ESPN.com Ranks Eagles’ Offensive Line as NFL’s Best
In the offseason we starve for football, in the offseason we like to debate, so in the offseason we make lists.
Pro Football Focus has feature on ESPN Insider, ranking each of the positional groups in the NFL. The football analytics site named the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line as the best overall group in the league.
Offensive line: Philadelphia Eagles
Depth chart: Jason Peters (OT), Lane Johnson (OT), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (OT), Matt Pryor (OT)), Brandon Brooks (G), Stefen Wisniewski (G),Isaac Seumalo (G), Chance Warmack (G), Jason Kelce (C)
The Eagles had the best offensive line in 2017, and it should be strong again in 2018 with the return of Jason Peters at left tackle. The unit surrendered just 154 total pressures, the eighth best in the game. But 39 of those pressures came from Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who held his own when he stepped in at left tackle but was a massive downgrade from Peters, who remains one of the best in the league. In his 423 snaps of action last season, Peters earned an overall PFF grade of 86.4, tied for the fourth-best mark. Lane Johnson might be the best right tackle in the NFL and allowed only 20 total pressures in the regular season. He also had a perfect game in pass protection in the Super Bowl. Jason Kelce is coming off a career year in which he was instrumental in a formidable running game, though his pass blocking could stand to improve.
The Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans were the runner’s up to the Eagles's offensive line.
Other areas the Eagles showed up as the runner-up was at the running back position behind the Saints group.
Jay Ajayi has broken 113 tackles over the past two seasons and is a monster after contact. Darren Sproles returns for one more go, and Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and others can contribute -- even in key moments (like, say, the Super Bowl).
They also appeared at tight end behind New England and Kansas City:
Zach Ertz alone would put the Eagles in this position, but second-rounder Dallas Goedert could push them even higher. He was the highest-graded college tight end we have seen since 2014 (96.8 overall PFF grade).
and defensive interior behind the Rams:
The Eagles had the best defensive front last season and are strong both outside and up the middle. That interior dominance is led by Fletcher Cox, who was PFF's third-ranked interior defender last season, with a 91.2 overall grade.