Over the next few weeks, we’ll break down each position in the NFC East to determine a fair ranking of each group. We’ll take into account starters and reserves, since depth and durability play a much bigger factor than given credit for in each individual season.
Today, we will break down each offensive line group. The NFC East, as a whole, consists of four very strong offensive line units. The top two teams could hold their own when matched up against any offensive line in the NFL.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are the cream of the crop, not only the NFC East but the entire NFL. After a long stretch of unsuccessful seasons, with a blueprint that focused on building through the skill positions, the Cowboys decided to change things up. They drafted Tyron Smith with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Smith was just 20 years old at the time, and he was raw but exceptionally fluid and athletic. It didn’t take long for Smith to realize his upside. He has developed into arguably the best left tackle in the NFL. He finished as Pro Football Focus’s top-ranked offensive tackle in 2015 and has finished in PFF’s top five in each of the past three seasons.
After enjoying Smith’s early success, general manager and owner Jerry Jones decided to invest additional premium draft capital in the offensive line. In back-to-back first rounds, in 2013 and 2014, the Cowboys selected center Travis Frederick and guard Zack Martin. Since both players have developed into elite players at their respective positions. A strong argument can be made that either one is the best at their position. Like Smith, they made an impact right away and took no time to emerge as quality starters in their rookie seasons.
During the 2015 NFL Draft, elite offensive line prospect La’el Collins faced a tricky off-field situation prior to the draft. The uncertainty surrounding his situation scared teams away, and he went undrafted. Although plenty of suitors called to sign him as a priority undrafted free agent, the Cowboys were the eventual winners. Collins had his ups and downs as a rookie, but he is immensely talented and expected to take a jump in year two. Doug Free fills out the line, and he is no slouch, either.
The Cowboy’ offensive line is the most dominant in the NFL, with three of the best players at tackle, guard and center. These five men form one of the only NFL lines capable of dominating on both power and zone blocking plays. Make no mistake about it, the offensive line played a key role in the Cowboys’ run in 2014, and if Dallas wants to take back the East in 2016, this line will play a key role again.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
In 2013 and 2014, the Eagles could give the Cowboys and any team in the NFL a run for their money on the offensive line. Left tackle Jason Peters was in his prime and arguably the best offensive lineman in the NFL. Evan Mathis was the best guard in the NFL, by a considerable margin, and Jason Kelce wasn’t too far behind him at the center position. Todd Herremans was a strong starter at guard and Lane Johnson was emerging at right tackle. Then, the Eagles stopped investing in the offensive line.
Two offseasons went by with next to no effort to improve the group up front, and the 2015 season was a disaster. The Eagles released both Mathis and Herremans before the season, leaving them light at guard, and age finally caught up to Peters.
The Eagles did not have a very strong offensive line in 2015, so they did exactly what they had to — they got aggressive and improved. This offseason, the Eagles made fixing the guard position a priority. Free-agent acquisition Brandon Brooks was one of the most dominant run-blocking guards in 2014, and the Eagles hope he can reclaim form after a down season in 2015.
Third-round draft pick Isaac Seumalo is not a mauler, but he graded out well according to most scouts as a pass protector and run blocker. He even played a little bit of left tackle in 2015, and this gives the Eagles more flexibility in case Peters gets injured again.
The team also added a solid interior reserve in veteran Stefen Wisniewski. This line should be much better in 2016, to the point that it could find its way back into the top 10 in the NFL.
3. Washington Redskins
The Redskins’ offensive line was night and day from 2014 to 2015. After finishing as one of the worst offensive lines in 2014, the 2015 version emerged as an above-average unit capable of fashioning stretches of dominance. The Skins’ improved play arrived just as offensive line coach and guru Bill Callahan was brought on. Let’s not give all the credit to Callahan, though; the Redskins figured out a perfect group of five up front, even if the plan changed during the preseason.
The Redskins had expected to use their fifth pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Brandon Scherff, at right tackle. Scherff struggled at tackle to start camp, and the Redskins made the change. Give credit to Callahan for figuring this one out quickly. He moved Scherff to right guard and put Morgan Moses at right tackle. Moses emerged as one of the best right tackles in the NFL, and Scherff graded out as an above-average guard. With Trent Williams still performing at a dominant level, and starters Spencer Long and Kory Lichtensteiger providing solid help, the Redskins are on the fringe of emerging as one of the NFL’s elite offensive lines.
4. New York Giants
Although the Giants have invested two first-round picks and one second-round pick in the offensive line over the past four drafts, it hasn’t been enough to turn around a unit that was arguably one of the worst in the NFL prior to the 2013 season. Of course, their deficiencies have at times been hidden in the passing game — where head coach Ben McAdoo’s quick-passing scheme benefits the linemen. In the run game, however, the poor play from the line has resulted in a consistently stagnant run game.
The Giants haven’t whiffed on their early-round draft investments. Center Weston Richburg is on the verge of developing into an elite center, and an argument can be made that he will be the best in the NFC East before long. After shifting over to left guard, Justin Pugh had his best NFL season in 2015. He was one of the better guards in the NFL. 2015 first-round left tackle Ereck Flowers went through his growing pains as a rookie — playing through injury — but he showed flashes of brilliance.
The problem for the Giants is the right side of their line. Starters John Jerry (right guard) and Marshall Newhouse (right tackle) would be reserves on most teams. They are liabilities in the run game, and the Giants have done very little to find talented players to compete with them. It could be another rough season for the Giants’ run game.
