Who's the NFL's best offensive tackle? Wide receiver? Cornerback? What about the second-best defensive tackle -- after Aaron Donald? To preview the 2021 NFL season, we set out to answer those questions and much more.
We surveyed more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from edge rusher to interior offensive linemen and all the way through tight ends. This is the second edition of these rankings, and there are several players who moved up and dropped from last year's lists.
Here's how our process worked: Voters gave us their best 10 to 15 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. We had several ties, so we broke them by isolating the two-man matchup with additional voting and follow-up calls. Each section is packed with quotes and nuggets from the voters on every guy -- even the honorable mentions.
The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2021. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who's the best today? Pretty simple.
We'll roll out a position per day over 11 days. Here's the schedule:
Week 1: edge rushers (July 5), interior defensive line (July 6), off-ball linebackers (July 7), cornerbacks (July 8), safeties (July 9), offensive tackles (July 10), interior offensive line (July 11)
Week 2: quarterbacks (July 12), running backs (July 13), wide receivers (July 14), tight ends (July 15)
A 32-year-old makes the strongest case in years. A pair of 22-year-olds look ready to do the same. This year's list of the NFL's top 10 offensive tackles has serious range, thanks to an amalgam of talent -- from comeback players to oft-injured stars and ascending technicians.
The competition was strong enough to drop last year's No. 1 back several spots. Here we go:
1. Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 3
That 10th-place vote was an outlier. Williams bulldozed the voting process like he pancaked Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks in a viral moment from Week 1.
"He's that player O-linemen are sharing videos about," said an NFL offensive line coach. "You could easily pull out 20 plays from every game where he's dominant."
After missing the 2019 season due in part to frustrations with Washington's medical staff over the handling of his head injury, resulting in a trade to San Francisco, Williams posted a 91.9 Pro Football Focus grade and a 93.6% pass block win rate, tops among this group.
"He's been on a whole different level the last five years," said an AFC offensive coach. "Dominant in every facet, runs in space, massive individual, more devastating on his blocks, plays violently and can drive a person back flat-footed."
That profile led to a massive $138 million extension with the 49ers.
"By far and away the most talented -- his only deal is effort and consistency," an NFC exec said. "Even with lapses, still the best.
2. David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 7
Teams want a tackle who can wear down the opposition, and that's what Bakhtiari did on this list, climbing to No. 2 thanks to a stellar eight-year profile.
"I think it's more a respect for the consistency he's put together while other players have fallen off," said an NFC exec. "He's such an easy evaluation. He's very good at everything, just lacking elite size and power. So dependable at a position where that's so important."
Bakhtiari, who surprisingly ranked just seventh last year, posted an impressive 93.1% pass block win rate before tearing his ACL in late December.
"The system aids him and takes him to the next level," another NFC exec said. "He's just solid. O-line play isn't stellar leaguewide."
Bakhtiari, a former fourth-round pick, could miss the start of the season while he recovers from a knee injury, but that didn't affect his ranking in the eyes of voters.
3. Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 2
One of the league's most gifted linemen, Tunsil might be the lone star out of Houston to crack a top-10 list at any position. He is a true anchor who can win with power or quick feet, winning 89.7% of his pass-block snaps in 2020.
"He's more explosive and athletic -- he's not devastating with ferocity like Trent Williams," said an NFC offensive coach. "But he's got that gear that most don't where when he wants to dominate, he can."
Pro Football Focus calls Tunsil a "middling run-blocker," but coaches still consider him a threat in that area, at least when he wants to be.
4. Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 11
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 5
Armstead is still the gold standard for left tackles in the NFC South.
"He still has a top-end skill set, great feet, physical," an NFC exec said. "The only issue with him is durability. Can he put in a full season?"
Armstead never has played 16 games in any of his eight seasons and is averaging 11.9 games per year since becoming a full-time starter in 2014. But he earned another Pro Bowl nod after playing all but one game in 2020, with an 89.9% pass block win rate and an 86.3 Pro Football Focus grade.
The Saints have the best tackle duo in the league with Ryan Ramczyk and Armstead, who still gets the slight edge among evaluators.
5. Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 4
Stanley is an acquired taste. Some are enamored with the impressive skill set, others want a stronger player against the run.
"He's a finesse player," said an AFC offensive coach. "He won't move you off the spot, will more cover you up."
But the thing he does best can offset all of that.
"Where he can be great is in pass pro -- good feet and athletic," the coach said. "If he faces a 3-4 defense that's physical with a good 3-4 D-end, he can struggle. But one-on-ones off the edge, he's as good as there is. He can handle speed rushers."
Like Bakhtiari, Stanley is coming off a severe knee injury; his season was cut short after six games. It's uncertain when he'll be ready for 2021, but he's done it before, and the voters still project him to be one of the NFL's best. Stanley did not allow a sack in the games he started last year.
6. Mekhi Becton, New York Jets
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 12
Age: 22 | Last year's ranking: N/A
Becton is the classic eye-test guy. Watch him move and become a believer.
"He's generational in terms of athleticism and size," an NFC exec said of the second-year tackle. "Very rare."
