball, leaving the defense without many paths to improvement. They were our 15th-ranked unit in 2023, and a return to the middle tier would give this team hope of challenging the eight-win mark they hit two seasons ago rather than repeating last year’s four-win disaster.

22) Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward has brought excitement to Tennessee, but this defense has been trending in the wrong direction, and a shiny new toy under center isn’t going to help correct course. In 2022, the Titans were ranked as our 12th-best defense, but they regressed to 20th in 2023, before finishing 22nd last season.

Only the Panthers and Raiders were worse at generating pressure when blitzing than Tennessee last season — that needs to be rectified for this team to have any chance of showing signs of growth in 2025.

23) Indianapolis Colts

In our six years of tracking, the Colts have just one above-average season (2020), and they were negatively impacted by an offense that didn’t consistently threaten opponents last season.

Will the defense get any support from the offense this season? That’s one of the burning questions this season and holds plenty of weight. Indianapolis was the sixth-best rush EPA defense in 2024, and if the game script tilts more in their favor, we could see the defensive metrics flip in short order.

24) Los Angeles Rams

That’s now three straight bottom-10 Defense+ seasons for the Rams, and there isn’t much help for an instant fix. Aaron Donald isn’t returning, and Los Angeles used just one pick in the first four rounds on this side of the ball.

The Rams overcame this flaw and won 10 games the previous season. This weakness caps their ceiling in a significant way, and it projects to be the case again over the next six months.

25) Dallas Cowboys

The Panthers.

That was the only team that allowed more points during the 2024 regular season than the Cowboys, a disastrous showing for a franchise that had previously posted three straight top-5 Defense+ finishes.

They surrendered 6,039 yards of offense, 944 more than they surrendered the year prior, which is the easiest way to understand how dramatic their decline was. Micah Parsons still reached a dozen sacks despite missing four contests, and as long as he is wreaking havoc, this unit has far more upside than any team swimming in this area.

That said, this was easily the worst red zone defense in the league, and if that doesn’t get corrected, it doesn’t matter how impactful Parsons is in the red zone. If Dallas is going to rebound in a big way this year, it’s because they are turning seven-point drives into three-point attempts. It is that simple.

26) San Francisco 49ers

Before falling apart in 2024, the Niners had nothing but top-10 finishes in our database. Like the Cowboys, they struggled massively when the opposition got into scoring position, which was quite often due to this defense’s inability to get off the field (24th in third-down conversion rate).

Fred Warner remains the core of this defense, and Bryce Huff was brought over from the Super Bowl champions — there are certainly pieces in place to return this team to average, if not better, on this side of the ball.

27) Arizona Cardinals

The league’s worst defense in 2023 took baby steps forward in 2024 with a 27th-place finish, so that’s a plus. That said, by ranking in the bottom six in both rush and pass defense (per EPA), we are talking the dullest of positive signals.

They did, however, bring in Josh Sweat this offseason, a 28-year-old game wrecker who has the potential to impact this unit as a whole positively. We will believe it when we see it, but there is certainly a path for this defense to trend closer to the league average in 2025.

28) Cincinnati Bengals

Remember in 2022 when this looked like a franchise with balance and staying power? They were our 11th-best defense that season and trending toward the elite tier of the conference, but with 27th and 28th Defense+ finishes since, Cincinnati has looked more like a one-trick pony over the past two years than a legitimate threat to the top tier of the AFC.

In 2024, this was the second-worst run defense in terms of success rate, which needs to be corrected sooner rather than later. If they can’t stop the run, things crumble from the inside out, and they have no chance.

Trey Hendrickson is back, and edge Shemar Stewart was added with the 17th overall pick. Due to the offensive upside on this roster, this unit doesn’t need to be one of the 10 best in the sport, but finishing in the bottom third of the league will cut out the legs of any long-term plans they were hoping for.

This defense will be under the most pressure to rebound in 2025. If that occurs, they will be a real contender.

29) Atlanta Falcons

We were optimistic about the Falcons after an 11th-place Defense+ finish in 2023.

That optimism disappeared quickly. If you’re a glass-half-full type of person, you’ll note that they allowed the second fewest yards per completion a season ago, and while that’s factually correct, if the opposition is still completing 69.9% of their passes, it doesn’t matter.

Atlanta showed awareness by addressing this side of the ball early and often in April — it’s now a wait-and-see situation as their young talent learns on the fly. There’s some hope for this defense if you’re taking a step back and looking at the rest of the decade, but for 2025, it’s hard to move forward with much confidence.

30) New England Patriots

This is an example of how sideways things can go in a hurry. The Patriots entered 2024 fresh off three straight top-10 Defense+ finishes, believing that this was their team’s strength, while Drake Maye was set to learn on the fly on the other side of the ball.

Not so much.

This team thinks its franchise quarterback is on the roster, but is unsure if the defense can keep them competitive enough for it to matter. Last season, New England ranked 31st in pressure rate and had the lowest sack percentage (5% with a league average of 6.9%).

This team has already hit rock bottom and is trending in the right direction. Their growth hinges as much on a rebound from this unit as it does on their young signal-caller.

31) Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville was a top-15 unit in back-to-back seasons before the floor fell from beneath them in 2024. This is an offense-driven league, and if you can’t get off the field as a defense, you’ll pay the price, something that Jaguar Nation is keenly aware of.

Last season, the Jaguars forced a league-low nine turnovers. To put some context into just how poor that is, not only did every other defense in the league force at least a dozen, but two NFC North teams (Green Bay and Minnesota) forced more than nine mistakes in September alone.

32) Carolina Panthers

We saw signs of life from this offense down the stretch last season, and that’s enough to sell tickets. But asking this team to win at a reasonable level with this defense simply isn’t fair. The Panthers, the worst-scoring unit in the league in 2024, have finished in the bottom five in our grading metric in consecutive seasons and the bottom 10 in five of the last six.

We will need proof of concept before projecting any improvement on this side of the ball in Carolina.

It’s good to be back for my second year of breaking down the trenches for Fantasy Points. I know we’re not back to real football quite yet, but hopefully this will get your juices flowing and help you plan for fantasy draft season.

I used the generic quote of “games are won and lost in the trenches” last year, and never was that more accurate than in the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LIX. The Bills’ near-automatic QB sneak was repeatedly denied (controversially if you ask me) by the Chiefs’ defensive line, and the Eagles’ pass rush abused Kansas City’s blockers to make Patrick Mahomes look pedestrian.

The trenches are the lifeblood of good NFL teams, and knowing which units are more effective than others can be a huge advantage when it comes to fantasy roster moves.

Before I get to my rankings, I want to break down how I evaluate offensive lines. This process came from my 10 years working in the Cleveland Browns’ personnel department. Keep these factors in mind when making roster decisions.

What makes a good offensive line?

Continuity — I can’t stress enough how important continuity is for an offensive line. Yes, teams have seen quick improvements after bringing in a new player, but the more a unit plays together, the better the communication and overall quality of play

Depth — OL injuries can derail any team ( Trent Williams last year), but having quality replacements can keep a team competitive. With the Browns in 2020, I learned that you can never have too many linemen, but they have to be capable

Quality additions — There’s typically turnover every year with OL groups. Adding the right veteran or draft pick could be the missing piece to becoming an elite unit.

Veteran/Youth split — Playing offensive line as a rookie or second-year player is incredibly difficult, so having helpful vets can speed up a young player’s development

Coaching — OL is such a technique-heavy position. Having the right person in charge of the meeting room is crucial. I had first-hand experience with this in Cleveland. We hired Bill Callahan in 2020 after years of questionable coaching, and a good unit became one of the league’s best.

