PTF 2007 OFFENSIVE LINE POWER RANKINGS
Who owns the trenches now — and who is building the next great line?
HOW THE RANKINGS WORK
This ranking uses the NOVR ratings rather than the general GRD or OVR columns.
Because LG and RG use the same calculation, the team OL score uses the two highest-rated guards on the roster, regardless of which guard side they are currently listed at. When individual players are discussed below, LG and RG are kept separate according to their listed PTF position.
The team rating is the average of five spots: the best LT, the two best guards, the best C and the best RT.
For the youth section, young talent means age 25 or younger. This is not a hidden POT rating. It simply identifies players who are already producing strong calculated OL ratings while still being young enough to have significant long-term value.
League average OL rating: 84.7
THE FULL LEAGUE OL POWER RANKING
1. Vikings — 91.2 — Avg Age 28.6
2. Falcons — 89.6 — Avg Age 26.6
3. Jets — 89.2 — Avg Age 25.4
4. Dolphins — 88.6 — Avg Age 27.0
5. Steelers — 88.4 — Avg Age 28.6
6. Redskins — 87.6 — Avg Age 28.2
7. Cowboys — 87.4 — Avg Age 29.4
8. Chargers — 87.2 — Avg Age 27.2
9. 49ers — 87.0 — Avg Age 25.2
10. Saints — 86.8 — Avg Age 30.8
11. Chiefs — 86.4 — Avg Age 27.8
T12. Giants — 86.2 — Avg Age 27.4
T12. Bears — 86.2 — Avg Age 29.2
14. Seahawks — 86.0 — Avg Age 26.0
15. Bills — 85.8 — Avg Age 25.6
16. Browns — 85.6 — Avg Age 27.0
17. Rams — 85.2 — Avg Age 28.2
T18. Eagles — 85.0 — Avg Age 26.0
T18. Cardinals — 85.0 — Avg Age 27.6
20. Ravens — 84.6 — Avg Age 24.8
T21. Buccaneers — 84.2 — Avg Age 25.8
T21. Jaguars — 84.2 — Avg Age 28.6
23. Raiders — 83.4 — Avg Age 27.6
24. Patriots — 82.8 — Avg Age 26.6
25. Bengals — 81.8 — Avg Age 27.8
26. Broncos — 81.6 — Avg Age 25.6
27. Colts — 81.4 — Avg Age 26.4
28. Titans — 79.6 — Avg Age 26.0
29. Panthers — 79.4 — Avg Age 26.2
30. Lions — 79.2 — Avg Age 25.6
31. Texans — 78.4 — Avg Age 26.6
32. Packers — 76.8 — Avg Age 25.8
The first big takeaway is how tight the middle of the league is. Only 2.8 points separate the #11 Chiefs from the #22 Jaguars. A single major tackle or guard upgrade can move a team a surprisingly long way up the rankings.
At the top, the Vikings are in a class of their own at 91.2. The Falcons, Jets, Dolphins and Steelers form the next elite group. At the bottom, the Packers, Texans, Lions, Panthers and Titans all have considerable work to do.
THE BEST PLAYERS AT EACH OL POSITION
LEFT TACKLE
1. Jammal Brown, Dolphins — 98 — Age 24
2. Chris Samuels, Saints — 98 — Age 30
3. Orlando Pace, Rams — 98 — Age 32
4. DBrickashaw Ferguson, Jets — 97 — Age 24
5. Walter Jones, Vikings — 97 — Age 33
Left tackle is one of the most interesting positions in the league because two of the very best players are also only 24. Jammal Brown and DBrickashaw Ferguson are already playing at an elite calculated level without being anywhere near old.
LEFT GUARD
1. Steve Hutchinson, Seahawks — 96 — Age 30
2. Kris Dielman, Cardinals — 95 — Age 25
3. Jordan Gross, Ravens — 95 — Age 25
4. Rich Seubert, Giants — 93 — Age 28
5. Brian Waters, Redskins — 93 — Age 30
Hutchinson owns the current crown, but Dielman and Gross are the names to circle for the future. Both are already at 95 at only 25 years old.
