As a new feature in the 2022 Sharp Football Preview Book, the Sharp Football Analysis team ranked positional units across the league for the 2022 season.

The ranking guidelines were up to the specific voter with the only requirement that the focus is on the upcoming season only, not the future outlook.

With a combination of numbers, film, and projections, the rankings were averaged for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends, defensive front seven, defensive secondary, and head coach.

First up: 2022 NFL Offensive Line rankings. The entire unit was considered on the offensive line, not just the starters.

Quarterbacks | Wide Receivers/Tight Ends | Running Backs | Offensive Line | Front 7 | Secondary

2022 NFL Offensive Line Rankings, by Unit

Score based off average ranks of positional unit (on a 100 point scale) for all 32 teams, from Sharp Football staff voters. If all voters had a team at #1, that score would be 100. 

What team has the best offensive line in the NFL?

32. Chicago Bears

Our 32nd-ranked offensive line is anchored by two second-year tackles, Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins. Their youth provides some hope, but protecting a developing quarterback with such inexperienced linemen is a questionable risk.

31. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta made the questionable decision to bring back the entirety of one of the league’s worst offensive lines. This unit allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 28% of dropbacks, which ranked 31st. Veteran Germain Ifedi and sixth-round rookie Justin Shaffer are the only additions to provide some small hope of improvement.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh’s offensive line provided three or more rushing yards before contact at the league’s second-lowest rate. In terms of pass protection, Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to anticipate blitzes and get the ball out quickly covered up a lot of warts. With either Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett at quarterback, this unit will look even worse this season.

29. Houston Texans

The addition of rookie Kenyon Green and free agent A.J. Cann shakes things up a little, but this remains one of the league’s worst offensive line units. Houston ball carriers were contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage on 52% of their carries, the league’s worst rate.

28. Tennessee Titans

The right side of the Titans’ offensive line ranked 28th in pressure rate allowed a season ago, but Tennessee elected not to make any significant changes other than to let right tackle David Quessenberry walk. If Dillon Radunz doesn’t at least match Quessenberry’s mediocre play, this unit could be a mess.

27. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle’s offensive line has been a mess in recent years. Three new starters could turn things around, although relying on two rookies 一 Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas 一 at the tackle spots is a risky strategy in the short term.

26. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings’ offensive line will likely start five players drafted in the first or second round since 2019. The key to the unit’s development could be Christian Darrisaw’s ability to improve in pass protection. Darrisaw ranked 25th out of 34 left tackles in pressure rate allowed.

25. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders did virtually nothing to address the offensive line, with third-round pick Dylan Parham being the most notable addition. Brandon Parker ranked 35th out of 37 right tackles in pressure rate allowed and will compete for the job with Alex Leatherwood, who ranked 33rd out of 33 right guards in pressure rate allowed last season.

24. Miami Dolphins

Miami tried to build an offensive line through the draft and failed miserably. Last year’s unit allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less at the fourth-highest rate (27%). The additions of Terron Armstead and Connor Williams should make an impact, assuming Armstead can stay healthy.

23. New York Giants

The Giants’ offensive line made significant improvements last year. The unit provided at least three untouched yards on 27% of rushing attempts, the league’s 11th best rate. If rookie Evan Neal makes an instant impact, it’s possible we’ve underrated this group.

22. Carolina Panthers

The addition of rookie Ikem Ekwonu provides a significant boost to the offensive line. Carolina’s left tackles allowed a 7.8% pressure rate last season, ranked 30th. We ranked this unit 29th overall last year, but Ekwonu should push the offensive line towards the league average.

21. Arizona Cardinals

We were optimistic about Arizona’s restructured offensive line last offseason (the unit ranked 13th), but it failed to pan out. Arizona quarterbacks were pressured in 2.5 seconds or less on 26% of dropbacks, the league’s fourth-highest rate. The unit mostly remains intact, with Will Hernandez the lone newcomer.

20. New York Jets

It would be easier to rank the Jets’ offensive line if we knew the status of Mekhi Becton. Votes ranged from 14th to 25th, which is probably an accurate representation of possible outcomes for this unit. Excluding short-yardage situations, the Jets’ offensive line helped pave the way for 1.2 rushing yards before contact, ranked 26th.

19. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars’ offensive line allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less at the 12th lowest rate. The addition of Brandon Scherff should improve an already respectable unit. 

18. New Orleans Saints

Seven offensive linemen played at least 300 snaps for the Saints last season, with six returning. Unfortunately, the downgrade from Terron Armstead to Trevor Penning has the potential to set this unit back, at least in the short term. The Saints allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 20% of dropbacks, ranked 14th.

17. New England Patriots

It was tough to evaluate the Patriots’ offensive line due to the simplified offense they ran for Mac Jones. However, when Jones held the ball between 2.5 and 3.5 seconds, the Patriots allowed pressure at the eighth-lowest rate. Four of five starters return from that unit, but replacing Shaq Mason with Cole Strange will be a downgrade.