Scheme fit — GMs and Head Coaches have to realize which players fit the schemes they’re trying to run. If body types and play styles don’t mesh, then the OL will struggle

A quality offensive line has to be good in both phases. Pass protection has become more important than downhill run blocking with the proliferation of the passing game in the NFL. However, when the games matter most, imposing your will on the defense can win a championship. Good offensive lines often go unnoticed for long stretches because they’re doing everything right, while inept units make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Let’s get into the rankings.

Scott DiBenedetto’s 2025 NFL Offensive Line Rankings

Let’s look at the projected starting OLs across the league. “Pancakes” is still not a stat in the Fantasy Points Data Suite, but let’s see how the big boys will factor into fantasy in 2025.

* Denotes Rookie $ Denotes New Acquisition / denotes a potential battle or a top backup

1. Philadelphia Eagles – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 3

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Jordan Mailata

LG Landon Dickerson / Kenyon Green $

C Cam Jurgens

RG Tyler Steen

RT Lane Johnson

There’s honestly not that much to say about Philadelphia’s offensive line. The biggest question going into 2024 was Cam Jurgens taking over at center, and he did well in his first year at the position. Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata form the best pair of tackles in the league, and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Landon Dickerson is the point man on the most controversial play in football and is also one of the best guards in the game.

The one area of concern is at RG. This was a question mark heading into last season, but Mekhi Becton was a force. Tyler Steen is slated to take over, but has started only three games in his first two seasons. The team acquired Kenyon Green in the Chauncey Gardner-Johnson trade, and he could provide insurance if Steen isn’t performing.

This unit is good enough to overcome one weak link, and coach Jeff Stoutland should get Steen up to speed. Injuries are the only thing holding this unit back from another stellar season.

2. Denver Broncos – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 16

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Garett Bolles

LG Ben Powers

C Luke Wattenberg

RG Quinn Meinerz

RT Mike McGlinchey

Continuity is king in Denver. This offensive line outperformed expectations blocking for a rookie quarterback last year, and all five starters are coming back. I was concerned about the Luke Wattenberg to Bo Nix connection, but they both played well in their first year together. Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey continued to be a solid tackle duo, and Ben Powers and Quinn Meinerz could be the best guard pair in the league (Meinerz is a dawg).

It will be interesting to see where Sean Payton and Nix take Denver in 2025. They didn’t add much in terms of explosive weapons, but keeping everything mostly the same for the young quarterback could be the key to another strong season. I was lower than I should have been on this offensive line last year, but with the same starting five returning, the Broncos can make noise in the AFC West.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 18

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Tristan Wirfs

LG Ben Bredeson

C Graham Barton

RG Cody Mauch

RT Luke Goedeke / Charlie Heck $

The Bucs are another unit without much change up front. This unit was outstanding last season and should ride the continuity train to another strong season in 2025. Tristan Wirfs continued to be one of the best tackles in the league, and Luke Goedeke was solid in his 13 starts. The change at tackle is that Tampa will be without quality backup Justin Skule, who is now with the Vikings. Charlie Heck came in from San Francisco and should be the next man up.

Ben Bredeson had a surprisingly down year at LG, but Graham Barton and, more notably, Cody Mauch made up for it at C and RG, respectively. Mauch has become one of the league’s better guards and was a big part of Tampa finishing with the 6th-most rushing yards last year.

Tampa’s offensive line greatly outperformed my expectations in 2024. I didn’t think they’d be awful at No. 18, but I didn’t see them pushing for the top spot essentially all season. Baker Mayfield had the best season of his career behind this unit, and bringing the same group back should set Tampa up for success in 2025. Put a lot of faith in this group to perform well all season if they stay healthy.

4. Baltimore Ravens – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 5

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Ronnie Stanley / Joseph Noteboom $

LG Andrew Vorhees / Ben Cleveland

C Tyler Linderbaum

RG Daniel Faalele

RT Roger Rosengarten / Emery Jones Jr. *

I got crushed after my initial rankings last year had Baltimore’s offensive line fifth, and I caught a lot of heat after the mess that was the season-opener against the Chiefs. However, I don’t think I was too far off after how this unit mashed teams as the season went on.

There’s a lot of continuity with the Ravens’ OL in 2025. Ronnie Stanley finally played a full season and looked good, especially in protection. Roger Rosengarten made 14 starts as a rookie and laid a quality foundation for a solid career. Tyler Linderbaum was a rock in the middle and was one of the better centers in the league last year. I’ll admit that I wasn’t a fan of Daniel Faalele in the preseason, but the big man figured things out after kicking inside.

My only question for Baltimore is LG Andrew Vorhees. He hasn’t played a lot of football over the last two seasons and was relegated to a backup role for Patrick Mekari. He wasn’t awful when he played, but there’s room for improvement, particularly with his run blocking.

The job Baltimore’s coaches did with this group last year was impressive. Lamar Jackson can mask a lot of errors, but I don’t see many with this unit.

5. Detroit Lions – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 1

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Taylor Decker

LG Christian Mahogany / Miles Frazier *

C Tate Ratledge * / Trystan Colon $

RG Graham Glasgow

RT Penei Sewell

A disappointing finish to the season took away some of the glory this unit deserved. With some significant changes in the interior, things will likely be different for Detroit’s offensive line this season, but this is still one of the league’s strongest units.

Starting with the holdovers, the tackle combo of Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker is second only to Philadelphia, and both guys are coming off impressive seasons. Graham Glasgow flips to RG for the departed Kevin Zeitler. Glasgow was average in both phases, but putting him next to Sewell should help.

The two projected new starters, Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge, are unproven in the NFL. Mahogany takes over at LG. He did well in his one start last season, but couldn’t crack Detroit’s loaded starting lineup. Ratledge, this year’s second-round pick, has the most pressure taking over for the newly retired Frank Ragnow. Ratledge has great hair, but will be targeted early by defenses. Ultimately, Detroit remains loaded offensively and has enough weapons to withstand a slight dip in its offensive line.

6. Buffalo Bills – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 8

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Dion Dawkins

LG David Edwards / Alec Anderson

C Connor McGovern

RG O’Cyrus Torrence / Kendrick Green $

RT Spencer Brown

I could essentially copy and paste my Bills preview from last year, as the same starting group returns in 2025. Yes, Josh Allen solves a lot of problems, but Buffalo’s offensive line did a great job keeping the MVP clean in 2024, allowing a league-low 14 sacks. There were questions about this unit’s run blocking, but James Cook’s postseason performance put those concerns to rest.

Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown form one of the better tackle duos in the league, as both are highly effective in both phases. David Edwards and Connor McGovern each had strong years on the interior, playing in 15+ games. The only real question is O’Cyrus Torrence at RG. He was the weak link last year, but had good moments. The Bills brought in Kendrick Green as interior depth and have the ultimate jumbo tight end in Alec Anderson.

Will this be the year Bills Mafia finally gets over the hump?

7. Indianapolis Colts – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 6

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Bernhard Raimann / Blake Freeland

LG Quenton Nelson

C Tanor Bortolini

RG Matt Goncalves

RT Braden Smith / Jalen Travis *

Bernhard Raimann has become a standout tackle in the NFL after an impressive third season. He’s well on his way to eventual All-Pro honors. Braden Smith was still a very productive tackle in 12 games last year. Expect Blake Freeland or fourth-round rookie Jalen Travis to be the next man up if needed.

The Colts’ interior offensive line has gone through a lot of changes this offseason. All-world guard Quenton Nelson is the only returning starter inside after both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries left for Minnesota. Matt Goncalves saw time at tackle last year but will kick inside to RG, and Tanor Bortolini takes over at center. The good news is that both new starters saw time last year, so it won’t be a hard reset for the unit.

