Underrated Offensive Lines

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The word underrated gets thrown around, especially in fantasy football circles. The offensive line is already an underrated position in football. There are few flashy stats compared to skill positions and even IDP defenders. When an offensive lineman gets his name called during a broadcast, it's usually a penalty. The best lines are known factors and have been for years. These teams have their cast-offs picked through after cuts. These programs have an abundance of riches, and they live in the top 10 of the rankings.

What does it mean to be underrated? For this article, there are two types of underrated. First, teams that the public underrates. These lines have a respectable ranking, maybe even a high one, but casual NFL fans don't know about them (yet). These teams could easily find their way to the top of the rankings if they aren't ranked there already. Then there are teams that my model underrates, perhaps too harshly. The model rewards consistency. Admitting a total rebuild and replacing most of the starters from last year will never result in a high Week 1 rating. But while many of these rebuilds will be disasters, some of these rebuilds will work. If these underrated groups avoid injury, they could achieve high rankings just in time for fantasy playoffs. And just for fun, I'm picking one longshot line to make an unlikely jump. The full rankings follow.

Underrated by the Public

Detroit - 4th

Center Frank Ragnow has been mauling all preseason. The tackles of Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell have been excellent in pass protection. Not even the fourth-ranked line is perfect, as right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai can lose in pass protection. But still, the 2022 Lions are the classic example of an offensive line that grades way better than the casual public realizes.

Denver - 11th

In nearly ten years covering offensive lines for footballguys, I've never seen a situation where a highly paid star guard like Graham Glasgow rides the pine simply because two younger, better players came along. Dalton Risner, Quinn Meinerz, and Glasgow have to be the best guard depth in the league. It also speaks to the importance of depth that there was no discussion of trading Glasgow.

Washington - 12th

Despite losing Brandon Scherff to free agency, the Commanders brought in veteran guards Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner to compete with Wes Schweitzer. These players should acclimate quickly. Charles Leno has been excellent at left tackle, and right tackle Sam Cosmi has taken a step up this summer. Getting center Chase Roullier back from a broken leg has been immense. It all adds up to a borderline top-ten ranking from a squad most casual fans have written off.

LA Chargers - 15th

When left tackle Rashawn Slater made all-pro as a rookie last year, along with free agent center Corey Linsley, people started to the Chargers' line. This year's draft pick Zion Johnson (first-round, Boston College) projects as a David Decastro-level instant starter and should be the third star in the group. The situation at right tackle, where Trey Pipkins just nudged out Storm Norton in the preseason, is the only difference between a top-15 and a top-10 rating.

Minnesota - 18th

Most sources have this Vikings' line as poor. Looking at the struggles of center Garrett Bradbury last year, it's easy to see why. Still, the team has Chris Reed and Austin Schlottman waiting if Bradbury doesn't improve. But on the plus side, left tackle Christian Darrisaw and rookie right guard Ed Ingram are early in their respective developments. Ingram has been outstanding this preseason, winning the job from Jesse Davis so decisively that the team traded Davis to Pittsburgh on cut-down day. And Darrisaw could be a Pro Bowler. Brian O'Neill has always been a divisive player, but this group could change from a weakness to a strength.

Underrated by the Model

Cincinnati - 21st

Left tackle Jonah Williams is the only returner from last year's AFC Championship squad. When a team replaces four starters from last year, that signals to the model that there's a problem. Great lines don't replace all their starters, and it usually takes time for the new group to gel. Still, something is appealing about this new-look Bengals line. The free agents of Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La'el Collins are sure bets to pick up the playbook and start quickly. And the story of rookie left guard Cordell Volson (fourth round, North Dakota State) beating out last year's top-50 pick Jackson Carman is inspirational. In Volson, the coaches found the missing ingredient. A quick rise in the rankings over the season's first month feels predictable.

Miami - 22nd

The amount of shuffling in Miami this offseason has been epic, as only right guard Robert Hunt returns starting in the same spot as last season. Right tackle Austin Jackson has been a bounce-back candidate as he looks comfortable in the new run scheme, and Connor Williams has converted to center without issue. Liam Eichenberg isn't someone the coaches have to worry about at left guard. But the key to everything is left tackle Terron Armstead. If Armstead can be his usual Pro Bowl self and avoid injury, this line will grade closer to average, despite all the upheaval.

NY Jets - 24th

It seems stupid to penalize Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson for not having cohesion with his new teammates. He arrived from San Francisco playing the same offensive system and has been mauling all preseason. He looks like he's been in NY for years. But the model has rules about new players on new teams, which penalizes Tomlinson, as it does new left tackle Duane Brown. The line lost upside when Mekhi Becton got injured, but it gained technique when Brown arrived late in the summer. The lack of depth is scary, as is their per capita expenditure, but the Jets' line should be at least solid, barring injury.

Carolina - 26th

Right tackle Taylor Moton is the only starter returning from last year, and while Moton has been a stalwart player, the model hates that scorched-earth level of change. Still, there's aggression around this group that belies their lowly ranking. The left-side tandem of rookie Ikem Ekwonu (first round, NC State) and Brady Christensen could be fun to watch in the run game. Free agent center Bradley Bozeman and right guard Austin Corbett play with quiet confidence. Their current ranking is poor, but there's a genuine pathway to mediocrity here.

Jacksonville - 28th

The arrival of Brandon Scherff at right guard should be an excellent addition to not just their offense but the entire franchise. This line will always have a chance with Scherff in the lineup. That's the good news. The concern is at center, where third-round rookie Luke Fortner (Kentucky) will jump into action, ready or not. Tyler Shatley could replace Fortner or unproven left guard Ben Bartch. But if the youth can survive Week 1 against Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and others, this line has the potential to rise in the rankings.

Longshot

Chicago - 29th

Searching "Bears Offensive Line" brings up a variety of colorful adjectives, none positive. Most sources regard the Bears as rebuilding and generally terrible. But watching this unlikely group come together over the summer has been fun. Famous free agents like Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield arrived to save the day, then lost their jobs to prospects. Of all the rookies in the league to start Week 1, Braxton Jones (fifth-round, Southern Utah) is the one I'm most excited to see. Jones came from a small school program and dominated the left tackle position. He's been a revelation "from out of nowhere," and many great careers start this way. Jones' emergence has allowed Teven Jenkins to move to right guard, where he played well enough that the team cut Schofield. Yes, they picked up Alex Leatherwood, which is not the behavior of a premium offensive line group. But, still, I'm saying the unthinkable: this Bears' line could be decent.

FULL RANKINGS

The below chart is accurate as of press time. Here are the up-to-date Offensive Line Rankings.