Ranking NFC East offensive lines as roster churn hits everywhere (2024)

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Wednesday: Limited

If the rankings of OL were about how much capital a team spent on that unit, then the Giants would own the top spot. They used a top-five pick and a top-10 pick on their tackles, the center was a second-round selection, and they paid Jon Runyan well to come over from the Green Bay Packers in free agency. New York hasn’t been able to develop their young talent thus far with the exception of Andrew Thomas. As good as Thomas has been, their other top tackle has been awful.

Evan Neal has been a bust through two seasons. Last year he had an overall Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 39.8, his pass blocking grade was 38.5, but the real issue is his run block grade. At 6-foot-7, 340 pounds Neal should be able to move people in the run game, but his PFF grade is only 51.1, the lowest amongst right tackles in the division and next to last among all tackles in the NFC East.

Their issues were increased by the performance of rookie John Michael-Schmitz Jr., who was seen as one of the top prospects at the center position in his draft class, but played horribly as a rookie. He graded out at 41.4 overall by PFF with an incredibly poor 26.9 pass blocking grade. As a unit the Giants finished last year 24th in pass block win rate (PBWR) and 31st in run block win rate (RBWR). The Giants lack of developing their good draft prospects is why they are last in the division at OL.

Oct 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders offensive tackle Sam Cosmi (76) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Commanders seem to not truly value their offensive line. Other than Sam Cosmi, who they drafted as an OT in the second round before moving him inside to guard, the rest of the starting OL wasn’t developed from high caliber prospects or top-of-the-market free agents. The team has two undrafted free agents (UDFA) at the tackle positions and a seventh-round pick at the other guard spot. Dan Quinn brought over Tyler Biadasz from the Cowboys to start at center, but he was the worst starting lineman almost his entire career in Dallas. Last season the Commanders barely finished in the top half of the league in PBWR, coming in at 14, but were only 22nd in RBWR.

Cosmi was the only strength on the Commanders OL, he was rated over 80 both as a pass blocker and overall last season according to PFF. Other than Cosmi, no other offensive lineman reached an overall grade of 70. The real issue for Washington is that unlike New York, who has lots of young potential, the Commanders OL is basically veterans that have maxed out as players. The team has a below average OL and not much room to improve because their players are who they are at this point in their careers.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 30: Guard Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

People in the media, fans of opposing teams, and many fans of the Cowboys have incorrectly labeled Dallas as a team with a top-end OL. They haven’t been great since 2016.

Individually the Cowboys had three All-Pro players on their line, but collectively the team ranked 16th in PBWR and 4th in RBWR, but they couldn’t get any real movement up front besides their All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith.

Terence Steele being able to bounce back as a run blocker could be an enormous key for Dallas. He has never been a high-quality pass protector, but if he can uproot defenders in the run game the Cowboys will be a more efficient rushing team in 2024. Zack Martin could also use a bounce back year, he was still an excellent player, but not the elite guard the team has been used to for the last decade. That right side being healthy could be a game changer for the Cowboys. Smith was an All-Pro in his first year at guard despite committing 13 penalties, and Dallas was hellbent on making sure he remained there by drafting the future at LT in Tyler Guyton.

The Cowboys traded back in the first round and used their trade capital of pick No. 29 and pick No. 73 on offensive line. Dallas has been the best team in the NFL at drafting OL in the first round starting with Smith at LT, then Martin at RG, and now Smith at LG. If Guyton is the next All-Pro lineman drafted in the first round for the Cowboys, then Dallas might have the best OL in the division one year from now. Copper Beebe was this year’s draft darling for Cowboys Nation and if he is able to move defenders in a way Biadasz couldn’t, the OL could be the best unit on the team this season.

Nov 5, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) and offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) walk off the field together after a victory against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles might have lost Kelce, but their OL is still full of excellent players. Lane Johnson was top 10 in PBWR and the highest rated player in RBWR. His tackle partner, Jordan Mailata, was second in RBWR and both players had an overall PFF grade over 80. Philadelphia has possibly the best tackle pairing in the league.

Landon Dickerson was the highest-rated interior offensive lineman (IOL) in the league in RBWR and top 10 in PBWR. His great play at guard will ensure he doesn’t shift to center, so Cam Jurgens will land there. He has been an average player so far in his career and it will be nearly impossible for him to match the play of Kelce. Tyler Steen was a third-round pick in last year’s draft, but was only able to play 71 snaps where didn’t perform well.

The Eagles have more holes in their line than they’re used to, but they also have three stud linemen who will carry the offense next season. If the center and right guard can just be replacement level players, then Philadelphia will again have an elite OL in 2024.

The Eagles continue as the class of the NFC East at OL. Johnson, Mailata, and Dickerson are top of the at league at their positions and they will continue to lead Philadelphia on offense going forward. The Cowboys still have top end pieces at guard, but their offensive tackles are both question marks, along with their center, so they can’t realistically compete with Philadelphia entering 2024.

The Commanders have okay veterans but leave almost no room for growth and the Giants should be a better OL, but their players aren’t playing up to their potential as prospects which is why they end up last in the division at OL. The development of the young players in 2024 will likely be the key to how the OL in the NFC East performs and how the rankings change for next season. The performance of Guyton, Beebe, Jurgens, Steen, Neal, and Michael-Schmitz will be key to the level of OL play for the division.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter@cdpigletor YouTube on theAcross the Cowboys Podcast