The Colts’ offensive line faded after a strong start to the season. The injury bug hit this unit hard, but they still had ESPN’s 4th-best run block win rate. Raimann, Nelson, and Smith are all highly effective blockers, so expect Indy’s running game to be productive once again. This unit can be one of the league’s best if it’s more consistent in protection.

8. Arizona Cardinals – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 30

Projected Starting Lineups

LT Paris Johnson / Kelvin Beachum

LG Evan Brown

C Hjalte Froholdt

RG Isaiah Adams / Royce Newman $

RT Jonah Williams

The Cardinals’ offensive line overperformed in 2024. I had them down at No. 30 heading into last season, and they ended up in my “Good” tier at each check-in. Arizona faded down the stretch, but this offensive line was arguably the most consistent unit on the team.

Paris Johnson was exceptional at LT, as was Jonah Williams when he was healthy. Evan Brown and Hjalte Froholdt were solid all season and proved that they can be effective NFL starters. The big change and weak link is at RG. Isaiah Adams and the newly acquired Royce Newman will battle for the starting job, but both guys have issues.

As I said last year, this team will go as Kyler Murray goes, but he won’t have the excuse of a weak offensive line to hide behind as the 2025 season kicks off. Yes, there will be one new piece, but this unit’s quality continuity at the other four spots will make them effective once again.

9. Los Angeles Rams – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 9

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Alaric Jackson

LG Steve Avila

C Coleman Shelton $ / Beaux Limmer

RG Kevin Dotson

RT Rob Havenstein

The Rams’ offensive line went through the ringer last season. I buried them after injury woes and a rough start, but the unit rebounded to be one of the more productive units, no matter who was playing.

Alaric Jackson played really well in both phases after being suspended for the first two games. Rob Havenstein had another strong year, but was in and out of the lineup with injuries. When healthy and not suspended, these two are an effective pair of edge protectors.

The interior is where any questions could be. Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson return at both guard spots, and Coleman Shelton returns after a sabbatical in Chicago to be the new center. Avila played in 10 games and had a down year run blocking, but was still good overall. Dotson was consistently above average despite a foot injury. Shelton was slightly above average in his one year with the Bears, and his familiarity with the offense should mitigate any issues he may encounter upon returning to the OL room. I’m high on the Rams heading into the season again.

10. Los Angeles Chargers – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 11

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Rashawn Slater

LG Bradley Bozeman

C Zion Johnson / Andre James $

RG Mekhi Becton $ / Jamaree Salyer

RT Joe Alt

The easiest place to start with the Chargers is at tackle. Joe Alt had a solid start to his professional career, consistently performing above average in both phases. Rashawn Slater was an animal last season, and it’s a shame he didn’t get any All-Pro love. Los Angeles will be set at tackle for a long time.

Moving to the interior, there’s some shuffling and a very large new face. Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson swap spots after an average year in the middle for Bozeman and a solid season from Johnson at LG. Bozeman was briefly a free agent before re-signing with the Chargers. It’ll be interesting to see how long the team sticks with the swap with Bozeman back. The new face is Mekhi Becton, fresh off a Super Bowl victory. The big man experienced a career resurgence after moving inside and seamlessly fit into Philadelphia’s offensive line.

We know Jim Harbaugh will continue to make this unit the foundation of his offense. The Chargers’ offensive line flirted with being a top-10 unit most of 2025, but couldn’t take the next step. With four starters returning and a Super Bowl winner coming in, look for this group to drive the bus for Los Angeles.

11. Washington Commanders – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 29

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Laremy Tunsil $

LG Brandon Coleman / Nick Allegretti

C Tyler Biadasz

RG Sam Cosmi / Andrew Wylie

RT Josh Conerly Jr. *

What a year Washington had, right? A rookie QB’s best friend is a quality offensive line, and the Commanders gave that to Jayden Daniels all season long. This unit was in my “Great” tier twice last year after I essentially wrote them off at the beginning of the season.

Tyler Biadasz and Sam Cosmi are returning after strong campaigns, but Cosmi is coming off a torn ACL in the playoffs. Andrew Wylie and Brandon Coleman are set to kick inside after starting at right and left tackle last year, respectively. Whether it’s Wylie or Cosmi at RG, the interior should be solid.

The big changes are at both tackles, as Laremy Tunsil was acquired via trade, and rookie Josh Conerly Jr. was taken in the first round. Tunsil was still a force last year despite playing on Houston’s miserable OL, but Conerly is unproven. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a brief dip in Daniels’ play as the re-worked unit gets used to each other, but Washington should still compete for the NFC.

12. Atlanta Falcons – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 7

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Jake Matthews

LG Matthew Bergeron

C Ryan Neuzil / Jovaughn Gwyn

RG Chris Lindstrom

RT Kaleb McGary

I was high on Atlanta’s offensive line and overall team heading into 2024. The Falcons ultimately fell short of my playoff prediction, but the OL played well all season.

Jake Matthews bounced back with a solid 2024 in both phases, while Kaleb McGary locked down the right side. (Matthews has missed only one game in his 11-year career.) Matthew Bergeron and Chris Lindstrom also return at LG and RG, respectively. Bergeron had a solid second season, and Lindstrom was one of the better guards in the league last year.

The big change is in the middle as Ryan Neuzil is projected to replace Drew Dalman, who is now in Chicago. Neuzil started eight games while Dalman was out, but hasn’t proven himself. I’m still a fan of Atlanta’s offensive line and expect another strong performance. With the keys handed over to Michel Penix Jr., the OL must do its part for the young quarterback.

13. Green Bay Packers – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 14

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Rasheed Walker / Anthony Belton *

LG Aaron Banks $

C Elgton Jenkins

RG Sean Rhyan / Jordan Morgan

RT Zach Tom

Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins anchor the re-worked Packers’ offensive line. Tom was outstanding last season, and Jenkins will move to center after a strong 2024. Both guys were better in protection, but Tom didn’t have the same split as Jenkins. Rasheed Walker returns at LT and also had a quality 2024 with a bigger-than-expected pass-run split. Second-round pick Anthony Belton could be in the mix if Walker’s play falls off at all.

Sean Rhyan had a productive season, starting all 17 games at RG ahead of last year’s first-round pick Jordan Morgan. It’s disappointing for Morgan and the front office that he made only one start, but there’s a chance he pushes Rhyan for the starting role in 2025. Aaron Banks is the projected lineup’s only new addition after turning in a solid 2024 campaign with the 49ers.

I had Green Bay’s offensive line right on the good/average line last season, given how much better the unit was in protection. Josh Jacobs made the team’s rushing numbers look good, but this unit was pushing the top 10 all season. Yes, there has been some shuffling with Jenkins moving to center and a new left guard, but the Packers’ offensive line shouldn’t hold the team back if they can be consistent in both phases.

14. Minnesota Vikings – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 12

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Christian Darrisaw / Justin Skule $

LG Donovan Jackson * / Blake Brandel

C Ryan Kelly $

RG Will Fries $

RT Brian O’Neill

Minnesota’s offensive line had an up-and-down 2024. Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL in Week 8, and the unit struggled until Cam Robinson got up to speed. Darrisaw was playing well before the injury and will be back for 2025, along with RT Brian O’Neill, who’s coming off a strong campaign.

The questions will be about the interior. Minnesota completely re-worked the middle three positions by signing two former Colts and drafting a guard in the first round. Ryan Kelly and Will Fries come over from Indianapolis at C and RG, respectively, and the Vikings took Donovan Jackson with the 24th overall pick. Kelly fought through multiple injuries to have a strong 10-game showing, and Fries was exceptional until a brutal Week 5 leg injury ended his season.

