2024 Offensive Line Rankings: 10-1

Jun 26, 2024

Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK

As I’m sure you have hypothesized in the past, the play of a team’s offensive line impacts the fantasy points that each NFL team can produce, and now we have statistical proof. By using the knowledge of good and bad units, we can better attack (or avoid) skill position players on a given team; another edge we can use against our league mates. With that caveat understood, it’s time to figure out exactly where a team’s offensive line compares to the rest of the league.

More Offensive Line Rankings: 32-22 | 21-11

Below, I’ll be counting down the bottom-11 offensive lines heading into the 2024 season, with an accompanying “key stat” from last year’s unit, plus new faces coming to the team. The offseason movement will denote either the most recent team that player played for or the draft round in which they were selected. Additions and subtractions will be relegated to players believed to be immediately starting or at the least an immediate backup, and/or players selected in the first four rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. Let’s dig in.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

Key 2023 Stat: 43 OL Penalties (2nd)

Offseason Movement

Additions: Troy Fautanu (first round), Zach Frazier (second round), Mason McCormick (fourth round)

Subtractions: Chukwuma Okorafor (Patriots)

I’m choosing to take an optimistic view of the Steelers' offensive line after the team knocked the ball out of the park through the NFL Draft. While the team will likely inject two rookies into the starting lineup, that would leave two replacement-level backups in their arsenal, as well as fourth-round selection Mason McCormick, who could even fight for his slot in the lineup.

South Dakota State LG Mason McCormick's testing numbers will have NFL teams going back to his tape. Stuff like this from No. 60 might keep them there for a while. pic.twitter.com/kjcrtllbq4

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 3, 2024

McCormick finished his collegiate career at South Dakota by allowing only three pressures (zero sacks) in 376 pass-blocking snaps. That’s impressive, regardless of the perceived competition level. With a RAS score of 9.96, he has the athletic makeup to do damage at the second level in the run game and could see some snaps along the iOL at some point this season.

Back at the top of the Draft, the Steelers grabbed Troy Fautanu. Last season, he was awarded the Morris Trophy, which recognizes the best offensive lineman in the Conference as voted on by the opposing players. He is earmarked to take over the right tackle role, keeping sophomore Broderick Jones on the left side. With the next pick, they selected Zach Frazier, who is slated to start at center from Day 1.

The Pittsburgh OL has many young pieces, giving them a wide range of outcomes. A run-heavy approach from Arthur Smith may hide some technical issues from the onset and allow them to continue their growth.

9. Dallas Cowboys

Key 2023 Stat: 2.48% Blown Block Rate (3rd)

Offseason Movement

Additions: Tyler Guyton (first round), Copper Beebe (third round)

Subtractions: Tyler Biadasz (Commanders), Tyron Smith (Jets)

There have been many storylines circling the Cowboys this offseason, but one of the biggest has been how they allowed two cornerstones of their offensive line to walk in free agency. According to John Paulsen’s look at which teams invested in the OL, the Cowboys lost $18 million in salary by losing Tyler Biadasz and Tyron Smith. Allowing Smith to walk is a little easier to swallow, considering he has missed so much time over the last handful of seasons, but Biadasz stings.

The center position now looks like a battle between incumbent Brock Hoffman and their third-round selection, Cooper Beebe. Beebee was a four-year starter at Kansas State, and though he didn’t play the position in college, left guard was his main slot, notching 26 starts there and 22 combined starts at either tackle position. His 31.5” arm length will keep him along the iOL at the next level, but it didn’t seem to afflict him too egregiously at Kansas State when he allowed one sack over his final 41 games.

Cooper Beebe is a guy you just want to watch hit things... pic.twitter.com/Vt78csGQCI

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 19, 2024

Regardless of who gets the majority of the snaps at center, they’ll have the chance to play next to Tyler Smith and Zack Martin, two of the greatest guards in the NFL.

The tackle spots seem to be locked in, but there is far less confidence in their ability to play at a high level. Tyler Guyton didn’t receive much playing time in his two seasons at TCU before transferring to Oklahoma and earning his first start along the offensive line in 2022. Due to injuries and an opt-out of their bowl game in 2023, he only has 14 starts under his belt. For Terence Steele, he’s coming out of a season in which he allowed the third-most pressures (54) among all OTs.

There may be some different combinations along the line this season —including Tyler Smith kicking back out to tackle— which concerns me about the upside of this new-look group.