Offensive Linemen (21)

Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchison, Kevin Mawae, Orlando Pace, 

Modern Positional Average

Offensive Linemen: Tony Boselli (2022) Alan Faneca (2021), Steve Hutchinson (2020), Kevin Mawae (2019), Orlando Pace (2016).

Tony Boselli replaces Will Shields, who was inducted in 2015.  This marks the third straight year where the last five inducted Offensive Lineman has changed   Games idecreased, as did Approximate Value but Biselli's short and potent career resulted in the AV/G rising by close to 0.01.  Pro Bowls dropped by 1.4, but First Team All-Pros stayed the same

Stats

  • Games 174
  • Approximate Value 121
  • AV/G 0.6999
  • Pro Bowls 7.2
  • First Team All-Pros 4
2021 Pre-Season Rank #19, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #30.

Martin began his pro career going six for six in Pro Bowls, but a seventh consecutive one eluded him in an injury-plagued year where he missed six Games.  Last season brought Martin back to the elite with his seventh Pro Bowl and fifth First Team All-Pro, placing him over the MPA.   Martin's AV/G is also well over the MPA, but he needs more tenure in the NFL, even though he is now our highest ranked active Offensive Lineman for Hall of Fame consideration.

Stats

  • Games 120 (-54)
  • Approximate Value 98 (-23)
  • AV/G 0.8156 (+0.1157)
  • Pro Bowls 7 (-0.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 5 (+1)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #16, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #17.

This may be the end of the road for Peters who has the MPA in Pro Bowls and Games Played, and "The Mythical Creature" was an All-Decade player in the 2010s.   As good as he was, we have seen in the past that nine Pro Bowls may not be enough to get an Offensive Lineman in, though Peters is a Super Bowl Champion with the Eagles.  His AV/G might be lower than the MPA, but his Approximate Value is over, though that is mostly due to the addition of Tony Boselli, whose career was potent but brief.

Stats

  • Games 228 (+54)
  • Approximate Value 137 (+16)
  • AV/G 0.6009 (-0.099)
  • Pro Bowls 9 (+1.8)
  • First Team All-Pros 2 (-2)

2021 Pre-Season Rank: #23, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #27.

After seven consecutive Pro Bowls, Smith only played two Games in 2020, dealing with neck issues.  The All-Decade player was healthy in 2021, earning an eighth Pro Bowl, but a training camp injury will take the Left Tackle out of the season.  This could cost him a spot in the Hall of Fame, especially considering how high the bar is for Offensive Linemen.

Stats

  • Games 144 (-30)
  • Approximate Value 101 (-20)
  • AV/G 0.7014 (+0.0015000000000001)
  • Pro Bowls 8 (+0.8)
  • First Team All-Pros 2 (-2)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #33, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #35.

Williams is coming off the best year of his career, where the Left Tackle not only was a chosen for the Pro Bowl for the ninth time, but earned First Team All-Pro honors for the first time.  While he is 34, Williams is showing no signs of slowing down and the fact that he sat out a year due to refusuing to report to his former team, Washington, when they misdiagnosed a tumor.  It is hard not to cheer for him.

Stats

  • Games 149 (-25)
  • Approximate Value 97 (-24)
  • AV/G 0.6510 (-0.0489)
  • Pro Bowls 9 (+1.8)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #58, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #56.

Bakhtiari may have only played one Game last year, but still managed to rise eight spots mostly due to other retirements and a criminally underrated body of work.  His AV/G is over the average, and if he returns to Pro Bowl form in 2022, his stock will rise.  There are a lot more than just Packers fans cheering for that to happen.


Stats

  • Games 119 (-55)
  • Approximate Value 94 (-27)
  • AV/G 0.7899 (+0.09)
  • Pro Bowls 3 (-4.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 2 (-2)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #57, 2020 Pre-Season Rank Rank #69.

A career-Eagle and former Super Bowl winner, Kelce is putting himself in Hall of Fame conversation.  Kelce might be 35, but he has been incredible since he was approaching 30, earning four First Team All-Pros in the last five years and is a five-time Pro Bowler.  Throw in a Super Bowl, and this is the current Center with the best chance.  

Stats

  • Games 159 (-15)
  • Approximate Value 105 (-16)
  • AV/G 0.6603 (-0.0396)
  • Pro Bowls 5 (-2.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 4

2021 Pre-Season Rank #42, 2020 Pre-Reason Rank #59.

David DeCastro went to six straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2020, but injuries kept him out of 2021, and he ws released by the Steelers, which was the only team he ever played for.  We don't think he will play again, but are holding off one more year before removing him from this list.  It is unlikely that he did enought to get in, but perhaps the Steelers will honor him one day in some capacity.  

Stats

  • Games 125 (-49)
  • Approximate Value 93 (-28)
  • AV/G 0.6640 (-0.0359)
  • Pro Bowls 6 (-1.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 2 (-2)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #51, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #51.

Brown is 36, but is coming off his fifth Pro Bowl year (and first since 2017) in what was his last year in Seattle. The veteran is now with the New York Jets and time is running out for the Left Tackle, who needs to more name recognition. That will be hard as a Jet.

Stats

  • Games 203 (+29)
  • Approximate Value 122 (+1)
  • AV/G 0.601 (-0.0989)
  • Pro Bowls 5 (-2.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #78, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #89.