Assuming both veteran additions are healthy to start the year, this should be an improved group. I always preach continuity up front, but the experience of Kelly and Fries should negate how new they are to Minnesota. Also, be on the lookout for backup tackle Justin Skule, who provided quality relief last year in Tampa Bay. JJ McCarthy will be well protected in his first year as the starter.

15. Chicago Bears – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 27

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Braxton Jones / Ozzy Trapilo *

LG Joe Thuney $

C Drew Dalman $

RG Jonah Jackson $

RT Darnell Wright

Sticking with the NFC North…talk about offseason makeovers. Chicago’s offensive line was middle of the pack by the end of the season, but caught a lot of heat throughout 2024. Caleb Williams’ struggles were pinned on this unit, but the Bears’ dysfunction should catch most of the blame. Williams won’t have the OL as an excuse this season, as Chicago put a lot of work into protecting its quarterback.

I’ll start with the holdovers, Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright. Both tackles were above-average last season and could be long-term edge protectors for Chicago. Jones is coming off a late-season broken fibula, so rookie Ozzy Trapilo could see some time if Jones’ rehab is delayed.

It’s hard to say how big a fan I am of the moves Chicago made to revamp its interior offensive line. They signed Drew Dalman from Atlanta and traded for both Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. I’ve been a big Thuney guy since he was with the Patriots, and Dalman was a key piece for the Falcons’ OL last year. Jackson ended up as the odd man out for the Rams, but he reunites with his former offensive coordinator in Detroit, Ben Johnson.

Chicago has a lot of work to do to compete in the brutal NFC North, but this was the one obvious place to start offensively. The hype will be huge for the Bears’ offense. Hopefully, the OL will be up to the task.

16. San Francisco 49ers – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 2

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Trent Williams

LG Ben Bartch

C Jake Brendel / Matt Hennessy $

RG Dominick Puni

RT Colton McKivitz

I went out on a limb ranking the 49ers’ offensive line No. 2 heading into last season. That limb snapped off early, and I fell flat on my face. 2024 was the season from hell for San Francisco, so it’s not surprising that the offensive line struggled, but I didn’t expect as much of a drop-off.

Let’s start with the returning starters. Trent Williams is still a force and the anchor of this unit. He returns after an ankle injury ended his season early. Colton McKivitz is underrated since he plays opposite Williams, but he’s a quality edge protector on the right side. Jake Brendel was much better as a run blocker last season and can stabilize the interior, which went through some changes.

Ben Bartch takes over at LG after being inactive for most of 2024. He saw extended action in only one game, so it’s hard to expect a lot from him in 2025. However, the 49ers should expect a lot from second-year RG Dominick Puni. He had an impressive rookie season run blocking and was better than expected overall. I can’t in good conscience put San Francisco that high in this year’s rankings, but don’t be surprised if this unit sneaks up on you.

17. Cleveland Browns – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 4

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Dawand Jones / Cornelius Lucas $

LG Joel Bitonio

C Ethan Pocic

RG Wyatt Teller / Tevin Jenkins $

RT Jack Conklin

Big Dawand Jones has somehow been given the task of starting at LT after a miserable second season in 2024. Veteran Cornelius Lucas was brought in for insurance, and don’t be surprised if he relieves Jones at some point this year. Jack Conklin played well coming back from another serious injury, but can he make it through year 10?

The Browns’ interior is aging, and it finally started to show last year. Joel Bitonio has been the stalwart of this line for years, but his run blocking dipped in 2024. Wyatt Teller also dipped but was still effective. Ethan Pocic is coming off back-to-back solid seasons, but how much longer can this trio carry the unit?

Cleveland’s circus at quarterback made the entire team look bad in 2024. This unit remains an effective group, but having stability at center allows everyone to play better. They have a huge question mark at LT, which is the reason for the lower ranking, but I’ll never count out this unit.

18. Carolina Panthers – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 22

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Ikem Ekwonu

LG Damien Lewis

C Austin Corbett

RG Robert Hunt

RT Taylor Moton

Carolina’s OL ended up having a better-than-expected 2024, but had a big run-pass split, finishing 30th in ESPN’s pass block win rate and 10th in run block win rate. Bryce Young had his struggles, but things are looking up for him and the Panthers’ offense.

This group earns significant continuity points with the projected starting lineup remaining intact from a season ago. Other than Ikem Ekwonu, this is an older group with productive experience. Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt were new additions last season and performed well. Taylor Moton has been with the team since 2017 and anchors the unit.

Entering the second year of HC Dave Canales with Joe Gilbert as OL coach is also a positive. The Panthers are set to take a step forward in 2025. The OL was top-10 in YPC last season (No. 6 in Gap/Man runs), and if they figure out pass protection, then look out for Carolina to shock some people this year.

19. Kansas City Chiefs – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 15

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Josh Simmons *

LG Kingsley Suamataia / Mike Caliendo

C Creed Humphrey

RG Trey Smith

RT Jawaan Taylor / Wanya Morris

Stop me if you heard this before, but the Chiefs had a major LT problem in 2024. Kansas City quickly addressed this issue by taking Josh Simmons in the first round. If he makes it through all 17 games as a rookie, that’s an improvement for the Chiefs, but he’s obviously unproven in the NFL. Jawaan Taylor was better than expected in 2024, but he still hasn’t lived up to the big deal he got from Kansas City. Wanya Morris, one of the failed left tackles last season, returns to a backup role in 2025.

Kansas City has had one of the better interior offensive lines since 2021, when Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Joe Thuney all came to town. Humphrey continues to be arguably the league’s best center, and Smith returns on the franchise tag after a strong 2024. However, Thuney is now in Chicago. Kingsley Suamataia is projected to start at LG after also failing at LT last year.

The left side holds all the questions for Kansas City’s OL heading into 2025, but, like always, the Chiefs will probably find a way to win the AFC West and make the AFC Championship Game.

20. Dallas Cowboys – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 17

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Tyler Guyton

LG Tyler Smith

C Cooper Beebe / Brock Hoffman

RG Tyler Booker *

RT Terence Steele

The big change for Dallas is Zack Martin’s retirement. The long-time Cowboys RG retired after 11 seasons, and first-round rookie Tyler Booker is slated to take over. Cooper Beebe and Terence Steele will have to take care of the rookie as both were above-average last year, but was that a product of playing next to Martin?

Tyler Guyton has a lot to prove at LT. I thought he was a bit of a reach at the 29th overall pick, and was well below-average in 11 starts last season. Tyler Smith is now the stalwart of Dallas’ offensive line and played very well in his first full season at LG.

Surprisingly, the Cowboys finished 5th in ESPN’s run block win rate last year after gaining just the 6th-fewest rushing yards at 1,705. They also only scored six times on the ground. I don’t think this unit was as bad as the numbers reflected. Dak Prescott’s injury took a lot of juice out of the offense, but the offensive line was still capable. Booker’s early development will be critical to this unit’s success in 2025.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 19

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Walker Little / Fred Johnson $

LG Ezra Cleveland

C Robert Hainsey $

RG Patrick Mekari $ / Wyatt Milum *

RT Anton Harrison

Ezra Cleveland and Anton Harrison are the two returning starters from last year’s preview article. Both were better in protection and sufficient overall at LG and RT, respectively. Walker Little is projected to start at LT. He did well in both phases in eight starts last season, taking over for the traded Cam Robinson.

The significant changes come at C and RG as Mitch Morse retired, and Brandon Scherff is no longer with the team. Newly acquired Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey are slated to start at RG and C, and the new faces could cause some early issues for the interior. Hainsey has started a bunch of games over his four-year career in Tampa Bay, but was the backup last season. Mekari is one of my favorite linemen and should stabilize the right side once he’s up to speed. Third-round pick Wyatt Milum should compete for the next-man-in role.

