NFL training camps are fast approaching, which means it is again time for the league's true insiders to have their say. As part of ESPN's 2023 NFL season preview, we surveyed league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This is the fourth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players have moved up or fallen off last year's lists.
By way of refresher, here's how our process works: Voters give us their best 10 players at a position, then we compile the results and rank candidates based on the number of top-10 votes, composite average, along with dozens of interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. We had several ties, so we broke them with the help of additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed.
Each section includes quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions. The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2023. This is not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today? Check out who makes the list at every position on ESPN+.
We will roll out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: off-ball linebackers (July 8), defensive tackles (July 9), edge rushers (July 10), cornerbacks (July 11), safeties (July 12), tight ends (July 13), running backs (July 14), offensive tackles (July 15), guards and centers (July 16), quarterbacks (July 17) and wide receivers (July 18).
The 10-member list of premier guards and centers elicited little consensus at the top.
Six different players received a No. 1 vote, and all but one player was left off at least one ballot. The 2023 group features two players making their top-10 debuts, but this list is mostly familiar faces. And the top player in back-to-back years fell a few spots.
This group has major Super Bowl vibes: The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles combined to have five interior offensive linemen earning a top-10 or honorable mention spot.
Let's look at some of the game's top interior blockers as ranked by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL.
1. Zack Martin, G, Dallas Cowboys
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 5
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 2
Last season marked a sixth first-team All-Pro nod for Martin, who at age 32 is among the most highly productive players at any position.
He gave up three sacks on a 96% pass block win rate, the eighth-best clip in the league. His 73.8% run block win rate was also impressive.
Martin did not run away with the voting, but he's still considered the best.
"He's maybe declined physically a little bit due to age, but he's so smart and so instinctive that he makes up for any physical shortcoming," a high-ranking NFL executive said.
2. Joe Thuney, G, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 4
Thuney has been a steadying presence for Kansas City since signing a five-year, $80 million deal two offseasons ago. The second-team All-Pro led all linemen with a 98.9 pass block win rate. He has missed two games in seven seasons with Kansas City and New England, where he was also excellent.
"The Chiefs are loaded with offensive linemen, but Thuney is the most valuable because he rarely makes a mistake, savvy, doesn't commit penalties, holds up in the run or the pass," an AFC executive said. "Not an overwhelming athlete but just really good."
3. Quenton Nelson, G, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 1
Nelson, the No. 1 interior lineman for the past two seasons, had never received votes outside of the top 10 -- until this year.
"May be a bit harsh but the tape was not good," said an AFC scout who did not list Nelson. "The whole [Colts] line was bad and overpaid."
The Colts ranked 27th in total offense despite three linemen -- Nelson, center Ryan Kelly and tackle Braden Smith -- playing on contracts worth a combined $200 million.
Others figure Nelson is too good for last season's play to make sense. He's still a dominant talent.
"He must have been more hurt than he let on, because I refuse to believe he suddenly became a bad player," one veteran NFL offensive lineman said. "There was a lot going on with that team last year, a lot of issues around him."
It's worth noting that Nelson missed the Pro Bowl festivities last season because of an undisclosed injury despite playing 17 games.
4. Elgton Jenkins, G, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 7
Jenkins' versatility as a five-position player across the line is invaluable to the Packers but, for the purposes of this exercise, has probably hurt his value until now.
A Pro Bowl guard in 2020, Jenkins played left tackle while David Bakhtiari was injured, then tore an ACL late in the season. He opened last season at right tackle, but by midseason, he settled into left guard, allowing five pressures and one sack over 600-plus snaps since Week 7.
He posted a solid 76.1 run block win rate for the season.
"He's powerful, smart, good feet, versatile," an AFC scout said. "If his home is at guard, he'll be premier."
5. Joel Bitonio, G, Cleveland Browns
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 31 | Last year's ranking: 5
One NFL veteran offensive lineman said his team's position group views Bitonio, who made back-to-back first-team All-Pro teams, as the game's best guard.
"Bitonio stands alone at the top for me," an NFC executive said. "The difference is he can play OG and match DL speed and quickness yet has an LT's skill set and athleticism."
The Browns have ranked in the top six in rushing offense each of the past three seasons, and Bitonio is a key reason why.
6. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 35 | Last year's ranking: 8
Kelce has aged better than just about any NFL player in recent history. Since 2021, he has jumped from honorable mention to No. 8 to No. 6 among interior players.
