What’s crackin’, folks! The NFL regular season is finally here, and Jerry Jones managed to steal the headlines heading into Thursday night, albeit because of stupidity. I’ll get to how the Micah Parsons trade affects the Thursday Night Football game shortly, but I can’t let Jerry off the hook.
I agree that $46.5 million annually is a hefty price for a non-quarterback, especially when the top of the EDGE market was $41 million. However, this embarrassment could have been avoided if the Cowboys had given him $41.5 or $42 million. Perhaps they should have had Billy Ray Valentine set the market, as he did for pork bellies? Seemed to work out well for Duke & Duke Commodity Brokers.
The entire saga was another moment where Jones appeared to be losing touch with his team, but no one in the building told him to pay the future Hall of Famer or, at least, stop talking to the media. 2025 feels like it will be a fun season for Cowboys haters.
Back to the trenches. My offensive line preseason rankings have been out for a couple of months, and the following breakdowns will be largely based on them since no games have been played yet. There will also be some preseason film watching baked into the breakdowns for the first few weeks since one or two games isn’t enough to tell what a team is truly. Remember, these are film-based breakdowns from a former scout’s perspective, so weigh them as much or as little as you see fit.
I hope to update the rankings periodically throughout the season, but that won’t be for a few weeks. Enjoy Week 1!
This is a free preview of my weekly OL/DL article. This will be available with an NFL Standard, NFL Premium, or All-In subscription going forward.
WEEK 1 OL/DL MATCHUPS
DAL @ PHI — EAGLES OL vs COWBOYS DL — MATCHUP TO EXPLOIT
Feel free to call me Captain Obvious with this one, but the Eagles' offensive line has to be featured against a weakened Cowboys defensive front, right? Philadelphia was lights out with both gap and zone scheme runs last year. Saquon Barkley’s speed and athleticism were paramount to the team’s lateral run game, and last year’s interior trio of Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and Mekhi Becton routinely road-grated the middle of opposing defenses (including new Cowboy Kenny Clark in last season’s opener against the Packers).
Things will likely be different in 2025 with Becton in Los Angeles and Dickerson coming off a preseason knee injury. Tyler Steen takes over for Becton and looked good in 10 preseason snaps with the reserve OL. However, I’d be naive to think there won’t be a slight dip in performance. Steen’s not as big as Becton (few are), so direct runs to his side suffered a bit in the preseason. However, he is more athletic, so I don’t expect a drop-off in Barkley’s zone run production.
Looking at the passing game, Philadelphia boasts the best pair of offensive tackles in the league, while Dallas has just lost its best pass rusher. The Eagles gave up more sacks than you’d think last year (45), but a good portion of those were on the quarterback (12). Steen should also be a target here, as his anchor isn’t great against power rushers; however, Philadelphia creates a wall in protection that should keep Jalen Hurts relatively clean.
TLDR: Expect a slight dip in OL consistency with Steen and a weakened Dickerson early in the season, but Philadelphia should overmatch the Cowboys up front after Dallas lost its best player. Lean on Barkley and Hurts on opening night.
ARI @ NO — CARDINALS OL vs SAINTS DL — MATCHUP TO EXPLOIT
Arizona’s offensive line surprised me in 2024. I tabbed them as the league’s 3rd-worst unit heading into the season, and they quietly proved to be one of the most consistent groups by Week 18. I have them as the 8th-best group heading into 2025, and they get a favorable Week 1 matchup against New Orleans.
The Cardinals should lean on James Conner. The veteran is coming off back-to-back impressive seasons deep into his career. Conner has been productive in zone and gap rushing schemes and is among my most underrated players for 2025. His play style is perfect for this OL, which favors downhill, direct runs. New starting RG Isaiah Adams may need some time to get acclimated to life as an NFL starter, but he looked solid in both phases, playing alongside the rest of the starters this preseason.
I don’t hate Arizona’s passing game, but Kyler Murray needs to prove me wrong before I’ll put a lot of faith in him. The offensive line did well to keep him clean last year, but his game hasn’t taken the next step. I like Trey McBride as a safety blanket, but I’d hold off on the receivers for now.
Brandon Staley takes over a New Orleans defense that was flat-out awful in both phases last season. He made the Rams arguably the league’s best defense the last time he was a coordinator, but he had Aaron Donald and a loaded unit. New Orleans is not on that level. There’s a possibility Staley shocks the Cardinals with a solid game plan in Week 1, but Arizona’s OL is too good for the weak New Orleans defensive front.
TLDR: Arizona should make quick work of New Orleans to open the season, leaning on James Conner and the rushing attack. I like McBride in the Cardinals’ passing game, but that’s it.