2025 is a big season for the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence. The former first overall pick needs to bounce back with Liam Coen calling the plays, and that starts with protecting him. Jacksonville’s OL was in my “Mediocre” tier through the first 11 weeks, and it popped up to the “Good” tier after Lawrence went down in Week 13. Lawrence is still the future for the Jaguars, but this unit must be better than mediocre for the team to improve.

22. Las Vegas Raiders – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 20

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Kolton Miller

LG Dylan Parham

C Jackson Powers-Johnson

RG Alex Cappa $ / Caleb Rodgers *

RT DJ Glaze / Thayer Munford

The Raiders have undergone a significant overhaul this offseason, with a new head coach, general manager, and starting quarterback. I was pretty low on their offensive line all season after they gave up the 7th-most sacks (50) and gained the fewest rushing yards in the league (1,357). The sack total isn’t completely on the OL given the unit’s 17th ranking for pass block win rate on ESPN, but the group didn’t elevate their play enough to compensate for poor quarterbacking.

There has been some shuffling to the projected starting lineup, but this unit surprisingly has four starters coming back, which should bode well for Geno Smith.

Kolton Miller was a quality LT last year, performing well in both phases, though PFF tabbed him for allowing seven sacks. Dylan Parham moves to LG after a solid 2024 at RG, and second-year Jackson Powers-Johnson moves to C after 14 quality starts at LG. DJ Glaze (All-Name Team) took over for Thayer Munford at RT early last season and is set to return after a slightly above-average year.

Las Vegas’ weak link is likely in the newly acquired Alex Cappa. The veteran comes over after a flat-out bad year with the Bengals. I’m assuming Tom Brady is leaning on his experience with Cappa in Tampa Bay, but don’t be surprised if Cappa gets pushed by third-round pick Caleb Rodgers.

23. New England Patriots – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 32

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Will Campbell *

LG Cole Strange

C Garrett Bradbury $

RG Mike Onwenu

RT Morgan Moses $

2024 was a year of transition for the Patriots as Drake Maye established himself as the future of the franchise, and Jerod Mayo established himself as a bad head coach. New England will go as Maye goes, and they know it, so the team wisely invested in the offensive line and brought back experienced play-caller Josh McDaniels for his third stint as OC.

With three new additions (Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury, and Will Campbell), this unit will need to figure things out on the fly, but McDaniels’ downhill, gap-heavy running game should help.

Mike Onwenu was this group’s lone bright spot last season, and he shifts inside. Campbell was the best OL in this year’s draft, and should be fine despite the arm length concerns. Cole Strange is still the weak link, but on paper, this unit has improved significantly from its 32nd ranking heading into last season. Don’t be shocked by a slow start given the new faces, but New England’s OL should outperform expectations in 2025.

24. Tennessee Titans – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 24

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Dan Moore Jr. $ / Olisaemeka Udoh $

LG Pete Skoronski

C Lloyd Cushenberry / Brenden Jaimes $

RG Kevin Zeitler $

RT JC Latham

Tennessee had a mess of a 2024 season offensively. Many of the struggles were attributed to quarterback play, but the offensive line wasn’t great at the start of the season. The unit recovered later on, but remained firmly in my “Mediocre” tier for the entire season. I’m willing to chalk up the issues to learning a new system and OL coach in Bill Callahan, but they won’t get the same benefit of the doubt this year.

Dan Moore Jr. and veteran Kevin Zeitler come in from Pittsburgh and Detroit, respectively, and are projected to start at left tackle and right guard. In Year 13, Zeitler was still an impressive road grader in the run game for the Lions. Moore was just sufficient with the Steelers, but he was better than most of the group in Pittsburgh.

Moore’s arrival means second-year JC Latham moves to RT after starting all 17 games at LT. He’ll need to improve his run blocking, but the foundation is in place for a solid year two.

Something to watch is what happens at center. Lloyd Cushenberry had a rough season going before tearing his Achilles in early November. Tennessee brought in Brenden Jaimes from the Chargers as insurance, but Cushenberry was able to practice during the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Things should be moving in the right direction with Cam Ward taking over at quarterback. This re-worked unit will need to gel quickly to protect the rookie signal-caller. I’m putting a lot of faith in Callahan to coach this unit up.

25. New Orleans Saints – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 23

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Kelvin Banks Jr. * / Josh Ball

LG Trevor Penning / Nick Saldiveri

C Erik McCoy

RG Cesar Ruiz

RT Taliese Fuaga

A few big changes happened for the Saints’ OL this offseason. Stalwart Ryan Ramczyk retired after missing all of 2024 with a knee injury, and second-year Taliese Fuaga moves to RT. New Orleans also selected Texas’s Kelvin Banks Jr. with the ninth overall pick. Some, including me, thought this was too high for Banks, but New Orleans got its guy.

Fuaga performed well as a rookie at LT, but he moves back to his natural RT position, so expect him to take a step forward. Trevor Penning started all 17 games at RT for Ramczyk. He was better run blocking last year, and the Saints are kicking him inside to LG. That moves Nick Saldiveri to a backup role after a rough 2024. Eric McCoy and Cesar Ruiz return as starters. McCoy was having an exceptional season before multiple groin injuries caused him to miss 10 games.

Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough are starting a new era in New Orleans. Other than the unproven Banks, this offensive line has experience playing together. The shuffling of Fuaga and Penning shouldn’t cause any major issues. If they can stay healthy, this group has the potential to outperform expectations.

26. New York Jets – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 21

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Olu Fashanu

LG John Simpson

C Joe Tippmann

RG Alijah Vera-Tucker

RT Armand Membou * / Chukwuma Okorafor $

I’m going to take a moment to pat myself on the back for being right about New York’s offensive line in 2024, at least at the tackle positions. Many thought pairing this unit with an ageing quarterback would get the Jets over the hump, but that didn’t happen. The group finished 23rd and 29th in ESPN’s pass block win rate and run block win rate, respectively, and the 2024 season imploded early.

The Jets are starting over again with a new head coach and general manager, and will enter 2025 with a revamped unit up front. The interior was actually a bright spot for the Jets last season, and returns all three starters. They performed well enough in both phases, with John Simpson and Joe Tippmann starting all 17 games, while Alijah Vera-Tucker started 15.

The real issues were at tackle, as New York’s plan to bring in the ageing Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses didn’t work out. Moses has moved on to New England, and Smith has retired, and both underwhelmed last year. The bigger concern could be Olu Fashanu.

The second-year tackle is slated to start on the left side, but is coming off a rocky rookie season. Armand Membou, this year’s seventh overall pick, will get the chance to play right away that Fashanu didn’t, but he is obviously unproven in the NFL. Chuks Okorafor comes over from the 49ers as insurance, but hasn’t played well for multiple years.

Justin Fields will be better at avoiding pressure than Aaron Rodgers was last year, but could the Jets have similar problems on the edges, just with younger tackles?

27. Cincinnati Bengals – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 10

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Orlando Brown, Jr.

LG Dylan Fairchild * / Cordell Volson

C Ted Karras

RG Lucas Patrick $

RT Amarius Mims

Cincinnati’s defense rightfully caught the heat for keeping the Bengals out of the playoffs. An under-the-radar reason for Joe Burrow missing the postseason was his offensive line. I was high on this group heading into 2024, and no one played particularly well. Burrow covered up a lot of poor play, but that can’t be relied upon every season.

The good news for the Bengals is that three starters are returning in Orlando Brown, Ted Karras, and Amarius Mims. Brown played only 11 games thanks to a fractured fibula and had a down year, particularly in run blocking. Mims replaced Trent Brown after the veteran’s Week 3 knee injury and was adequate in his first year. However, the Bengals need more from Mims as a run blocker in year two. Karras was the best of the three and will need another strong year to solidify the interior.

