Some members from our message board have started creating lists of the top five players at every position. I have averaged out their rankings to create this list.
For transparency’s sake, this is how I distributed the points for the rankings:
1st – 10 points
2nd – 8 points
3rd – 6 points
4th – 4 points
5th – 2 points
Honorable mention: 1 point
To make it consistent across all positions, I averaged the points per voter for the final score with 10.00 being a perfect score.
In this edition, the three voters were:
GreatWhiteNorthRaven
wickedsolo
justlovemybirds
~Tyler Lombardi
Top 5 Centers in the NFL
1.) Travis Frederick – Dallas Cowboys – 8.00
This really shouldn’t even be a debate. I’ll readily admit that I was snickering at the Cowboys when they spent a 1st rounder on Frederick a few years ago, but clearly they had a vision and knew where they were going. On multiple occasions in 2014 he had the highest run-blocking grade of any center and he was a huge part of Dallas’s offensive resurgence on the ground. ~wickedsolo
One of my close buddies is a Cowboys fan and I remember mocking the heck out of him on draft night saying they could have gotten him in the 3rd round….. well I was proved wrong. Frederick’s play was definitely boosted by the other players around him. That line plays with such force and teamwork that it actually dropped Frederick on my own list to 4. He does a lot right though and to be that young and be a premier C in the NFL shows his high level of football IQ. ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
2.) Alex Mack – Cleveland Browns – 6.67
Cleveland is a good example of how a team struggles without a QB. They have really good players at a lot of positions and Alex Mack is certainly in that mix. I think he is one of the more consistent offensive linemen in the league and his durability is impressive (he’s never missed a start). ~wickedsolo
Mack is simply the most consistent C in the NFL. He has been one of the few bright spots on the Browns for the last 5 years. He hasn’t missed a game and he’s one of those players that does everything well. He doesn’t make massive impact plays, but he doesn’t get beat. For the C position it’s all about consistency for me and Mack takes the cake. ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
3.) Nick Mangold – New York Jets – 5.00
When we talk about career consistency and durability, Mangold has to be the conversation. In the first 9 years of his career, he has missed a total of 3 games and has anchored the Jets line. The Jets line is nothing special, but Mangold has always stood out as a gem. With an improved passing game, I am expecting their running game to be even better this year (they finished 3rd in rushing yards per game last year). That running game is obvioulsy anchored by Mangold. ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
4.) Maurkice Pouncey – Pittsburgh Steelers – 4.67
I hate Pouncey….because of how good he is. If he hadn’t missed the 2013 season, he would have likely been named to the pro bowl, meaning he would made the pro bowl every season of his career. That being said, you can’t take away from Pouncey’s drive. I think he’s a huge reason for Bell’s success and that success will continue this year. He bounced back well after his injury, and you will see that progress this season, putting him in the #2 spot. ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
5.) Ryan Kalil – Carolina Panthers – 2.67
Kalil is underrated by fans, but he’s been to 4 Pro-Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2014. Behind Cam Newton, he is probably the best player on the Panther’s offense and even with all of the terrible play from last year’s OL, Kalil was always the bright spot. ~wickedsolo
Honorable mentions
Mike Pouncey – Miami Dolphins – 1.33
Travis Kelce – Philadelphia Eagles – .67
Max Unger – Seattle Seahawks – .67
Russ Bodine – Cincinnati Bengals – .67
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Top 5 Guards in the NFL
Marshal Yanda – Baltimore Ravens – A Perfect Score of 10.00
Our favorite guard tops my list as the best Guard this season. The last few years Yanda has been top in the league, but I think what really pushed him over the threshold to take the top spot was the rest of Baltimore’s line solidifying himself. With so much turnover the one thin that has been a sure thing is Yanda. This will be the first season we have no camp battles over our OL (except for the unlikely possibility that Urschel takes over Zuttah). I expect them to grow as a unit, which will allow Yanda to dominate the entire league. ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
This isn’t even blind homerism on my part. I don’t think there are many guards in the NFL that can play to the level of Yanda. He’s excellent as a pass blocker and he’s even better as a run blocker. He’s in his prime and I think he is going to have a big year in 2015. ~wickedsolo
T-2.) Zack Martin – Dallas Cowboys – 4.oo
There is a reason Martin was a top-15 pick coming out of Notre Dame. His footwork as a lineman is elite, his understanding of the game is excellent, and he’s top-notch as a run and pass blocker. Dallas’s OL is arguably the best in the league and Martin is a big reason why. ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
T-2.) Kyle Long – Chicago Bears – 4.00
Kyle Long’s most impressive stat = zero sacks allowed last year. Long is one of the best pass blocking G’s in the league, which mostly is a result of his experience at T in college. He has the length, athleticism and feet that gives him an edge over his interior line couterparts. If his run blocking improves he will move higher up this list, but he seems to have a hard time really moving his man. Could be a combination of weak play from the C position. ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
I was going to put Kyle Long as my #2, but he’s playing OT this year from what I’ve read. ~wickedsolo
4.) Joel Bitonio – Cleveland Browns – 3.33
Bitonio turned out to be the steal of the draft. I recall wanting Oz to move up in the 3rd to try and nab him due to his versatility, but he was taken much earlier and for good reason. One thing that really made Bitonio stand out was his ability to maintain a very high level of play, even with Mack going down. He has the right size for a blindside LG and only allowed 1 sack and 11 hurries in his rookie year. The Browns line is the rare brightspot for the Browns and playing between Thomas and Mack will increase his play. Not looking forward to playing against that line. Thank god they don’t have a QB! ~GreatWhiteNorthRaven
5.) Larry Warford – Detroit Lions – 2.67
The guy is an immovable object. Warford isn’t a big name yet outside of Detroit, but he is very good. If rookie guard Laken Tomlinson pans out, the Lions could have a very stout interior offensive line with Tomlinson at LG, Travis Swanson at C, and Larry Warford at RG. ~wickedsolo
Honorable mention
Brandon Brooks – Houston Texans – 2.00
Kelechi Osemele – Baltimore Ravens – 2.00
Kevin Zeitler Cincinnati Bengals – 1.33
David DeCastro Pittsburgh Steelers – .67
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To make your own list and to participate in the rest of the discussion, click here.
