We surveyed more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from edge rusher to interior offensive linemen and all the way through tight ends. This is the second edition of these rankings, and there are several players who moved up and dropped from last year's lists.
Here's how our process worked: Voters gave us their best 10 to 15 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. We had several ties, so we broke them by isolating the two-man matchup with additional voting and follow-up calls. Each section is packed with quotes and nuggets from the voters on every guy -- even the honorable mentions. The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2021. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who's the best today? Pretty simple.
A 32-year-old makes the strongest case in years. A pair of 22-year-olds look ready to do the same. This year's list of the NFL's top 10 offensive tackles has serious range, thanks to an amalgam of talent -- from comeback players to oft-injured stars and ascending technicians. The competition was strong enough to drop last year's No. 1 back several spots. Here we go:
1. Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 3
That 10th-place vote was an outlier. Williams bulldozed the voting process like he pancaked Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks in a viral moment from Week 1. "He's that player O-linemen are sharing videos about," said an NFL offensive line coach. "You could easily pull out 20 plays from every game where he's dominant." After missing the 2019 season due in part to frustrations with Washington's medical staff over the handling of his head injury, resulting in a trade to San Francisco, Williams posted a 91.9 Pro Football Focus grade and a 93.6% pass block win rate, tops among this group. "He's been on a whole different level the last five years," said an AFC offensive coach. "Dominant in every facet, runs in space, massive individual, more devastating on his blocks, plays violently and can drive a person back flat-footed." That profile led to a massive $138 million extension with the 49ers. "By far and away the most talented -- his only deal is effort and consistency," an NFC exec said. "Even with lapses, still the best.
2. David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 29 | Last year's ranking: 7
Teams want a tackle who can wear down the opposition, and that's what Bakhtiari did on this list, climbing to No. 2 thanks to a stellar eight-year profile. "I think it's more a respect for the consistency he's put together while other players have fallen off," said an NFC exec. "He's such an easy evaluation. He's very good at everything, just lacking elite size and power. So dependable at a position where that's so important." Bakhtiari, who surprisingly ranked just seventh last year, posted an impressive 93.1% pass block win rate before tearing his ACL in late December. "The system aids him and takes him to the next level," another NFC exec said. "He's just solid. O-line play isn't stellar leaguewide." Bakhtiari, a former fourth-round pick, could miss the start of the season while he recovers from a knee injury, but that didn't affect his ranking in the eyes of voters.
3. Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 2
One of the league's most gifted linemen, Tunsil might be the lone star out of Houston to crack a top-10 list at any position. He is a true anchor who can win with power or quick feet, winning 89.7% of his pass-block snaps in 2020. "He's more explosive and athletic -- he's not devastating with ferocity like Trent Williams," said an NFC offensive coach. "But he's got that gear that most don't where when he wants to dominate, he can." Pro Football Focus calls Tunsil a "middling run-blocker," but coaches still consider him a threat in that area, at least when he wants to be.
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