There are no other Offensive Linemen who debuted in 2018 who have been as good as Nelson.  Four years don’t make the Hall for an O-Lineman, but when you lay out a three-for-four in First Team All-Pro with four Pro Bowls, this start lays down the foundation.  Nelson’s AV/G is well over the MPA, which is very impressive.

Stats

  • Games 61 (-113)
  • Approximate Value 53 (-68)
  • AV/G 0.8681 (+0.1682)
  • Pro Bowls 4 (-3.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 3 (-1)

Last Year’s Rank #61.

While Schwartz was not chosen for the official 2010s All-Decade Team, there were some publications that had him on theirs.  Only a one-time First Team All-Pro and never a Pro Bowler, Schwartz could be this generation’s Ken Riley.  Schwartz had back issues in 2020, and only played six Games, which was followed by a release from the Chiefs.  The severity of that injury will be told soon.

Stats

  • Games 134 (-40)
  • Approximate Value 87 (-34)
  • AV/G .6493 (-0.0506)
  • Pro Bowls 0 (-7.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #98, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #107.

Ramcyzk is well over the AV/G for his position, and the four-year vet was a First Team All-Pro last year and is a two-time Second Team All-Pro.  Ramcyzk, however, has never been to the Pro Bowl, which is criminal.  Last season was disappointing for Ramcyzk but if matches his earlier performance over the next three years he should be in our top 40 or close to it.

Stats

  • Games 73 (-101)
  • Approximate Value 59 (-62)
  • AV/G 0.8082 (+0.1083)
  • Pro Bowls 0 (-7.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre Season Rank #117

Scherff has already gone to five Pro Bowls, and he was a First Team All-Pro for the first time two years ago.

Stats

  • Games 89 (-85)
  • Approximate Value 53 (-68)
  • AV/G .5955 (-0.1044)
  • Pro Bowls 5 (-2.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #143.

Bitonio is now on a four-year run of Pro Bowls and last season he put forth his best campaign to date with a First Team All-Pro nod.  No other Offensive Linemen rose more on this list this year.

Stats

  • Games 112 (-62)
  • Approximate Value 66 (-55)
  • AV/G .5893 (-0.1106)
  • Pro Bowls 4 (-3.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #95, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #101.

Last year, we felt that Turner was a tricky player to rank, as despite having five consecutive Pro Bowls with Carolina (2015-19), he was never really a First Team All-Pro candidate.  He played for the Chargers last year, but only had nine Games due to injury.  After a pedestrian year with the Steelers, he is now in Washington and will have to bounce back f what little Hall of Fame momentum he had.

Stats

  • Games 110 (-64)
  • Approximate Value 56 (-65)
  • AV/G 0.5326 (-0.1673)
  • Pro Bowls 5 (-2.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 0 (-4)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #107, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #110.

Armstead is an nine-year vet, and his best seasons were from 2018 to 2020, where he was named to the Pro Bowl.  The Left Tackle was injured for half of last year, curtailing his momentum, but if he rebounds he could begin anew a potential Hall of Fame push.

Stats

  • Games 97 (-77)
  • Approximate Value 62 (-59)
  • AV/G 0.6392 (-0.0607)
  • Pro Bowls 3 (-4.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 0 (-4)

2021 Pre-Season Rank #143.

Johnson had a three-year streak in Pro Bowls (2017-19) and was a Second Team All-Pro last year.  A former Super Bowl Champion, Johnsonhas a lot of good football left in him.

Stats

  • Games 112 (-62)
  • Approximate Value 68 (-53)
  • AV/G .6017 (-0.0982)
  • Pro Bowls 3 (-4.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 0 (-4)

2021 Pre-Season Rank Unranked

Wirfs was the highest drafted Offensive Lineman in the 2020 Draft, and there has been no question that he has thus far met expetations. The RIght Tackle has a higher AV/G than the MPA, and we predict that he will be one of the top three gains on next year's list.

Stats

  • Games 33 (-141)
  • Approximate Value 28 (-93)
  • AV/G .8485 (+0.1486)
  • Pro Bowls 1 (-6.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre-Season Rank: Unranked

Corey Linsley was Green Bay's starting Center from 2014 to 2020, earning First Team All-Pro Honors in the last of his seasons as a Packer, before departing for the warmer climate of Los Angeles.  Linsley went to his first Pro Bowl last year, and has been among the top Centers over the last two years.

Stats

  • Games 115 (-59)
  • Approximate Value 69 (-52)
  • AV/G .6000 (-0.0999)
  • Pro Bowls 1 (-6.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 1 (-3)

2021 Pre-Season Rank: 130, 2020 Pre-Season Rank #111.

Lewan’s three Pro Bowls were from 2016 to 2018.  After an average 2019, Lewan was hurt for much of 2020 due to a torn ACL, but rebounded well in  2021.

Stats

  • Games 103 (-71)
  • Approximate Value 54 (-67)
  • AV/G 0.5243 (-0.1756)
  • Pro Bowls 3 (-4.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 0 (-4)

2021 Pre-Season Rank: Unranked

Thuney is a six-year veteran has never been chosen for the Pro Bowl but Thuney was a key player in two Super Bowl wins by the New England Patriots.  The Left GUard begins his second yers In Kansas City.

Stats

  • Games 103 (-71)
  • Approximate Value 54 (-67)
  • AV/G 0.5243 (-0.1756)
  • Pro Bowls 0 (-7.2)
  • First Team All-Pros 0 (-4)