The 6-foot-7 Becton's blocking numbers weren't eye-popping last season. His 83.8% pass block win rate ranked 49th among tackles, but he battled through a chest injury as a rookie, and the Jets were a bad team. He ranked 16th in run block win rate (76%).
There is some projection from voters here, but it's clear that only injuries would stop him from improving those totals.
"Hall of Fame traits," said an AFC scout.
7. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 10
Lewan is another top-10 tackle who missed significant time due to a knee injury. Tennessee missed him after he tore his ACL five games into the season. The Titans' offensive sack rate jumped from 2.8% to 5.4% in his absence, with the team's pass block win rate dipping from 54.7 to 52.3%.
"He's hurt but still so good that he's gotta be on there," an NFC exec said. "There's not really anyone like him."
As in, he brings his own edge to the field.
"He's a nasty player," an NFL offensive line coach said. "Will do all the extra s--- to piss people off. I think he gets in people's heads more than anything. Long individual who plays with a motor."
According to voters, Lewan doesn't have the natural bend of other top tackles but makes up for it in other ways. "If he puts hands on you, he can lock you out," the coach said.
Tennessee is 9-13 in games Lewan missed since he entered the league in 2014.
8. Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 14
Age: 22 | Last year's ranking: N/A
As a rookie in Tampa Bay, Wirfs played with the savvy of a Pro Bowler in his seventh season. His 89.1$ pass block win rate over 1,015 regular-season snaps was impressive, and that rate jumped to 98% in the playoffs.
"He's just a really good lineman," an NFC exec said. "He's not necessarily an [unusual] athlete with his feet, but he's a very good athlete overall and doesn't give up much. Plus, he plays with Tom Brady, who gets the ball out really fast. Not sure if the talent level is elite, but he proved early that he will be productive for a long time."
Tampa is ecstatic that Wirfs fell to it at No. 13 overall in the 2020 draft. Wirfs had a better rookie year than Becton, but many voters prefer the upside of the Jets tackle.
9. Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Off the ballot
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 1
Last year's No. 1-ranked tackle has missed too much time to be a factor atop the rankings this time. A neck issue sidelined Smith for 14 games last season, and he hasn't played more than 13 games in a season since 2015. Still, he's only 30 despite spending a decade in the league.
"He still has dominant traits, big hands, probably not the power and flexibility he once had," one high-ranking NFL official said. "But still very effective."
He was due $10.5 million this year (though a recent contract restructure could change that), so Smith at, say, 85% of his prime is still really good value at that money.
"[Dallas is] a different team when he's healthy and performing at a high level," the official said.
The numbers bear that out. Dallas is 11-12 without Smith since 2017, and the offense's total QBR dips from 67.3 to 60.3 when he's not in the lineup, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Cowboys allow pressure on 29% of their offensive snaps without him, 24.6% with him. The sack rate balloons from 5.5% to 7.3% when he's on the sideline.
10. Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: 14
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 8
Ramczyk was a surprise at No. 10. We figured he'd go higher after another strong year and a recently signed $96 million extension with New Orleans. After all, he finished eighth in last year's voting.
Voters didn't knock Ramczyk's performance, to be sure. They just typically go for the elite talents high, and the emergence of Wirfs and Becton occupied two spots.
"Never makes the same mistake twice," said an NFC scout of Ramczyk's steady game. "A guy might get him on a move, but [Ramczyk] makes the adjustment and never gets beat after that. Just a really good player who makes the necessary adjustments. It's not always pretty, but he gets the job done; incredibly dependable."
Added an NFC exec: "Really technically sound and a great finisher, especially in the running game. And he can be an anchor in the pass game, too. Intangibles. Just really solid all-around."
Offensive tackles also receiving votes
Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills: "He's closer to elite than you'd think. He looks like he has a mediocre body, but you'll finish the game and realize he had his way in pass protection." -- AFC scout
Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles: "Still one of the most athletically gifted tackles in football. I expect him to bounce back [from injury]." -- AFC exec
Jack Conklin, Cleveland Browns: "He's not naturally gifted like some on this list, but he's a powerful people mover. Good technician. Won't be a Hall of Famer, but quality, [you] know what you'll get." -- AFC coach
Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos: "He's a guy that struggled early. He was already matured body-wise, so he just needed to mature football-wise, mentally. Now the mentals are catching up with the physical." -- NFL offensive line coach
Duane Brown, Seattle Seahawks: "He had a good year and held up well. I know he's getting up there [36 years old], but Seattle probably has to re-sign him. Have to support Russ." -- AFC exec
Orlando Brown Jr., Kansas City Chiefs: "Love the player but not sure about the fit [in Kansas City]. He's perfect for the Ravens' system, pounding the run. Not sure how it will work when he's dropping back 50 times a game." -- AFC offensive coach
Honorable mention: Taylor Moton, Carolina Panthers ("strength and physicality"); Cam Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars ("very talented but undisciplined"); Braden Smith, Indianapolis Colts ("tough, hard-nosed RT"); Taylor Decker, Detroit Lions ("underrated").