16. Denver Broncos

A mediocre offensive line remains mostly intact, with right tackle Billy Turner the only addition. Denver’s offensive line allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less at the league’s 12th highest rate a season ago.

15. Cincinnati Bengals

The offensive line was a mess last year, but the additions of La’el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras should push it toward the league average. If former second-round pick Jackson Carman shows signs of life after a miserable rookie year, perhaps we’ve even underrated this unit.

14. Dallas Cowboys

Dallas’s formerly dominant offensive line likely takes a step backward following the losses of Connor Williams and La’el Collins. In 2021, Tyron Smith and Collins provided elite pass protection, ranking third and 11th (out of 71) in pressure rate allowed among tackles. Terence Steele, Collins’s likely replacement, ranked 48th.

13. Los Angeles Rams

The losses of Andrew Whitworth and Austin Corbett create uncertainty along the Rams’ offensive line. Joseph Noteboom will attempt to replace Whitworth at left tackle. Over the last two seasons, Noteboom allowed more pressure than Whitworth despite playing less than half as many snaps in pass protection.

12. Washington Commanders

Washington added two new guards to the offensive line 一 Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner 一 potentially upgrading the unit. Turner and Norwell ranked 11th and 13th, respectively, in pressure rate allowed among guards last season. As a result, this unit climbed five spots in our rankings.

11. Green Bay Packers

Despite playing without David Bakhtiari in all but one game, Green Bay’s offensive line allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less at the sixth-lowest rate. There has been some turnover 一 Billy Turner and Lucas Patrick are gone after playing over 1,800 combined snaps 一 but expectations for the unit remain high due to Bakhtiari’s expected return to health.

10. Indianapolis Colts

Colts running backs were contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage on 49% of carries, ranked 27th. If the offensive line can more efficiently block for Jonathan Taylor, Indy’s run game could reach a truly elite level. Votes for the unit ranged from fourth to 17th.

9. San Francisco 49ers

There’s been some turnover on the 49ers’ offensive line, most notably the retirement of center Alex Mack. However, a line anchored by Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey still has a high ceiling.

8. Buffalo Bills

The Bills’ patchwork offensive line 一 they don’t have a single former first-round pick on the depth chart 一 has developed into one of the league’s steadiest units. The offensive line’s growth has allowed for consistent run-game production despite the lack of backfield talent. In 2021, Buffalo’s running backs picked up at least three yards before contact on 24% of attempts, the league’s 10th best rate.

7. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers’ offensive line allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less at the ninth-lowest rate. The addition of rookie Zion Johnson should help stabilize the right side of the line. Right tackle remains a weak link, however, where Storm Norton ranked 32nd out of 37 qualified players in pressure rate allowed.

6. Baltimore Ravens

We’re betting on good health for the Ravens’ offensive line because it was one of the league’s worst units a season ago. Ravens quarterbacks were pressured in 2.5 seconds or less at a league-worst rate of 28%. The return of Ronnie Stanley and the additions of Tyler Linderbaum and Morgan Moses should get the unit back on track.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa’s exceptional offensive line lost guards Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa, but replaced them with Shaq Mason and second-round pick Luke Goedeke. It’s probably a slight downgrade, but the tackles are the true anchors of this unit. Donovan Smith ranked ninth among left tackles in pressure rate allowed, and Tristan Wirfs ranked second among right tackles.

4. Detroit Lions

After Taylor Decker returned in Week 9, Detroit’s offensive line allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 17.3% of dropbacks, the fourth-lowest rate over that span. Decker’s return also shifted Penei Sewell to right tackle, where he ranked fifth in the league in pressure rate allowed.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City’s rebuilt offensive line lived up to expectations last season and the entire unit returns. This line provided at least three yards before contact for Chiefs running backs on 30% of their carries, the league’s highest rate.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles’ offensive line received some first-place votes and looks like a potentially dominant unit. The key to its success, however, will be good health. Philly had 14 different offensive line combinations on the field together for at least 10 snaps last season, the league’s fourth-most.

1. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are our top-ranked offensive line for the second straight year, however, Cleveland did not receive a single first-place vote. This ranking quirk occurred because the Browns were second on every ballot, while those receiving first-place votes had a wider overall range. Despite losing center J.C. Tretter, there’s still considerable optimism for this unit.

Ranking each NFL Unit for 2022:

Quarterbacks | Wide Receivers/Tight Ends | Running Backs | Offensive Line | Front 7 | Secondary

For all of the team-by-team unit rankings and full team chapters, including a dozen more visuals & info-graphics, defensive breakdown, and detailed Fantasy football implications — plus the other 31 team chapters — pick up a copy of Warren Sharp’s new ‘2022 Football Preview’ book