CENTER
1. Olin Kreutz, Bears — 97 — Age 30
2. Matt Birk, Vikings — 96 — Age 31
3. Damien Woody, Patriots — 95 — Age 30
4. LeCharles Bentley, Redskins — 94 — Age 28
5. Ryan Pontbriand, Browns — 93 — Age 28
Center is currently veteran territory. Kreutz, Birk and Woody lead the way, but there is a younger wave coming quickly, led by Richie Incognito Jr., L.P. Ladouceur, Stacy Andrews, Nick Mangold and Ryan Kalil.
RIGHT GUARD
1. Roberto Garza, Falcons — 94 — Age 28
2. Jonathan Goodwin, Jets — 93 — Age 29
3. Jon Stinchcomb, Bills — 92 — Age 26
4. Tyson Clabo, Eagles — 91 — Age 24
5. Brandon Moore, Chargers — 91 — Age 27
Right guard has plenty of depth, but Tyson Clabo is the standout long-term name. At 24 years old and already rated 91, he is one of the best young interior linemen in the entire league.
RIGHT TACKLE
1. Jonathan Ogden, Chiefs — 97 — Age 33
2. Michael Roos, Bills — 95 — Age 25
3. Kareem McKenzie, Jets — 95 — Age 28
4. Levi Jones, Bengals — 95 — Age 28
5. Bryant McKinnie, Vikings — 95 — Age 28
Jonathan Ogden remains the standard today, but Michael Roos may be the most valuable RT asset in the league when age is considered: 95 at only 25.
THE NEXT GENERATION — BEST OL AGE 25 OR YOUNGER
YOUNG LEFT TACKLES
1. Jammal Brown, Dolphins — 98 — Age 24
2. DBrickashaw Ferguson, Jets — 97 — Age 24
3. Todd Herremans, Cowboys — 91 — Age 24
4. Rob Petitti, Falcons — 87 — Age 23
5. Adam Terry, 49ers — 86 — Age 23
6. Robert Gallery, Broncos — 86 — Age 24
7. Bo Lacy, Browns — 85 — Age 25
8. Jon Dunn, Bengals — 84 — Age 23
Brown and Ferguson are already elite. Herremans is not far behind, while Petitti, Terry, Gallery and Dunn give several teams legitimate developmental building blocks at the most important OL position.
YOUNG LEFT GUARDS
1. Kris Dielman, Cardinals — 95 — Age 25
2. Jordan Gross, Ravens — 95 — Age 25
3. Ben Claxton, Bills — 85 — Age 25
4. Logan Mankins, Seahawks — 80 — Age 23
5. Ben Grubbs, Jets — 76 — Age 23
6. Wesley Britt, Buccaneers — 76 — Age 24
Dielman and Gross are the headliners. Mankins is particularly interesting because he is only 23 and already at 80, giving the Seahawks another young interior piece alongside its veteran star Hutchinson.
YOUNG CENTERS
1. Richie Incognito Jr., Seahawks — 92 — Age 23
2. L.P. Ladouceur, 49ers — 89 — Age 25
3. Stacy Andrews, Titans — 89 — Age 25
4. Ryan Kalil, Jaguars — 85 — Age 22
5. Nick Mangold, Jets — 85 — Age 23
6. Chris Chester, Cowboys — 85 — Age 24
This may be the deepest young position group on the line. Incognito is already near the top of the entire center class at only 23, while Kalil and Mangold have major age-based upside.
YOUNG RIGHT GUARDS
1. Tyson Clabo, Eagles — 91 — Age 24
2. Courtney Van Buren, Vikings — 84 — Age 25
3. Jeromey Clary, Chargers — 78 — Age 24
4. David Stewart, Jaguars — 77 — Age 25
5. Elton Brown, Broncos — 73 — Age 23
6. Enoch DeMar, Lions — 73 — Age 25
Clabo is well clear of the rest of the young RG field. Van Buren is already useful for the league's #1 OL, while Clary and Stewart are solid secondary prospects.
YOUNG RIGHT TACKLES
1. Michael Roos, Bills — 95 — Age 25
2. Tim Provost, 49ers — 91 — Age 25
3. Marques Ogden, Texans — 89 — Age 25
4. Max Starks, Eagles — 87 — Age 25
5. Joe Thomas, Buccaneers — 86 — Age 23
6. Adam Kieft, Raiders — 85 — Age 25
7. Joe Staley, Falcons — 83 — Age 23
8. Winston Justice, Ravens — 82 — Age 23
Roos is the blue-chip player here, but the 23-year-old group of Thomas, Staley and Justice makes RT one of the more interesting positions to track over the next several seasons.