The two new faces are veteran Lucas Patrick, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, and third-round pick Dylan Fairchild. Patrick played 11 games last year and is recovering from a knee injury, but managed to deliver a sufficient performance for the Saints in 2024. Fairchild wasn’t highly rated coming out of school, but is projected to start ahead of Cordell Volson.

28. Miami Dolphins – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 25

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Patrick Paul

LG James Daniels $ / Jackson Carman

C Aaron Brewer $

RG Jonah Savaiinaea * / Liam Eichenberg

RT Austin Jackson

A lot has changed for Miami’s offensive line this offseason. They completely re-worked the interior, adding James Daniels and Aaron Brewer via free agency, and drafting Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round. Daniels was playing well in Pittsburgh last year, but is coming off an early-season Achilles tear. Brewer was a bright spot in both phases for Tennessee in 2024, and Savaiinaea has versatility but is unproven.

The biggest concern for Miami’s OL is Terron Armstead’s retirement. He was still a solid producer in year 12, but his projected replacement, Patrick Paul, is far from capable. Austin Jackson returns from a torn meniscus, but he will need to improve on his very average performance last season.

Miami was disappointing overall in 2024, missing the playoffs for the first time under Mike McDaniel. The OL had some good moments, but an inability to run the ball put the pressure on Tua Tagovailoa and ultimately doomed the team. Tua’s health is an ongoing concern for the Dolphins, and they invested in his protection with three new interior players this offseason. This unit got an initial boost when he returned from injury last year, but its fade down the stretch makes me worry about 2025.

29. Pittsburgh Steelers – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 26

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Broderick Jones

LG Isaac Seumalo

C Zach Frazier

RG Mason McCormick

RT Troy Fautanu

The offseason focus was on Pittsburgh’s pursuit of Aaron Rodgers and the trade for DK Metcalf. Little to no attention was paid to the offensive line, and it was incredibly weak last season. The injury bug hit this OL hard, which is tough to overcome for any team, but the Steelers didn’t make any key additions in the offseason. This is a very young unit that could be in for a rude awakening blocking for a future Hall of Famer.

Troy Fautanu is slated to start at RT after his rookie year was quickly cut short by a dislocated kneecap. Fellow 2024 rookies Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick played well enough last season, so the Steelers could have three spots locked up for the foreseeable future. However, the weak link is still Broderick Jones. The 2023 first-round pick is approaching bust territory after struggling in both phases last year.

Pittsburgh has a nasty “veteran-youth” split, which could be stressed if Rodgers doesn’t play well or is constantly under duress. Bottom line, this unit was bad in both phases last season, and with no major upgrades, I expect them to struggle again. Prove me wrong, Steelers.

30. Seattle Seahawks – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 28

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Charles Cross

LG Grey Zabel * / Anthony Bradford

C Olu Oluwatimi

RG Christian Haynes

RT Abraham Lucas

Charles Cross was exceptional last season, but he was cancelled out by how much of a mess the rest of the unit was. Abraham Lucas and Olu Oluatimi were serviceable when on the field, but this group is very unproven heading into 2025.

The big addition is this year’s 18th overall pick, Grey Zabel. Cross and Zabel should keep Sam Darnold’s blindside well protected, but this unit can’t have the same roller coaster season that they did last year.

Seattle’s OL was all over the map for me in 2024, but they were clearly towards the bottom by the end of the season. The offense has undergone a significant overhaul, with the offensive coordinator, quarterback, and top receiver all departing. John Benton takes over as OL coach, which is another factor that could delay this unit’s development.

With a new era beginning in Seattle, will the offensive line be the unit that keeps this team out of the playoffs again?

31. New York Giants – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 31

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Andrew Thomas

LG Jon Runyan

C John Michael Schmitz

RG Greg Van Roten / Evan Neal

RT Jermaine Eluemunor

It’s pretty clear this is a make-or-break year for Brian Daboll and New York’s front office. There are enough weapons for the re-worked quarterback room to have success, but the Giants’ success will start and end with the offensive line.

The projected starting lineup remains the same as it was in 2024, with no major personnel changes to the unit. Like last year’s preview, Andrew Thomas is the rock of the Giants’ offensive line. However, he missed 11 games due to a Lisfranc injury, and the unit struggled in his absence.

The interior of Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, and Greg Van Roten returns, as does Jermain Eluemunor at RT. The most significant question mark is the disappointing Evan Neal, who’s kicking inside in hopes of salvaging his career.

New York dealt with poor quarterback play last season, which contributed to subpar offensive line grades, but this unit wasn’t great overall. Continuity is one of my major factors for a quality OL. The Giants have that, and a healthy Thomas will make this unit better, but they’ll have to prove it to me before they get the benefit of the doubt.

32. Houston Texans – 2024 Preseason Ranking – 13

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Cam Robinson $ / Aireontae Ersery *

LG Laken Tomlinson $ / Juice Scruggs

C Jarrett Patterson / Jake Andrews $

RG Tytus Howard

RT Blake Fisher / Trent Brown $

I thought the Texans had a good mix of youth and veterans heading into 2024, but any promising signs were quickly cast aside, and Houston’s offensive line ended the season as one of the league’s worst. CJ Stroud’s year two regression led to a lot of changes up front for Houston, with Laremy Tunsil’s departure leading the way.

Veteran Cam Robinson comes over after splitting a solid season between Jacksonville and Minnesota. Second-year Blake Fisher is slated to start at RT as Tytus Howard kicks inside full time. Fisher was below average as a rookie, and Howard was my main culprit for Houston’s OL issues last year. Laken Tomlinson takes over at LG after one average season with Seattle, and the Texans invested a second-round pick in Aireontae Ersery, so expect him to get some time if either of the projected starters struggles.

Houston essentially brought in anyone it could find this offseason in hopes of piecing together a competent offensive line, which is why I included so many guys in the lineup projection. The Texans had everything they needed to compete for an AFC title last year, but their offensive line let them down when it mattered most. I can’t put much faith in this group until they take the field, but I don’t blame the Texans for making significant changes.

The Washington Commanders went from a 4-13 team in 2023 to a 12-5 team that made the NFC championship game in 2024.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was the driving force in the Commanders’ rapid improvement. He enjoyed one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, completing 69% of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions while making plenty of plays via his excellent scrambling ability.

The No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will now look to take Washington somewhere it hasn’t been since the 1991 NFL playoffs: the Super Bowl.

The Commanders loaded up around Daniels in the hopes of making a Super Bowl run. Notably, the team traded for a couple of veterans to improve their offense. Washington first traded for San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel to serve as a do-it-all complement across from Terry McLaurin; then, it traded for Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who is one of the best pass blockers in the NFL.

Will that be enough for the Commanders to improve upon their 2024 results? Washington is facing a tougher schedule, but it should still have a chance to perform well.

Below is a look at the Commanders’ schedule for 2025 and a prediction of who they’ll fare during the season.

Washington Commanders schedule 2025

All times are Eastern.

Commanders record prediction 2025

Record prediction: 10-7

The Commanders should be good once again in 2025, but they shouldn’t necessarily be expected to improve upon their record this season.

Washington ranks 19th in strength of schedule for the 2025 NFL season, per Sharp Football Analysis. That means they will play what projects to be a tougher-than-average schedule.

Comparatively, the Commanders benefitted from playing the NFL’s easiest schedule during the 2024 season. That was part of why they were able to log such a significant improvement from season-to-season.

