Over the last three off-seasons (2021, 2022 & 2023) I’ve ranked my top 15 at each position on the O-line (top 75). This helps me process the landscape of starters entering a season and breaks up players into broader groups of ability that crystallize where certain guys fall in the pecking order relative to their peers. The order within tiers is more malleable and can be debated while the cut-off points between tiers are more of a concrete way of stacking players.
The tiers are based on my 1-7 grading scale that I use for my trait-based style of scouting. It helps to look at the pool of players in the NFL on a spectrum over a bell curve. The bulk of the players fall somewhere between 3-5 (average performers) while the numbers shrink on the margins (1-2 low performers & 6-7 high performers
1 = Elite. These players win essentially all reps against any level of competition below ‘elite’ while splitting reps evenly with other elite players. There are very few players in this tier at any position in a given season, and it represents the smallest bucket of players (along with tier 7). This rarified group produces scheme transcendent players that regularly play at an All-Pro level regardless of the situation around them.
2 = Very good. These players are impact starters that win the majority of their reps against lower tier players, split them among other tier 2 players and can compete with tier 1 players in spurts. This group is where most All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections come from and are often referred to as ‘blue chip’ starters.
3 = Good or above average. These players compete with the majority of competition across the NFL. They rarely win any rep handily, lose most of them when isolated against higher tiers and are referred to as ‘red chip’ starters. Red chip players, or above average/good starters, can have Pro Bowl selections on their resume and some blue chip traits. However, they lack the consistency of higher tiered players and are often more dependent on the system and players around them for success.
4 = Solid or average. These players form the lifeblood of most NFL rosters. They have dependable skill-sets and can be developed into tier 3 players. They often have a more clearly defined ceiling than tier 3 players and have high enough floors to stick around as starters for a half dozen or more years if they’re in the right system.
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