THE BEST YOUNG OL SITUATIONS
A few teams deserve special mention because they combine youth with an already competitive overall OL rating.
Jets — 89.2, Avg Age 25.4
The Jets are the clearest example of a line built for both today and tomorrow. DBrickashaw Ferguson is already a 97 LT at 24, Nick Mangold is 85 at 23 and Ben Grubbs is only 23. This is the #3 line in the league and one of the youngest.
49ers — 87.0, Avg Age 25.2
The 49ers have one of the league's most exciting young cores: Adam Terry at LT, L.P. Ladouceur at C and Tim Provost at RT. Three major positions are controlled by players 25 or younger, and the unit is already #9 overall.
Bills — 85.8, Avg Age 25.6
Michael Roos is the crown jewel at 25/95, while Ben Claxton gives the Bills another strong young starter. The Bills are not elite as a full line yet, but they have several pieces that could keep them competitive for years.
Seahawks — 86.0, Avg Age 26.0
Steve Hutchinson is the veteran superstar, but the really interesting part is what sits around him: Richie Incognito Jr. is a 92 center at only 23 and Logan Mankins is an 80 LG at 23. The Seahawks have the foundation to transition from an older star to a younger core.
Eagles — 85.0, Avg Age 26.0
Tyson Clabo at 24/91 and Max Starks at 25/87 give the Eagles two premium young pieces. Their overall line is only 18th today, but the future is much brighter than that ranking suggests.
Ravens — 84.6, Avg Age 24.8
The Ravens own the youngest five-man group in the league. Jordan Gross is already elite at 25/95, while Winston Justice is 23 and Rashad Butler is 24. The current line sits almost exactly at league average, but very few teams can match its age profile.
DIVISION-BY-DIVISION BREAKDOWN
AFC EAST
1. Jets — 89.2 — League #3 — Avg Age 25.4
2. Dolphins — 88.6 — League #4 — Avg Age 27.0
3. Bills — 85.8 — League #15 — Avg Age 25.6
4. Patriots — 82.8 — League #24 — Avg Age 26.6
The AFC East is the strongest OL division in the league by average rating, edging the NFC East by the smallest of margins.
The Jets have almost everything a GM could want: a top-three line today and elite young building blocks. Ferguson at 24/97 is already one of the league's best left tackles, Mangold is only 23 and Kareem McKenzie gives the unit a 95 on the right side.
The Dolphins are nearly as strong. Jammal Brown at 24/98 may be the most valuable LT in football when current ability and age are combined, and Jason Peters gives the Dolphins another high-end tackle.
The Bills are more uneven, but Michael Roos at 25/95 is a franchise-level RT and Ben Claxton is an 85 LG at 25. The Patriots are the clear fourth-place unit in the division, although Damien Woody remains elite at center.
Young names to watch: Jammal Brown, DBrickashaw Ferguson, Michael Roos, Nick Mangold, Ben Claxton, Ben Grubbs.
AFC NORTH
1. Steelers — 88.4 — League #5 — Avg Age 28.6
2. Browns — 85.6 — League #16 — Avg Age 27.0
3. Ravens — 84.6 — League #20 — Avg Age 24.8
4. Bengals — 81.8 — League #25 — Avg Age 27.8
The AFC North is a classic split between present strength and future value.
The Steelers own the best line today. Mike Gandy, Brad Meester, Kendall Simmons and Alan Faneca give the Steelers a veteran core with very few obvious holes. The downside is equally obvious: this is an older group, and none of the five top-rated starters are 25 or younger.
Cleveland is solid and balanced. Ryan Pontbriand is an elite 93 center, while Bo Lacy is a valuable 25-year-old LT at 85.
The Ravens are the opposite of the Steelers. The line is only around league average today, but its 24.8 average age is the youngest in PTF. Jordan Gross is already an elite LG, and Justice remains a young RT worth developing.
Cincinnati has elite tackle ratings from Leonard Davis and Levi Jones, but the interior pulls the overall score down. Jon Dunn, however, is an intriguing 23-year-old LT at 84.
Young names to watch: Jordan Gross, Bo Lacy, Jon Dunn, Winston Justice, Eric Ghiaciuc, Rashad Butler.