The tougher schedule shouldn’t completely undo Washington’s progress. The Commanders still have Daniels, who flashed MVP potential as a rookie, and improved his supporting cast. That should allow both Daniels and Washington to take a step forward toward being a Super Bowl contender.

But unless the Commanders can fare better than expected in road matchups against five playoff teams from last season – the Chargers, Chiefs, Eagles, Packers and Vikings – they are likely to finish with a worse regular-season record than they did last year.

Commanders opponents 2025

Below is a full list of Washington’s opponents for the upcoming season.

Home

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Road

Open Extended Reactions

The first wave of the 2025 NFL free agency cycle brought a lot of movement. A few standout veterans found new homes — including edge rusher Josh Sweat (Cardinals) and quarterback Sam Darnold (Seahawks) — while others stayed put with extensions. Now that free agency has slowed down and the 2025 NFL draft is exactly one month away, we’re restacking all 32 teams based off the moves each has made this offseason.

Has the addition of quarterback Geno Smith affected the Raiders’ standing in our Power Rankings? Did the 49ers’ roster purge impact their place in the NFC?

In addition to our post-free agency rankings, NFL Nation reporters offered up an under-the-radar move made by the team they cover. These moves range from re-signings and signings to coach hirings. Let’s start with the No. 1 spot.

Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.

Previous ranking: Post-Super Bowl

Jump to a team:

ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN

CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND

JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN

NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF

SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

Way-too-early ranking: 1

Under-the-radar move: Signing running back Elijah Mitchell

The addition of Mitchell didn’t cost the Chiefs much (a little over $2 million on a one-year deal) and if he’s healthy, he gives the the team speed out of the backfield. That’s been hard to find for Kansas City lately, as it lacked a breakaway threat at running back last season. Mitchell offers a nice contrast to Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs’ other top backs. — Adam Teicher

Way-too-early ranking: 4

Under-the-radar move: Changing the quarterback depth chart

The Eagles traded Kenny Pickett to the Browns for a 2025 fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. This likely means 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee will ascend to the No. 2 spot behind Jalen Hurts. McKee has earned the promotion by impressing in practice and maximizing his limited opportunities. He went 30-of-45 (67%) for 323 yards with four touchdowns to no interceptions in two games last season. Philadelphia showed some interest in Thompson-Robinson before the 2023 draft and will now have the chance to help grow his game behind the scenes. — Tim McManus

Way-too-early ranking: 3

Under-the-radar move: Hiring running backs coach Tashard Choice

The Lions have completely revamped their coaching staff after eight assistants left to take new positions in the offseason. Choice will enter his first season as the Lions’ new running backs coach, and Scottie Montgomery will change to wide receivers and assistant head coach. The addition of Choice is huge for Jahmyr Gibbs, who led the NFL in touchdowns (20) in 2024. Choice coached Gibbs at Georgia Tech from 2020 to ’21 and the two developed a close relationship. — Eric Woodyard

Way-too-early ranking: 2

Under-the-radar move: Re-signing running back Ty Johnson

The Bills made a variety of moves to retain their own, and keeping Johnson on a two-year deal benefits the offense as a whole and gives the team some insurance in 2026. Johnson complemented James Cook, along with rookie Ray Davis, and earned a role as the team’s go-to third-down running back. Cook will be a free agent next offseason, so it benefits the team to have another member of the room under contract for multiple years. — Alaina Getzenberg

Way-too-early ranking: 5

Under-the-radar move: Re-signing fullback Patrick Ricard

The headliners of the Ravens’ free agent class have been offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, but the return of Ricard on a one-year, $2.87 million deal is key to Baltimore’s smashmouth identity. He received the nickname “Pancake Pat” for putting so many defenders on their backs. With Ricard as the lead blocker last season, the Ravens averaged 5.8 yards per carry, which was the best in a single season in NFL history.

In six seasons as Baltimore’s fullback, Ricard has helped four running backs (Gus Edwards, Mark Ingram, J.K. Dobbins and Derrick Henry) produce over 800 rushing yards in a single season. — Jamison Hensley

Way-too-early ranking: 6

Under-the-radar move: Re-signing tight end John Bates

Bates is not a dynamic pass-catcher — he has 61 career receptions over four seasons, including eight last season. But the Commanders made it a priority to keep him around because of his blocking ability. Coaches had talked in the past about his unique ability to handle defensive ends when needed in pass protection, which is a rarity among modern tight ends. Bates might not catch more than 10 passes this season, but his value remains high. — John Keim

Cooper Flagg is unlike your traditional presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Most top prospects go No. 1 because of their scoring. While Flagg — the Duke star who will be back on the court in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon — certainly provides his fair share, it’s far from his selling point. Most rookies enter the NBA as defensive projects. With the exception of Victor Wembanyama (who is an anomaly in every sense of the word), Flagg is probably the most polished defensive prospect of the decade. He’ll enter the NBA as a fairly advanced playmaker for his position with a jump shot that’s improving rapidly. He’s even hinted at bucking at recent NBA convention by eschewing the one-and-done path and remaining at Duke for another year.

Now, that little bit of rebellion almost certainly won’t come to pass. It would be financially irresponsible regardless of how much NIL money he can rake in at Duke. Top prospects don’t go one-and-done to start making rookie salaries right away. They do it to start the clock toward their second contract, the one that can pay them market rate, which they can sign after their third season and kicks in after their fourth. Every year Flagg spends at Duke is a year longer he has to wait to start making 25% of the cap. This season, that’s over $35 million. Factor in 10% annual cap growth and the possibility that he gets the 30% Rose Rule bump, and his fifth-year salary might even be above $50 million. His camp is aware of this. They’ll almost certainly steer him toward the NBA as soon as possible for that reason.

So we can assume that Flagg will be on the table at No. 1 this June. The better question then becomes, where should he go? He doesn’t have a choice in the matter, of course. He’ll go where the ping pong balls send him. But considering what an unconventional prospect we’re dealing with, it’s reasonable to say that Flagg wouldn’t thrive under the same conditions as a standard No. 1 pick. Put an elite scoring prospect on a barren team like, say, the Wizards, and he’ll shoot his way to stardom. Flagg is best-suited to a different sort of environment.

Ideally, he would go somewhere with a top scorer already in place, so his offense can develop slowly. It should be a team with some measure of frontcourt flexibility. Flagg’s assumed position is power forward. In certain contexts, the 6-foot-9 Flagg could plausibly make sense at small forward or, down the line, even center. If a team has core players locked in at those positions, it limits his upside. And, given how well-rounded his game already is, we probably want him on a winner sooner rather than later if possible. This isn’t a necessity. Most star rookies start on bad teams, but most star rookies are meant to start on bad teams. They have kinks to work out over the course of a few low-leverage seasons. Flagg is ready to win now.

So with all of that in mind, these are the best fits for Flagg in the lottery right now. We’re going to draw a cutoff at No. 10. This might seem ironic a year after Atlanta jumped from No. 11 to No. 1, but we want to cover the teams with stronger odds of landing Flagg rather than just sticking him on the best non-playoff teams. So, with that in mind, let’s start at No. 5.

Current odds for No. 1 pick: 2%

The Blazers are in a few ways the Flagg of this crop of rebuilding teams. They don’t have a traditional star-caliber prospect yet, but they’ve done a wonderful job of accumulating young and versatile role players. Rarely do lottery teams have All-Defense candidates, but Toumani Camara has a case. Deni Avdija does a little bit of everything and is locked into a very favorable deal for the next three years. Donovan Clingan is the long-term answer at center, but isn’t going to garner so much playing time that Flagg would never have a chance to play center. He wouldn’t need to as a rookie because Deandre Ayton will be playing out the final year of his contract, but it’s an option available to experiment with after that.

