PFF: Ranking all 32 NFL offensive line units ahead of the 2021 season

LINK

PFF's play-by-play grading provides a unique perspective regarding offensive line play, and with the 2021 season upon us, it’s time to rank the best offensive lines in the NFL.

While star power has an impact, the best offensive lines have depth across the starting five and often with their backups, so those teams will be ranked higher. Of course, finding five strong starters is a challenge, and even some of the better offensive lines will enter the season with question marks. Here are the best offensive lines in the NFL heading into the 2021 campaign.

#4 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Saints finished with the No. 8 offensive line in 2020, and they will again boast one of the better lines in the NFL in 2021.

They’re led by Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk, the best tackle tandem in the league. Both players are an excellent combination of power, quickness and technique. Armstead graded out at 84.9 in 2020, seventh-best among tackles. And he’s now earned 80.0-plus grades in five of his past six seasons. Ramczyk took a step back from previous levels last year but still recorded a 79.4 overall mark, the worst grade of his four-year career. That shows just how good he’s been and will continue to be.

At center, Erik McCoy has notched 78.0 and 69.4 overall grades in his two seasons, with his 2020 mark being dragged down by a few rough games. He should be one of the more dependable starters at the position in the coming years. Former first-rounder Cesar Ruiz posted just a 53.8 grade as a rookie, good for 67th among 84 guards. Most of his struggles came in pass protection, where his 42.3 grade ranked 78th, but that was an area of strength for him coming out of college and we should see growth in 2021.

Left guard Andrus Peat crept back toward average after two subpar years, as his 61.9 overall grade ranked 48th among guards. The key on the interior will be McCoy and Ruiz continuing their development to complement Armstead and Ramczyk at tackle.

James Hurst also returns as a swing tackle after he posted a 69.6 overall grade while filling in at left tackle and playing as an extra tight end. He’s become one of the better sixth offensive linemen in the league.

The Saints again have the pieces to rank among the NFL's top offensive lines, with their final spot likely being determined by health and the development of their young interior players.