The Best Interior Offensive Linemen in the NFL for 2025
With the 2025 NFL training camps on the horizon, league experts have revealed their selections of the best players in various positions. Alofoke Deportes presents you with the analysis of the 10 most outstanding interior offensive linemen, according to NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. This is the sixth year of these rankings, and as usual, the list presents significant movements compared to the previous year. The ranking process involved voting from experts who provided their top 10 players per position. The results were compiled based on the number of votes, the composite average, and numerous interviews, supported by video analysis and ESPN study.The main objective was to identify the best players of the moment, without considering long-term projections or career achievements. Who are the best players today?
Here’s the top 10 interior offensive linemen:
- Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
- Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys
- Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
- Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
- Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles
- Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears
- Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
- Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos
- Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers
- Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
Detailed Analysis
1. Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
Humphrey, who last year already proved to be the best overall center since Jason Kelce, now leads the list of interior linemen thanks to his consistency in the voting. He is the only one who appeared on all ballots and was in the top three on most of them.Humphrey had a solid performance in the Super Bowl, but his game was partly affected because Joe Thuney was forced to play left tackle.He’s great in pass protection, with good feet and instincts. He’s not a bruiser in the running game, but he can do enough. He handles chaos well and can navigate many moving parts of that offense.
NFL Coordinator
Humphrey did not allow a quick pressure (less than 2.5 seconds) on 653 pass blocking plays during the regular season.If you can isolate him one-on-one, you can beat him a little.
NFL Coordinator
2. Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Smith has the ability to replace Martin in Dallas. The enthusiasm surrounding Smith was evident in the voting. Although he didn’t appear on all top 10 ballots, most of the votes he received were for first or second place.A criticism is his excessive aggressiveness, but his penalties decreased from 10 to two. Teams can live with Smith’s aggressiveness because “if he lays hands on you, it’s over,” according to an NFL coordinator. Smith fits this profile.The guard with the most physical talent in the league who could legitimately be a top-tier starter at LT if they wanted to put him there. Strong, athletic, nasty, and cut his holding penalties in half last year.
NFL General Manager
Smith allowed three catches on 614 plays in passing situations.The best guard in football. Perennial Pro Bowl player. Fast, explosive, violent, strong hands, above-average pass protection, can get to the second level.
NFL Defensive Line Coach
3. Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
Nelson competed with Martin for the top spot for several years and now, following Martin’s retirement, holds the position of the highest-ranked guard or center with at least seven seasons in the NFL. Nelson is building what could become a Hall of Fame case, participating in the Pro Bowl every year since 2018. The Colts thought Nelson rebounded with a resurgence in 2023 after a 2022 (by his standards), and remained solid in 2024 with a pass block win rate of 94.4 and a run block win rate of 77.1, the latter tied for first among the top 10 interior linemen.Its durability is notable, having played at least 16 games each season, except in 2021, when he played 13 games.Honestly, no one else has really taken the top spot from him. I don’t think there’s a dominant interior offensive lineman right now. He’s the closest thing.
NFC Executive
He is more vulnerable to pressure on the edges than he used to be at this stage of his career. But he is still very strong and robust at the point of attack.
Veteran NFL defensive coach
4. Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
The fact that the Kansas City franchise tagged Smith with $23.4 million says a lot about the quality of the player. The Chiefs often have problems with the salary cap and are not afraid to let go of prominent free agents… but Smith is too unique to escape the Chiefs’ facilities.Smith was a first-round talent in 2021, but fell to the seventh round as some teams were not comfortable with his medical profile, due to a heart condition detected while he was at Tennessee. He has overcome that to become a top-level player. His career win rate of 75.1 ranks third among this group, and he received several votes for first place for it. As one NFL coordinator said, “He has elite hands and is excellent at finishing his blocks.” Smith had a bad game in the Super Bowl against Philadelphia, but the entire Chiefs line struggled that night.Power, brute force, physique: he is a mover of people and a stopper of people.
AFC Executive
5. Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles
Dickerson quickly established himself on the Philadelphia line, earning a Pro Bowl nomination in each of the last three seasons.The evaluators saw him as top-tier entering 2024, which proved to be true as Dickerson helped Philadelphia win a championship. A rarity accompanied his profile: ESPN’s statistics attributed 11 sacks to Dickerson, the most of any player in our top 10. An Eagles source was surprised to hear that number, adding that Dickerson was not at any point a liability in the passing game. Further investigation shows that Dickerson struggled early with six sacks allowed in the first seven weeks, but then improved, averaging an impressive 97 pass-blocking win rate from Week 8 through the Super Bowl. Dickerson was dealing with a knee problem during the championship run. He played through it.Explosive power: holy smokes. Strength, durability. It’s built to last. The organized mass it can help create is top-notch.
