ESPN analyst gives New England Patriots top 10 offensive line ranking

Mike Clay from ESPN ranked all of the offensive lines in football, and the New England Patriots' unit got a top 10 mark. Even though the offensive line performed poorly in 2022, it's still a talented unit

Mike Clay ranked all 32 offensive lines in the NFL for 2023, and the Patriots got the 10th best ranking from Clay. Honestly, when you look at all of the teams below the Patriots, it's clear that the NFL has a massive shortage of quality OL.

Fortunately, the Patriots seemed to have more than usual in terms of quality OL. Their interior is as good as any in football. David Andrews and Mike Onwenu at top 10 at their respective positions. Cole Strange came along nicely as a rookie in 2022, and the two projected starting tackles, Trent Brown and Riley Reiff, are low-ceiling/high floor players, which is fine.

As a complete unit and playing in a competent offense, I don't think I can disagree with then being the 10th best offensive line in football.

As crazy as it sounds, having a top OL isn't necessarily required for winning. Remember in 2021 when the Bengals made a shocking run to the Super Bowl? Their OL was just about the worst in the NFL. Look at who comes in at 31st on this list. The Jacksonville Jaguars are likely winning double digit games this year and are probably going to run away with the AFC South, yet them don't really have much along the OL.

What I have wondered for most of this offseason is the play at tackle. The team did not draft a tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft but instead took three interior OL players. Also, both Trent Brown and Riley Reiff have played both tackle positions. Calvin Anderson has done this too.

What is their plan here? Will they keep Brown at LT? Will they bump Brown back to his more natural side at RT? Only time will tell, I guess, but let's face it, New England does have a solid OL.