One factor fans might want to consider ahead of the new NFL season is which teams will have the best offensive lines in 2023.
Unlike some other football positions, offensive linemen must work together as a unit. It’s not always enough to have one or two good players in that position. The NFL’s best teams this year could be the teams with the best offensive lines in 2023.
Ranking of the best offensive lines in 2023
But which teams currently have the best NFL offensive lines? That took a bit of work because we had to factor in things like depth, star strength and experience, not to mention the offensive lines that don’t commit a lot of penalties or fouls in football games.
With these factors in mind, we ranked the 10 offensive lines in the NFL for the 2023 season with the expectation that they could be among the best teams in the league this season.
10. 49ers
The quarterback situation may be unclear for the 49ers, but whoever is playing that position should be well protected. Left tackle Trent Williams is still the best in the business and anchors the entire line.
The rest of the squad is young, but Colton McKivitz and Jake Brendel have played well enough to earn contract extensions with the team. Veteran Jon Feliciano is also on hand, providing depth, flexibility and leadership.
9. Broncos
Admittedly, the offensive line has been a problem for Denver in recent years, including last season when Russell Wilson was fired 55 times — as many as the league. However, Garett Bolles’ injury in Week 5 explains some of the team’s problems.
The Broncos have also made some money this offseason, signing Ben Powers as left guard and Mike McGlinchey as right tackle. With these two on board and Bolles healthy they are in much better shape. If young players Quinn Meinerz and Lloyd Cushenberry can make a step forward, Denver’s offensive line has the potential to become something special.
8. Ravens
The Ravens should have one of the best offensive lines in 2023 if they’re going to keep football’s highest-paid player on their feet. Fortunately, center Tyler Linderbaum had a great rookie season after being selected in the first round of the draft last year. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is a former Pro Bowler while Morgan Moses is a strong right tackle.
While the Ravens lack elite talent, they are solid in the three most important positions. Kevin Zeitler also provides them with an experienced guard next to Moses on the right. Baltimore also has good depth of play, although the left-back remains a question mark early in the season.
7. Packers
Even though they’re no longer protecting Aaron Rodgers, the Packers still have a talented offensive line. David Bakhtiari’s CV speaks for itself, he just needs to stay healthy.
The Packers have also used a lot of draft capital on offense in recent years. Left-back Elgton Jenkins has been to the Pro Bowl twice in the last three years, so this side is in great shape. Green Bay also has talented plays starring Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom and Sean Rhyan to complement the rest of the series.
6. Chiefs
With a quarterback this valuable, the Chiefs have to be strong up front. While they lost Orlando Brown Jr. as a left tackle in free agency, they replaced him with Donovan Smith, also a Super Bowl champion with over 120 career starts.
Also on the left side of the line are Joe Thuney and Creed Humphrey, both of whom were Pro Bowlers last year. Meanwhile, right guard Trey Smith comes on the scene, while the Chiefs paid big bucks for a right tackle on Jawaan Taylor to solidify an offensive line that was a major liability just a few years ago.
5. Shades of brown
Thanks to one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, Nick Chubb has been able to let off steam in recent years. That probably won’t change for the Browns in 2023.
Right tackle Jack Conklin is an above-average performer, while left guard Joel Bitonio is currently one of the best linemen in the league. Right-back Wyatt Teller is almost as good, making the Pro Bowl in back-to-back seasons.
The Browns also appear to have a goalie at center as Ethan Pocic received a contract extension earlier in the year. Finally, the Browns have former top 10 pick Jedrick Wills on the all-important left tackle position, who is beginning to harmonize with the rest of the unit.
4. Cowboys
The Cowboys always seem to have a talented offensive line, and the 2023 season will be no different. Left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin have 16 Pro Bowl selections combined. Center Tyler Biadasz also received his first Pro Bowl selection last year.
Of course, the Cowboys also have high expectations for left-back Tyler Smith, their first-round pick in 2022. Obviously, age is starting to be an issue for Martin and Tyron Smith. But the Cowboys have dedicated several draft picks to the offensive line in recent years, giving them plenty of depth.
3. lions
Detroit’s success in 2022 was thanks in part to a strong offense. When he was healthy, Taylor Decker was one of the most reliable left tackles in the NFL and has nearly 100 career starts. At the other tackle position, Penei Sewell is a rising star as the seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft went to the Pro Bowl last year.
Meanwhile, center Frank Ragnow, another former first-round pick, has been in the Pro Bowl twice in the past three seasons. The Lions have also done a good job deepening the inside positions of their offensive line to further strengthen that unity.
2. Falcons
While the Falcons face many questions ahead of the new season, they should have one of the best offensive lines in 2023. Atlanta is expected to have three first-round picks that will start with left tackle Jake Matthews, right guard Chris Lindstrom and right tackle Kaleb McGary.
Both Matthews and McGary are rock solid physically, while Lindstrom’s position is one of the best in the NFL. Even rookie Matthew Bergeron was a second-round pick with first-round potential. He played left tackle in college at Syracuse and would be an instant asset as a guard.
With center Drew Dalman entering his third season in the league, the Falcons should be able to push people around up front.
1. Eagle
The Eagles have set a good example for other teams when it comes to building a strong offensive line. They have veterans Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce as right tackle and center, respectively. These two bring a lot of experience and leadership to the table, but both are also having one of their best seasons, which is a big reason Philadelphia reached the Super Bowl last year.
The Eagles also hit the jackpot a few years ago in the seventh round when they signed Jordan Mailata, who is now one of the best left tackles in the league. The Eagles are a bit younger in the guard positions but still have plenty of talent. Landon Dickerson was an All-American in college and is making his first Pro Bowl debut in his sophomore year in the league. Philly has another former Alabama lineman in right-back rookie Anthony Steen.
Obviously, he’s far from safe. But because the Eagles have above-average players on the other four offensive line positions, they can roll with a rookie and still have the best offensive line in the NFL.
