Injuries derailed the Bears' line last year, and based on their limited offseason moves up front, they must have faith that better health can lead to improved performance.
Upgrades across the rest of the offense should also help. Caleb Williams isn't your average rookie quarterback. His pocket presence and decision-making will be a stark contrast to what the Bears saw from Justin Fields. Chicago has also surrounded him with an elite cast of skill-position talent, which should facilitate things for everyone - including the line.
Keeping this unit healthy will be key, though. If you were looking to pop the hype balloon around Williams and the Bears' offense, another injury-plagued season for their linemen would create problems.
19. Green Bay Packers
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Rasheed Walker
Caleb Jones
LG
Elgton Jenkins
Royce Newman
C
Josh Myers
Jacob Monk (R)
RG
Jordan Morgan (R)
Sean Rhyan
RT
Zach Tom
Kadeem Telfort
A changing of the guard is happening on the Packers' offensive line this season with David Bakhtiari and Jon Runyan out.
Walker takes over full time at left tackle, where he made 15 starts a year ago. The 24-year-old has big shoes to fill and will need to continue his development if he's going to be the long-term answer on the left edge.
Morgan, who was a left tackle in college, is shifting inside to play right guard for the time being - solving a more immediate need for Green Bay. It's worth noting the first-round rookie got reps at both tackle and guard during offseason practices, which could help the overall versatility of the line.
18. San Francisco 49ers
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Trent Williams
Chris Hubbard
LG
Aaron Banks
Spencer Burford
C
Jake Brendel
Ben Bartch
RG
Jon Feliciano
Dominick Puni (R)
RT
Colton McKivitz
Brandon Parker
Even at 36 years old, Williams continues to be in the conversation for the best offensive lineman in the league. That's also the reason why he's holding out of training camp in search of a new contract.
Without him, this unit would suffer a massive downgrade since it lacks any other standout individual blockers. However, that's a choice made by the front office, which believes its system can manufacture strong blocking - and for the most part, it's right.
As long as Williams is active, the 49ers will field an average line. But they won't advance further until they start investing in more than just a stud left tackle.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Tristan Wirfs
Justin Skule
LG
Ben Bredeson
Sua Opeta
C
Graham Barton (R)
Robert Hainsey
RG
Cody Mauch
Elijah Klein (R)
RT
Luke Goedeke
Brandon Walton
Like many lines in this section of the rankings, the Buccaneers have some new faces and some players changing spots, beginning with the arrival of first-round center Barton and the signing of Bredeson to help solidify the interior.
That comes one year after Wirfs established himself as a top-tier left tackle following a move from the right side. And Goedeke stepped in nicely at right tackle after shifting over from left guard.
With that foundation on the edge and some intriguing talent in the middle, the Bucs are poised to jump up the rankings in 2024.
16. Denver Broncos
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Garett Bolles
Matt Peart
LG
Ben Powers
Nick Gargiulo (R)
C
Luke Wattenberg
Alex Forsyth
RG
Quinn Meinerz
Calvin Throckmorton
RT
Mike McGlinchey
Quinn Bailey
The Broncos have a few quality starters, led by Meinerz, who graded out as PFF's third-best guard and the top run-blocker at his position. Denver wisely locked him down with a four-year extension this offseason.
While the tackles are decent and Powers is a competent starter at left guard, this is a group that allowed the sixth-most sacks in 2023. Russell Wilson's decision-making was partially responsible for that high total, but it's hard to imagine the inexperienced trio of Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, or Zach Wilson doing much better.
With center Lloyd Cushenberry gone, Denver will be forced to turn to Luke Wattenberg or possibly Alex Forsyth in the middle - which only adds to the worries about the QB situation.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Broderick Jones
Dan Moore Jr.
LG
Isaac Seumalo
Mason McCormick (R)
C
Zach Frazier (R)
Nate Herbig
RG
James Daniels
Spencer Anderson
RT
Troy Fautanu (R)
Dylan Cook
The offensive line, which had become a weakness in Pittsburgh recently, is now turning into a potential strength after the front office made significant investments, including spending two firsts and a second on the unit over the last two offseasons.
Any team projected to start two rookies has volatility in its outlook, so it won't be surprising if the Steelers rise into the top 10 or fall outside the top 20. However, Seumalo and Daniels are capable veteran guards, and the young talent has a high ceiling if everything comes together.
When you add in Arthur Smith's offense likely favoring the run, this unit has a real chance to move up the rankings throughout the season.
14. Buffalo Bills
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Dion Dawkins
Tylan Grable (R)
LG
David Edwards
La'el Collins
C
Connor McGovern
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (R)
RG
O'Cyrus Torrence
Alec Anderson
RT
Spencer Brown
Ryan Van Demark
The Bills allowed the fewest sacks (24) in the league last season - a testament to the play of their line and Josh Allen's escapability in the pocket.
Dawkins is a rock on the left side and coming off his third straight Pro Bowl appearance.
The departure of veteran center Mitch Morse is guaranteed to make an impact, even though his replacement McGovern is a solid pass-protector who was with the team at guard last year.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Tyler Guyton (R)
Chuma Edoga
LG
Tyler Smith
T.J. Bass
C
Cooper Beebe (R)
Brock Hoffman
RG
Zack Martin
Asim Richards
RT
Terence Steele
Matt Waletzko
The Cowboys may have lost Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz, but they made moves to retool and could emerge as a stronger unit long term.
The line is powered by a pair of excellent guards in Tyler Smith and Martin, who'll provide the framework for the younger pieces around them to grow.
They're hoping first-rounder Guyton can step into the void at left tackle, but he'll need to beat out the veteran Edoga. Meanwhile, a similar battle will take place at center, where rookie Beebe will try to assert himself over third-year UDFA Hoffman.
12. Houston Texans
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Laremy Tunsil
Blake Fisher (R)
LG
Kenyon Green
Chris Reed
C
Juice Scruggs
Jarrett Patterson
RG
Shaq Mason
Kendrick Green
RT
Tytus Howard
Charlie Heck
The Texans' line held strong and refused to fall apart during an injury-riddled 2023 campaign that saw three starters get hurt. Plenty of praise should go to the players who battled through it, but the combination of C.J. Stroud at quarterback and Bobby Slowik at offensive coordinator made life easier on their blockers up front.
Tunsil remains the star of the unit and one of the premier left tackles in the NFL. On the other side, Howard will move back to right tackle after spending time at guard amidst all the injuries. If Howard can't regain his form, second-round rookie Fisher might be called upon.
The key to Houston's line moving up in the rankings will be whether Kenyon Green and Scruggs can stay healthy and continue to develop.
11. Cincinnati Bengals
Pos.
Starter
Depth
LT
Orlando Brown Jr.
Jackson Carman
LG
Cordell Volson
Cody Ford
C
Ted Karras
Trey Hill
RG
Alex Cappa
Jaxson Kirkland
RT
Trent Brown (INJ)
Amarius Mims (R)
Quarterback play certainly impacts offensive line performance, and the return of a healthy Joe Burrow will make a massive difference for this group.
In an effort to keep Burrow off the trainers' table, the Bengals brought in a veteran tackle in Trent Brown and a rookie first-round tackle in Mims. It's a smart move since Brown has played more than 11 games just once over the last five seasons.
The team will also be hoping Orlando Brown Jr. can bounce back after one of the worst seasons of his career during his first year in Cincy. Brown graded 45th out of 81 tackles, according to PFF.
INJ - Injury that may affect Week 1 availability R - Rookie
