2017 Top 10 Offensive Tackles

1. Tyron Smith

Smith did not have the best season at the tackle position but make no mistake he is still the best in the game which is why he was still voted first team all-pro. Smith missed three games with injury and played hurt in a few others so his performance was not quite up to par with the all-time great season he put forth last year but when Smith is 100% he is on another level. He is one of the most athletic players in the game with a massive frame and powerful hands to go along with it. He has phenomenal technique as a pass blocker. He plays with good leverage and remains balanced. As a run blocker he is also great utilizing his long arms and big hands to control his guy.

2. Trent Williams

Williams was the best tackle in football in 2016. He is the game’s best pass blocker with both the size and quickness to deal with anything that he may face. He was a big reason why Kirk Cousins was able to throw for over 4,900 yards and is in the position to make all the money he has been making with the franchise tag. He moves laterally incredibly well effectively utilizing kick slides and post steps to counter heavy pressure on the edge or counter moves back inside. What makes him special is he is both elite pass and run blocking. He can run block at a high level both in line and at the second level.

3. Andrew Whitworth

Whitworth has been the most technically sound blocking tackle going on three years now. He does not have the athletic ability of Williams and Smith which comes into play with his run blocking but as a pass blocker he is absolutely elite. He had the highest pass blocking grade on pro football focus in 2016. He is a huge man at 6’7, 325 and one of the strongest players in the league. He may be the best at dealing with power rush moves and being able to anchor and negate the momentum. His run blocking fell off some in 2016. At 35 it is not a surprise that he is starting to decline some but for him to still be able to play at as high of a level as he did is incredible.

4. Lane Johnson

Lane Johnson is the second most athletic offensive lineman in all of football. With 4.7 speed he is as fast as a lot of defensive ends and tight ends. With this kind of athletic ability at the offensive line position it makes him one of the elite run blockers on the move. Zone blocking is his specialty and when it is time to get up to the second level and block linebackers he does at great job at getting to them and squaring them up in a hurry to make contact and has the feet to maintain blocks against superior athletes. As a pass blocker he is still not a great technician but he is good and with his athletic ability and length he has developed into a good pass blocker.

5. Joe Thomas

Want to know how good Joe Thomas is? He just finished his 10th NFL season and made his 10th pro bowl. He is also a 6 time all-pro. No doubt he is on the decline from the legendary level he played at during his prime but even in his 30s he remains one of the top five players at his position. He is not the run blocker he used to be but is still a phenomenal pass blocker. Thomas has elite size at 6’7, 311 and has been using his long arms and big hands combined with terrific footwork to be one of the games best at keeping QBs safe for a decade now.

6.  Terron Armstead

The fastest most athletic lineman in the NFL is Armstead. He dealt with injury in 2016 that impacted his overall effectiveness but make no mistake he is still one of the game’s best. He is an elite pass blocker that simply has the quickness to match most of the defensive lineman he combats, an advantage almost no other offensive lineman in the game can stake claim to. He is also fairly strong for a guy with his quickness and size. He not only can handle all comers when it comes to speed rush but holds his own against power rushes as well. Even when he gets moved by a stronger opponent he is so quick he can still be in position to shield the QB. He was only ok run blocking in 2016 after a much better year doing it in 2015 which I believe had a lot to do with injury. When healthy he is a good run blocker who thrives on the move where he can put his speed to use climbing to linebackers or reaching defensive ends.

7. Taylor Lewan

In Lewan’s third season he was terrific and is well on his way to becoming an elite tackle in this league. He has made steady improvement every year up to this point and was the best offensive lineman on an elite Titans offense line that spearheaded Demaro Murray’s return to prominence. At 6’7, 310 he has elite size and is one of the best athletes at his position. He moves extremely well which he uses to his advantage both in the run and pass game. As a run blocker he was one of the best in the league in 2016. He got it done by being able to excel at multiple blocking styles. He has a good understand of how to use his size and quickness to angle off defenders and has the arms to control his guy when he gets his hands on them. As a pass blocker he is still developing but he really hit his stride in 2016.

8. Jason Peters

Peters has been one of the game’s best tackles for years now. At 6’4, nearly 330 he is a huge man. He may be the strongest tackle in the NFL and on top of that has great feet. Peters is a terrific puncher in pass pro with the ability to jolt would be rushers and put their entire pass rush plan in disarray. At 34 he is no longer in his prime and it showed most in his run blocking. He used to be one of the best and though he is still good at it he is no longer great. He does not move as well as he used to so it is a bit more challenging run blocking. However the strength is still there and when he can square up and latched on he can still punish opposing d-lineman.

9. David Bakhiari

Bakhiari is not the biggest tackle at only 6’4, 299 but it does serve as an advantage when pass blocking against speed rushers. He is one of the leagues best at moving laterally utilizing a very quick kick step. He does a great job at mirroring pass rushers and being there step for step which is why he earned the second highest pass grade in 2016 by pro football focus. As a run blocker his lack of size and elite power hurts him. As a elite as he is at pass pro he is average at best in the run game. However in a pass happy league pass blocking is at a much higher premium at the tackle position thus making Bakhiari one of the best tackles despite his short comings as a run blocker.

10.  Marcus Cannon

Cannon had a breakout year in 2016. At 6’5 360 he is a huge man that packs a wallop. He was one of the best run blocking tackles in the NFL. He does a fantastic job of setting the edge when needed and can blow opposing edge players off the line of scrimmage. Once he gets his hands on you when run blocking he usually stays attached. But Cannon was always a good run blocker, the reason he really broke out in 2016 was his improvement as a pass blocker. For a man his size to be that effective in pass pro was very impressive.