The Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit at the top of this week’s offensive line rankings, with Quinn Meinerz and Tristan Wirfs anchoring units that look ready to set the tone up front. As we continue our summer series ahead of the 2026 regular season, the spotlight shifts from quarterbacks, running backs and wideouts to the big men who make everything else work.
At No. 1, Denver gets the nod as the most balanced offensive line in football.
The Broncos finished the 2025 season sixth in adjusted line yards at 4.55 and sixth in yards before contact at 2.5, numbers that helped Bo Nix get off to a strong start in his NFL career. Meinerz is the leader of the group, but Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg and Mike McGlinchey all have to stay in sync if Denver wants a real shot at a Super Bowl push.
Tampa Bay comes in right behind them at No. 2.
The Buccaneers are viewed as one of the favorites to win the NFC South because of what they can do in the trenches, even though injuries wrecked their line last season. Only center Graham Barton played more than 800 snaps or appeared in more than 12 games.
If the group stays healthy, Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke should give Baker Mayfield the kind of protection that can fuel a playoff run.
Philadelphia lands at No. 3, and the Eagles’ reputation up front still carries plenty of weight. They finished 17th in pass block win rate at 64%, though that number was shaped by three starters who allowed just two sacks and 17 pressures.
Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson considered retirement this offseason, but later confirmed they will return to Philly for the 2026 season. Jordan Mailata, Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen also need to be at their best to keep Jalen Hurts in safe hands.
Buffalo checks in at No. 4 with an offensive line that has built real credibility over the past few seasons. The Bills finished fourth in pressure rate at 25.6%, second in time to pressure at 2.78 seconds and second in adjusted line yards at 5.29 last season. That front has helped Josh Allen, who won the MVP in the 2024 season, and the group of Dion Dawkins, Alec Anderson, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence and Spencer Brown has grown into one of the league’s strongest units.
Chicago rounds out the top five. The Bears were first in time to throw at 3.03 seconds, sixth in time to pressure at 2.57 seconds and third in yards before contact at 2.8 last season, all while winning the NFC North.
With Caleb Williams leading the offense, Chicago has already shown it can keep its quarterback protected. Braxton Jones, Joe Thuney and Logan Jones are expected to drive the line, while Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright also need to play major roles.
Meinerz and the Broncos sit atop this week’s offensive line efficiency rankings, but the picture can change quickly once preseason action starts rolling in.
In Other News...
Former Buccaneers Receiver Still Waiting On His Next NFL Break
Sterling Shepards run in Tampa Bay ended after two seasons, and the veteran receiver is still looking for his next NFL landing spot. He gave the Buccaneers a steady presence across 28 games, producing 71 catches for 705 yards and two touchdowns, but the team moved on for 2026 as it reshapes the receiver group around younger options and other veterans following Mike Evans departure.
Shepard has kept himself in the mix by working out for the Ravens recently, a sign that teams are still at least taking a look at what he can offer. For now, though, the market has not moved in his favor, and his next opportunity remains one of the quieter roster-watch storylines for a Tampa Bay offense trying to retool without one of its most familiar targets. [Read more 🡒]
Young Bucs Defender Sent A Team First Message Fans Will Notice
With several contract decisions looming for the Buccaneers, Yaya Diaby is already making clear where he thinks the first priority should be. The young outside linebacker, speaking on the Pewter Report Podcast, put the focus on the bigger picture around the roster rather than his own situation, while Tampa Bay also weighs future deals for Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea and Chase McLaughlin.
Diaby also sounds ready for a larger voice in the locker room after Lavonte Davids departure. He talked about stepping into a more vocal leadership role this season, a shift that matters for a defense trying to establish its identity and for a player who appears willing to embrace more responsibility as the offseason decisions keep stacking up. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs May Finally Have A Backfield Edge They Can't Waste
The Buccaneers may be lining up for something they have not always had in recent seasons: a backfield with enough depth and variety to make a real committee work. Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker each bring a different skill set, and that gives Tampa Bay a chance to lean into two-back personnel packages instead of forcing one runner to do everything. For offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, that kind of flexibility could open up more ways to stress defenses and keep the run game from becoming predictable.
Gainwells pass-catching and protection ability make him a natural piece in those looks, while Tucker gives the group a more downhill edge when the Bucs want to change the pace. The bigger question is whether Tampa Bay actually commits to using all of it, because a backfield this balanced can be an advantage only if the team is willing to keep rotating and let the matchups dictate the plan. [Read more 🡒]