With the NFL season just around the corner, Cleveland Browns legend Joe Thomas revealed his rankings for the top offensive tackles in the league.
Thomas is widely regarded as the best offensive lineman of his generation, so it’s fair to say his opinion this subject holds a lot of weight.
While there are plenty of really talented offensive tackles in the NFL, Thomas believes David Bakhtiari of the Green Bay Packers is just a cut above the rest of the competition.
“Bakhtiari has been the NFL’s best pass-protecting tackle for several years, evidenced by the five straight years in which he’s ranked in the top five in PFF’s pass-blocking grade,” Thomas wrote, via NFL.com. “In 2020, the veteran improved his run-blocking significantly to help the Packers’ eighth-ranked rushing attack.
“He’s the most balanced all-around tackle in the NFL — but one thing to note is that he has yet to practice following an ACL injury late last season that forced him to miss the postseason. The two-time first-team All-Pro has had ‘no hiccups’ in his rehab, and the hope is he’ll be back for the season-opener when Green Bay travels to take on the new-look Saints in New Orleans.”
Who are the best offensive tackles in the NFL heading into the 2021 season? Our former All-Pro tackle @joethomas73 ranks his top 10https://t.co/fm6cJMNfT9 pic.twitter.com/9bZMIWbTHX
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 10, 2021
Bakhtiari, 29, has earned All-Pro honors five times since entering the NFL in 2013.
During the 2020 season, the Packers gave Bakhtiari a four-year, $105.5 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL. He tore his ACL roughly a month after receiving that extension, but he seems to be doing well in his recovery process.
As long as Bakhtiari is healthy, Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the quarterbacks on the Packers should have their blind side protected.
The post Joe Thomas Names The League’s No. 1 Offensive Tackle appeared first on The Spun.
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