He posted a 95.5% pass block win rate last season while keying an Eagles offensive line that many consider the best in the game.
"Yes, the system protects him a bit and he gets help from Jalen Hurts' mobility, but he's a supreme athlete that's held up incredibly well, a leader, gets out on the run and punishes linebackers on pulling plays," an NFC executive said.
7. Chris Lindstrom, G, Atlanta Falcons
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: Unranked
Lindstrom's breakout year in Atlanta ended with a Pro Bowl appearance, a second-team All-Pro nod and a five-year, $105 million extension with Atlanta, making him the highest-paid guard in NFL history.
"Really good player, technician -- the only thing holding him back from the top, top tier is he's a bit dependent on the [zone blocking] scheme he's in," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "I don't know if he would be as good if he was in another scheme."
Lindstrom committed two penalties and allowed five sacks in 2022.
8. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Kansas City's revamped offensive line has a core player at center. Many evaluators agree Humphrey, whose 98.1% pass block win rate led all centers last season, has the makings of a star.
"He's really not beholden to any system -- you could put him in any offense, and he would thrive," a Pro Bowl offensive player said. "It was good to see that [in 2022] he had to handle more, saw less three-man fronts with Tyreek Hill gone, and he handled it great."
9. Brandon Scherff, G, Jacksonville Jaguars
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 31 | Last year's ranking: 3
Last year was odd for Scherff in that he played a full season for the first time since 2016, but he failed to make the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2018.
But Jacksonville, which signed him to a three-year, $49.5 million deal in free agency, felt his presence. Scherff's 71.8% run block win rate helped Jacksonville improve from 22nd to 14th in rushing offense year over.
"He's still a load against defensive tackles and has the quickness and power to disrupt defenders," an NFC scout said.
10. Frank Ragnow, C, Detroit Lions
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Ragnow cracked the top 10 two years ago, missed the cut after an injury-plagued 2021 season and is now back after another Pro Bowl campaign.
The Lions produced the league's fourth-ranked offense with Ragnow in the middle. One Pro Bowl veteran said Ragnow, who has a 94.5% pass block win rate, appeared to start slowly this year because of a tear in his left foot from 2022.
"He looked more like himself as the year went on," the player said. "He was elite before the injury and got back to that place. He's a great communicator at the line, makes all the calls, plays with leverage and physicality."
Honorable mentions
Erik McCoy, C, New Orleans Saints: McCoy's 97.1% pass block win rate was the fourth best among starting centers. "He's very good for their scheme, and his play has held up even with Drew Brees gone," an NFL exec said. "The Saints were depleted up front last year, but he stood tall."
Trey Smith, G, Kansas City Chiefs: Smith played 987 offensive snaps and posted a 95.9% pass block win rate for the Super Bowl LVII champions. "Powerful. He's a top-10 player at his position," a veteran Pro Bowl player said. "Only knock on him is what's a knock for a lot of powerful guys: He tries to make the big splash hit, and that gets him off balance."
Landon Dickerson, G, Philadelphia Eagles: After playing an impressive 1,044 offensive snaps with a 97% pass block win rate, Dickerson earned his first Pro Bowl in 2022. "Unreal run-blocker. He's a major talent," a Pro Bowl offensive player said. "Needs refinement as a pass-blocker but that will come. By the end of this season, he should be a top guy."
Corey Linsley, C, Los Angeles Chargers: Last year's No. 10 interior player had a 96.3% pass block win rate. "I know he was hurt for part of last year, but he's one of the steadiest centers, really smart, won't overpower but physical enough," an AFC scout said.
Wyatt Teller, G, Cleveland Browns: Teller's 91.2% pass block win rate ranked 46th among guards, while his 70% run block win rate ranked 54th. "His highlight tape is one of my favorites to watch," a Pro Bowl offensive player said. "He destroys people. He's just not as good down in and down out as some of the others."
Mike Onwenu, G, New England Patriots: Since being drafted in 2020, Onwenu has played 2,517 offensive snaps for the Patriots, allowed 12 sacks and has a 93.3% pass block and 71.6% run block win rate. "He's really underrated," an AFC scout said. "Physical. And doesn't make many mistakes. He's just not on everyone's radar."
Others receiving votes: Alijah Vera-Tucker (New York Jets), Laken Tomlinson (New York Jets), Ryan Jensen (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Ryan Kelly (Indianapolis Colts), Quinn Meinerz (Denver Broncos)