TEN @ DEN — TITANS OL vs BRONCOS DL — MATCHUP TO AVOID
Tennessee’s offensive line is on the come-up. I had them ranked at No. 24 heading into 2024, and they’re at the same preseason ranking this year. I kept them there because they have two new pieces in LT Dan Moore and RG Kein Zeitler. These are two vets who should adapt to Bill Callahan’s coaching style, but matching up against Denver with a rookie quarterback is a tough challenge.
I don’t see this game going well for Cam Ward. I liked him coming out of Miami and think he can have a promising career, but Denver’s defense is good in both phases at all three levels. Entering year three under Vance Joseph, the Broncos return most of the defensive front that led the league with 63 sacks last season. Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper anchor the unit, and both can win with speed or power rushes. Bonitto’s first step is exceptional, and he should have gotten more DPOY love last year, in my opinion. Whatever the rotation is with those two and the three interior guys, this pass rush will be fierce against the rookie.
The Broncos are also stifling against the run. Tennessee favored direct runs in 2024, which D.J. Jones, Zach Allen, and Jonathan Franklin-Meyers were slightly worse against. If that trend continues, Tony Pollard could be somewhat productive, but I see a defensive smothering coming in Denver this weekend.
TLDR: Cam Ward could shock me in his NFL debut, but Denver’s defense is too good at all three levels. Tennessee’s OL should improve over the season, but Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper could make it a long day for the rookie QB.
HOU @ LAR — TEXANS OL vs RAMS DL — MATCHUP TO AVOID
If you followed my articles last year, you’ll know I wasn’t a fan of Houston’s offensive line. This unit was the main reason C.J. Stroud regressed and why the Texans exited the playoffs in the Divisional Round for the second straight year. I have them ranked No. 32, and that won’t change until they prove me wrong.
The bright spot through the preseason was rookie LT Aireontae Ersery. He was solid in both phases on film, looking particularly strong on direct runs and against power rushes. He won the starting LT job over veteran Cam Robinson, so there’s hope Ersery could be the first long-term piece in rebuilding the unit. However, he could be in for a rude awakening against Los Angeles.
The Rams sport arguably the best young defensive front in the league. Jared Verse won DROY, Braden Fiske was in the conversation, and Kobie Turner and Byron Young are entering year three. Los Angeles’s youth up front could get the defense in trouble as the front was a bottom-half group against the run last year, and only managed 38 sacks. However, no Joe Mixon and a mostly unproven Houston receiving corps sets up well for Los Angeles.
I have more questions about Houston’s new-look OL than the Rams’ defensive front, and I’ll hesitate to recommend any Texans skill player until the unit shows me something. Playing a weak offensive line at home bodes well for the Rams.
TLDR: Houston’s OL has much to prove after a disastrous 2024. They might have found something in Aireontae Ersery, but the unit has a tough road matchup against a young Rams defensive front to start the season. Avoid Houston’s skill players for now.
DET @ GB — LIONS OL vs PACKERS DL — MATCHUP TO WATCH
Detroit went through a turnover-filled offseason and enters 2025 with a weakened, although still effective, offensive line. Losing Frank Ragnow after the draft was poor timing, but there are enough veteran pieces to keep this unit one of the best in the league. Rookie Tate Ratledge is the starting RG and wasn’t overly impressive in 24 preseason snaps. He got pushed around in both phases, albeit playing with the backups. I expect better when he’s with the starters, but Ratledge is someone to watch early in this game.
There’s a new play caller for Detroit, John Morton, but we know what the Lions like to do. Zone runs and play-action passes should remain the main components of the offense in 2025, with Jahmyr Gibbs playing a significant role. Early-season hiccups are to be expected, but this is a veteran-heavy offensive line (and offense) that shouldn’t take long to get up to speed.
Green Bay returns most of its defensive front from last season with a late-preseason shake-up. Jerry Jones would have you believe the Packers’ run defense will take a major hit without Kenny Clark, but there are too many guys left from one of the league’s best units last year to fall off a cliff. Parsons’ back injury is slightly concerning, but Green Bay’s pass rush got a massive shot in the arm if he can play Week 1.
Both teams will be in the playoff race later in the season. On paper, Green Bay has closed the gap on Detroit, but the Lions have too many feisty vets to lay down on opening day. This should be a good one.
TLDR: Expect some early-season hiccups with Detroit’s offensive line, but the unit still has enough quality vets to make the offense run. Micah Parsons' arrival will make Jared Goff’s life harder, but the Lions’ pass catchers should have productive days.