AFC SOUTH
1. Jaguars — 84.2 — League T#21 — Avg Age 28.6
2. Colts — 81.4 — League #27 — Avg Age 26.4
3. Titans — 79.6 — League #28 — Avg Age 26.0
4. Texans — 78.4 — League #31 — Avg Age 26.6
The AFC South is the weakest OL division in PTF right now. Its division average is only 80.9, and no team ranks inside the league's top 20.
Jacksonville leads almost by default, but there are still useful pieces. Andre Gurode gives the Jaguars a 91 at center, while 22-year-old Ryan Kalil is one of the more intriguing young centers in the league.
The Colts have a good RG in Ryan Diem but lacks a true elite anchor. The Titans have one major young prize in Stacy Andrews, a 25-year-old center rated 89. The Texans' overall ranking is poor, but Marques Ogden is an important exception: a 25-year-old RT already rated 89.
This division may not be strong now, but Kalil, Andrews, Ogden and David Stewart give it several players who could change the picture quickly.
Young names to watch: Marques Ogden, Stacy Andrews, Ryan Kalil, David Stewart, Junius Coston, Will Montgomery.
AFC WEST
1. Chargers — 87.2 — League #8 — Avg Age 27.2
2. Chiefs — 86.4 — League #11 — Avg Age 27.8
3. Raiders — 83.4 — League #23 — Avg Age 27.6
4. Broncos — 81.6 — League #26 — Avg Age 25.6
The AFC West has two strong veteran-led teams at the top and two rebuilding lines underneath them.
The Chargers are balanced across the line with Brandon Moore and Toniu Fonoti inside. The Chiefs are powered by Jonathan Ogden's 97 at RT, one of the highest individual OL ratings in the league, although age 33 makes him a win-now asset rather than a long-term answer.
The Raiders have quality at center with Jeremy Newberry and at LT with Langston Walker, but the guards drag down the total. The Broncos are younger but not yet strong enough. Robert Gallery at 24/86 is the Broncos' biggest developmental piece, with Elton Brown another younger guard to monitor.
Young names to watch: Robert Gallery, Adam Kieft, Jeromey Clary, Elton Brown, Kevin Boothe.
NFC EAST
1. Redskins — 87.6 — League #6 — Avg Age 28.2
2. Cowboys — 87.4 — League #7 — Avg Age 29.4
3. Giants — 86.2 — League T#12 — Avg Age 27.4
4. Eagles — 85.0 — League T#18 — Avg Age 26.0
There is no weak OL in the NFC East. The entire division sits at 85.0 or better, making it one of the strongest trench divisions in PTF.
The Redskins are the most balanced current group, with LeCharles Bentley and Brian Waters anchoring the interior. The Cowboys are only two-tenths behind and has a fascinating mix of old and young: Todd Herremans is already a 91 LT at 24 and Chris Chester is an 85 center at 24, but several other top pieces are much older.
The Giants have high-end guard play from Rich Seubert and an interesting 21-year-old LT in Andrew Carnahan. The Eagles may rank fourth in the division, but Tyson Clabo at 24/91 and Max Starks at 25/87 give the Eagles one of the better young guard/tackle combinations in the league.
Young names to watch: Tyson Clabo, Todd Herremans, Max Starks, Chris Chester, Andrew Carnahan, David Baas.
NFC NORTH
1. Vikings — 91.2 — League #1 — Avg Age 28.6
2. Bears — 86.2 — League T#12 — Avg Age 29.2
3. Lions — 79.2 — League #30 — Avg Age 25.6
4. Packers — 76.8 — League #32 — Avg Age 25.8
No division has a bigger gap between the top and bottom.
The Vikings own the best line in PTF. Matt Birk, Walter Jones and Bryant McKinnie give the Vikings elite ratings at three premium positions, and even the weaker spots remain solid. This is a championship-caliber veteran OL.
The Bears are also strong but old. Olin Kreutz remains the league's #1 center at 97, while the rest of the line is mostly veteran material.
The Lions and Packers are almost the reverse. Both are young, but neither has converted that youth into high current ratings. Courtney Van Buren is the division's best young RG at 25/84, while Guy Whimper, Moose Ojinnaka, Enoch DeMar and Rob Sims are developmental names rather than finished stars.
The NFC North therefore has both the league's #1 OL and its #32 OL in the same division.
Young names to watch: Courtney Van Buren, Guy Whimper, Moose Ojinnaka, Enoch DeMar, Claude Terrell, Rob Sims.