The question here is who Portland’s primary scorer is going to be. That’s a bit more complicated. Anfernee Simons does that now. Next year is the last of his contract, and he’s really more of a secondary scorer in a perfect situation anyway, and he’s probably a trade candidate regardless.

How about Scoot Henderson? The No. 3 overall pick in 2023 is starting to figure things out. The ultra-athletic point guard has nine 20-point games this season, with eight of them coming since January. He’s starting to make 3s somewhat consistently lately, and having a forward like Flagg that can space the floor a bit and develop a two-man game with him stands to benefit both. Henderson’s incredible speed is going to draw defenders with him, creating more room to Flagg operate with as a roller.

Henderson isn’t a surefire star, and the Blazers aren’t a conventional rebuilder. This is a team mature beyond its years, much like Flagg. While there’s more upside elsewhere, there’s something fitting about slotting him onto a team full of grown-ups. He could play meaningful basketball as a rookie here. That’s just not going to be true somewhere like Washington.

Current odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

Several Charlotte regimes have tried to translate the region’s love for college basketball into enduring love for state’s lone NBA team. The Bobcats once drafted two North Carolina Tar Heels in the same lottery back in 2005 (Raymond Felton and Sean May). Fellow-UNC legend Tyler Hansbrough ended his brief NBA career with the Hornets. There are 23 active NBA players from Duke and three of them (Mark Williams, Seth Curry and Wendell Moore Jr.) are on the Hornets’ roster. It’s never stuck. Flagg is better than any of them. Maybe he could pull it off.

The Hornets, today, are a mess. They have the NBA’s 29th-ranked offense, but the tools are there for quick improvement. Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, will play only 27 games this season. LaMelo Ball carries the bulk of the Charlotte offense, and he and Flagg would benefit from a partnership. Flagg needs to limit his usage early on. Ball soaks up possessions like few players in all of basketball. Ball also plays a style that we can charitably call unstructured and thus far not conducive to winning. Ideally, he needs to be surrounded with veterans that can help keep him on script. Flagg is the rare rookie who fits that mold.

A Ball-Flagg-Miller trio would be the most talented core Charlotte has had since the Alonzo Mourning-Larry Johnson days, and the new Jeff Peterson-led front office has thus far managed its rebuild fairly well. They haven’t rushed. They’ve turned veterans like Terry Rozier and P.J. Washington into valuable picks. They’re set up for cap space in the strong free agent class of 2026. There’s potential for a quick turnaround here with the right lottery pick. In a perfect world for them, that would be Flagg.

Current odds for No. 1 pick: 14%

The Jazz don’t have the sort of obvious young stars on Flagg’s timeline that the Hornets have. They don’t have Portland’s depth of role players either, and they certainly lack the win-now promise the top two teams on these rankings possess. What they have, more than any other team that’s realistically in play for Flagg, is malleability.

Only the Thunder rival the Jazz in terms of incoming draft picks. Utah has enough firepower to trade for virtually any sort of teammate Flagg might need. Perhaps more importantly, the Jazz have a lead basketball executive in Danny Ainge that has put together multiple champions. It might take a little while to get going, but Flagg’s career would be in good hands in Utah. Given the limited track record of most of the other front offices in this lottery, that can’t be assured in many other places. It would, in essence, reflect the situation Victor Wembanyama entered two years ago: a mostly blank slate with a smart front office. That’s worked out quite well for him thus far.

So what about the current core? In Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler and John Collins, the Jazz theoretically already have all three starting front-court slots filled. That isn’t a bad thing, though. The three of them are wildly different sorts of players. Markkanen is a shooter and on-ball creator. Collins is a roller and rim scorer. Kessler is a star rim-protector on defense. Having all of those pieces in place gives the Jazz room to experiment with what sort of teammates fit Flagg best. Collins — on an expiring deal next season assuming he picks up his player option — is the easiest to get off of if necessary. With Markkanen now on a long-term extension, he could be traded for significant value as well if need be.

His rookie season would be an experiment, and it would give the Jazz time to figure out the backcourt. Keyonte George has put up numbers in a no-pressure situation. Can he be more efficient and improve his decision-making on a team with actual ambition? Can Isaiah Collier’s scoring rise to the level of his playmaking? These are questions to be answered with time, but Utah’s hilarious surplus of draft picks almost renders them pointless. Either they have the guards they’ll need or they can just go get them. Few other teams can say the same.

Current odds for No. 1 pick: 9.0%

Be honest: your instinct is to fixate on the scary contracts owed to Joel Embiid and Paul George right now, isn’t it? Pretend they don’t exist for a moment. Philadelphia still has Tyrese Maxey, the best guard plausibly available to Flagg as a teammate next season. He’s plenty capable of soaking up possessions early in Flagg’s career while slowly ceding usage depending on how far Flagg winds up going. He’s a stellar 3-point shooter, perfectly capable of operating off of the ball, and his experience with Embiid has taught him a number of tricks that would benefit Flagg. He knows how to modulate his pace to facilitate a bigger ball-handler and shooter, but he also knows how turn on the jets to bend a defense in favorable ways.

Now let’s reintroduce Embiid and George back into the equation. Even if their health isn’t dependable, the 76ers currently have max players at center and small forward. They have one at point guard as well, and they have not only stellar No. 16 overall pick (and former Duke Blue Devil) Jared McCain at shooting guard, but breakout deadline addition Quentin Grimes as well. If healthy, this team has everything except a power forward. There isn’t an easier lineup to slide Flagg into, and his presence could feasibly make it easier to keep Embiid and George healthy moving forward. It’s a lot easier to limit Embiid to 25 minutes a night if Flagg is on the floor for the minutes he rests.

Daryl Morey’s stock as a general manager is lower today than it’s ever been. But this is his 18th season as a lead basketball decision-maker, and it will be his first below .500. Flagg wouldn’t be stuck in an ugly rebuild here, as bad as this season has been. He’d be joining a team with at least one other foundational player, possibly a few more, and a general manager with a history of building winners.

Current odds for No. 1 pick: 4.5%

I mean… what who were you expecting? Wembanyama and Flagg together might be checkmate for every team besides Oklahoma City for the next decade. They’re about as perfect a fit together as you can ask out of two big men. Wembanyama is, obviously, a generational rim-protector. Flagg is going to wind up playing some center in the NBA, but he’s best-suited covering more ground on the perimeter as a forward. Well, he can go nuts knowing Wembanyama is behind him.

Stephon Castle is an incredibly athletic, high-IQ young guard. His potential is limited only by his poor shooting. You know how maximize a guard who can’t shoot 3s? By pairing him with big men that can. Flagg and Wembanyama would help get the most out of Castle. We haven’t even mentioned De’Aaron Fox, the All-Star point guard they just traded for last month. He’d be the adult hand on the wheel while the youngsters figure things out.

Speaking of which, Chris Paul is on the team this season. The Spurs would be incentivized to bring him back next season. Aside from the fact that he hasn’t missed a game this year, he also has a remarkable track record of developing young stars. His fingerprints are all over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ascension to superstardom. The same is true for Devin Booker. He’s even worked with an athletically gifted and ultra-versatile power forward in Blake Griffin. Any team that employs Flagg would want to send him to the Chris Paul finishing school for young stars. The Spurs actually have him.

The people who built their five champions may be getting long in the tooth, but they’re still in the building. These are the people you want to entrust with a talent like Flagg’s. Assuming Wembanyama comes back healthy next season, he and Flagg would be one of the most promising young front courts in NBA history. They’d start competing for rings before long. The Spurs are our no-brainer No. 1.

Why do the _____ miss out?

Obviously, we covered five of the teams currently projected to pick in the top 11. What about the others? Here’s a lightning-round explanation on why they missed out: