NFC North Round-Up: Ranking the OT Rooms on Each Team
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, and TEs, it’s time to dive into the OT rooms for each team across the division.
1. Detroit Lions
There is an argument to be made that the Detroit Lions not only have the best offensive line in the NFC North but in the entire NFL, largely due to their superb tackle duo of Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell. The duo combined to allow just six sacks last season, per PFF, while each playing over 660 pass-blocking snaps.
The two of them have done terrific work in pass-blocking over the past couple seasons for Detroit, and considering neither of them have reached the age of 30 yet (Decker turns 30 in August), the dominance should continue for years to come.
2. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota takes over the No. 2 spot on this list largely because of the emergence of Christian Darrisaw during the 2022 season. The Vikings second-year left tackle earned the third-highest PFF grade among all offensive linemen last season, grading out at 90.4. The only offensive tackle ahead of him was Trent Williams, who earned a 91.7.
That being said, health remains a bit of a question mark with the tackle duo of Darrisaw and Brian O’Neil heading into 2023. Darrisaw missed three games with concussion problems in 2022, and O’Neill suffered a partially torn Achilles back in January against the Green Bay Packers. If they remain healthy for the full season, the duo could threaten Detroit for the No. 1 spot, but until then, they are a strong No. 2.
3. Green Bay Packers
Again, talent-wise, David Bakhtiari is about as good as it gets at the left tackle spot. However, health has simply not been on the Packers left tackle’s side in recent years. The 2x first-team All-Pro left tackle has played just 24 games since the start of 2020, largely due to knee problems that have plagued him over the past few years.
While Bakhtiari’s talent has been among the best in the league, Green Bay sees a bit of a drop-off in that department with Yosh Nijman, who graded out at just 63.1 by PFF’s metrics. He’s certainly serviceable at the right tackle spot, but it just doesn’t compare to O’Neill and Sewell.
4. Chicago Bears
There is a decent chance that Chicago’s offensive tackles could finish the season as an above-average group in 2023 and still be last in the division. That’s how good some of the tackles in the NFC North are right now. Darnell Wright was selected with the 10th overall pick, and given the Bears struggles at that right tackle spot over the past few years, he should be a plug-and-play guy at that spot in 2023.
Meanwhile, Braxton Jones was a surprise starter in 2022, starting all 17 games for Chicago during his rookie season after being selected in the fifth round of the 2022 Draft. Assuming he remains at the left tackle spot, this gives the Bears a very promising young tackle duo to build around.
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.