NFC SOUTH
1. Falcons — 89.6 — League #2 — Avg Age 26.6
2. Saints — 86.8 — League #10 — Avg Age 30.8
3. Buccaneers — 84.2 — League T#21 — Avg Age 25.8
4. Panthers — 79.4 — League #29 — Avg Age 26.2
The Falcons may have the most attractive tackle situation in the entire league when current rating and age are combined. Rob Petitti is 23 and already an 87 LT, while Joe Staley is 23 and an 83 RT. Roberto Garza adds a 94 at RG, giving the Falcons the #2 line in PTF without relying entirely on aging stars.
The Saints are almost the opposite. The Saints are very good today, but their top line averages 30.8 years old, the oldest in the league. Chris Samuels and Tarik Glenn are elite tackles, but this is a win-now group.
The Buccaneers are just below league average but has one of the best young RTs in Joe Thomas, already 86 at age 23. The Panthers are struggling overall, although Jason Brown and Brad Butler give them a couple of young pieces worth keeping.
Young names to watch: Rob Petitti, Joe Thomas, Joe Staley, Jason Brown, Brad Butler, Wesley Britt.
NFC WEST
1. 49ers — 87.0 — League #9 — Avg Age 25.2
2. Seahawks — 86.0 — League #14 — Avg Age 26.0
3. Rams — 85.2 — League #17 — Avg Age 28.2
4. Cardinals — 85.0 — League T#18 — Avg Age 27.6
The NFC West is the most balanced OL division in PTF. Only two points separate first place from fourth, and every team ranks inside the league's top 20.
The 49ers have the best long-term profile of the four. Adam Terry is 23/86 at LT, L.P. Ladouceur is 25/89 at center and Tim Provost is 25/91 at RT. That is an outstanding young spine for a line already ranked ninth overall.
The Seahawks combine one elite veteran with premium youth. Steve Hutchinson is the league's top LG at 96, but Richie Incognito Jr. may be even more important long term: 92 at center at only 23. Logan Mankins gives Seattle another 23-year-old interior prospect.
The Rams remain dangerous because Orlando Pace is still an elite 98 LT, but age is becoming a concern. The Cardinals have perhaps the division's best young individual OL in Kris Dielman, a 25-year-old LG rated 95, plus young RT options in Jermon Bushrod and Marcus McNeill.
Young names to watch: Kris Dielman, Richie Incognito Jr., Tim Provost, L.P. Ladouceur, Adam Terry, Logan Mankins, Jermon Bushrod.
DIVISION STRENGTH RANKING
1. AFC East — 86.6 average
2. NFC East — 86.55 average
3. NFC West — 85.8 average
4. AFC North — 85.1 average
5. NFC South — 85.0 average
6. AFC West — 84.65 average
7. NFC North — 83.35 average
8. AFC South — 80.9 average
The AFC East and NFC East are essentially neck-and-neck at the top. The NFC West deserves special credit for depth: its worst line still ranks 19th overall. The AFC South is the only division without a single top-20 OL.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The OL landscape in PTF is not just a question of who has the highest rating today.
The Vikings have the best line in football right now. The Falcons are close behind and offers a much younger tackle foundation. The Jets may have the best combination of present quality and future security in the entire league. The Dolphins have a 24-year-old elite LT in Jammal Brown. The 49ers have built a complete young core across LT, C and RT. The Seahawks have an exceptional young center in Richie Incognito Jr. sitting next to the league's best veteran LG. The Eagles have Tyson Clabo and Max Starks. The Bills have Michael Roos. The Cardinals have Kris Dielman.
At the other end, several teams should not confuse youth with quality. the Packers, Lions, Texans and Panthers all have relatively young lines, but the calculated ratings show that most of those players still have a long way to go before they become above-average units.
That may be the biggest lesson from the numbers: young and good is far more valuable than simply young.
The truly premium OL assets in PTF are the players who already rate near the top of their positions before age 26 — Jammal Brown, DBrickashaw Ferguson, Kris Dielman, Jordan Gross, Michael Roos, Richie Incognito Jr., Tyson Clabo, Todd Herremans and Tim Provost.
Those are the names most likely to shape the offensive-line hierarchy for the next several seasons.
THE TRENCHES MATTER.
And in PTF, the next generation is already arriving.
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