NFC North Round-Up: Ranking the IOL Rooms for Each Team
Josh Frey
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Over the past month or so, we have been ranking each NFC North team at every position group on offense as part of our on-going “NFC North Round-Up” series. After already having ranked the QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, and OTs, it’s time to dive into the IOL rooms for each team across the division.
1. Detroit Lions
There really is no debate as to who has the best interior offensive line and best entire offensive line in this division. The Detroit Lions feature studs up and down this unit, but their interior, featuring Frank Ragnow at center, is one of the best groups in the entire league.
After missing the 2022 season with a back injury, Halapoulivaati Vaitai should be ready to back into the right guard spot this year, and while Jonah Jackson has improvements to make as a pass blocker, that is the one weakness on this o-line right now as long as everyone can stay healthy.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Packers used a second-round pick in 2021 on center Josh Myers, and he finally got a full season as a starter under his belt in 2022. He proved to be worth every bit of that draft selection, thriving as a pass-blocker in the middle of Green Bay’s offensive line. He was given a 74.3 grade by Pro Football Focus.
While Myers still has plenty of room to grow as a run blocker (grading out at a measly 53.5 last year in that department), the Packers have other players on their o-line that are plenty capable in that area. This includes the very versatile guard Elgton Jenkins, who split time at left guard and right tackle during the 2022 season after playing nearly 500 snaps at left tackle in 2021.
3. Chicago Bears
The Bears did not have an overpowering offensive line in 2022, and they dealt out huge money in the hopes of changing that this year. Nate Davis signed a three-year contract with the team worth $30 million after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans at right guard.
Cody Whitehair has been a consistent center for Chicago as well, grading out at 65.0 or higher in six of his seven NFL seasons, per PFF. The one year he was lower than that was 2019 when he ended up at 64.9. Teven Jenkins has seen limited playing time at guard over his first two NFL seasons, but he looks to take over a starting job this year next to Davis and Whitehair.
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings don’t have a bad interior offensive line, per se, but it needs to show more signs of growth in 2023. Ezra Cleveland is a serviceable left guard, but now he is entering a contract year and must prove to the Vikings that he is worth keeping around for the long term. Garrett Bradbury recently landed a three-year deal to stay in Minnesota, but he has had his own ups and downs, particularly in pass protection.
The biggest question mark right now is Ed Ingram at right guard. His pass-blocking grade of 42.6 in 2022 simply isn’t good enough, especially in a Kevin O’Connell offense that emphasizes moving the football through the air. Minnesota’s path towards exiting the cellar of the division is through the growth of their 2022 second-round pick.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.