Veteran NFL offensive line coach
He was bruised and seemed to play a little heavier [in 2024]. He played well, but I really think he will be even better next year.
NFL Coordinator
6. Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears
One of the most impressive football achievements of the 2024 NFL season was Thuney, 6 feet 5 inches and 304 pounds, successfully transitioning from guard to left tackle at the end of the season. The Chiefs were in a bind and the offensive line needed help, and Thuney stabilized it. Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised the move, saying Thuney never complained, and held up incredibly well. Thuney is always among the best statistically: his pass block win rate of 96.4 is tied for first among guards with Denver’s Ben Powers, but his versatility was on full display last year.The coaches say he has an elite grip strength: once he’s connected to a defensive lineman, he’s hard to shake.Complete package: speed, athleticism, hand placement, toughness, instincts. I think strength is a slight deficiency. Versatility is not.
AFC Executive
Technique, instincts and intelligence with Joe. Physical abilities are declining.
AFC Executive
7. Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
The five-place drop for Lindstrom is a bit curious, because most evaluators say his game hasn’t diminished drastically. He’s an elite zone run blocker who isn’t as skilled as a pass blocker, but has shown signs of slight improvement. His pass-blocking win rate of 92.4 is respectable.Lindstrom has participated in three consecutive Pro Bowls and helped Atlanta achieve the number 10 spot in rushing offense.I think it will be even better with Michael Penix Jr., because the boot game will improve with his athleticism and that will help [Lindstrom] in the passing game. He will never be great in pass protection, but he is world-class in the run.
NFL Coordinator
8. Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos
Meinerz entered a new stratosphere in the fourth year, earning first-team All-Pro honors along with a four-year, $72 million extension. He was one of five interior offensive linemen to appear on at least 75% of the ballots.The numbers confirm it: his pass-blocking win rate of 96.6 led all offensive linemen with at least 800 plays played. Meinerz is emblematic of Broncos culture. In 2021, cornerback Pat Surtain II and Meinerz were two of the first three draft picks of the George Paton general manager era in Denver. Both players have already been signed to huge extensions.He’s gone from Division III to an OG among the top two or three. He’s learned that he doesn’t have to destroy people on every play. He’s athletic and strong enough that, if he plays controlled, the losses will be few and far between.
NFL personnel director
9. Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers
Not many players embody “positional flexibility” more than Jenkins, who can handle all five positions on the line. He was drafted as a guard, only to fill in for the left tackle when David Bakhtiari was injured, then moved to right tackle for a while and played primarily left guard last year, but Jenkins is slated to take over the center position in 2025. Last season, Jenkins recorded 942 plays at left guard, 68 at center, one at right guard, and three at right tackle. His pass-blocking win rate was higher at center (96.6) than at guard (92.4). ESPN attributed two sacks to Jenkins all season, and added 316 run-blocking wins.Jenkins is a candidate to participate in or be absent from training camp due to a contractual issue. He has two years left on his four-year, $68 million contract with guaranteed money, and with an imminent move to center full-time, he would like more security in the form of guarantees.The guy is very underrated. He can play anywhere, tough, physical, smart.
NFL Coordinator
10. Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens, known for being one of the best drafting and development teams, have selected two offensive linemen in the first round since 2010: Ronnie Stanley (2016) and Linderbaum (2022). Stanley has been a top 10 receiver among tackles for a long time, and now Linderbaum joins the party. Linderbaum, who won a tiebreaker with Carolina guard Robert Hunt, runs the show in the middle for the Ravens’ top-ranked offense.It’s difficult to argue with Linderbaum’s pass-blocking win rate of 96.5, although some evaluators say his shorter arms (31⅛ inches) show in individual settings.You can do anything you want in the running game. Perhaps the best center in the NFL in terms of that. A little limited in pass protection, but you felt it in the running game: strong and physical.
Veteran NFL defensive coach
Initial quickness, angles, all the intangibles, it takes the mental pressure off Lamar Jackson.
NFL Senior Scout
Honorable Mentions
These players also received votes:- Robert Hunt, Carolina Panthers
- Erik McCoy, New Orleans Saints
- Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
- Cam Jurgens, Philadelphia Eagles
- Peter Skoronski, Tennessee Titans
