Trent Williams maintains his position as the premier offensive lineman in the AP’s NFL Top 5 rankings for a consecutive term.
Doubts about Trent Williams’ significance to San Francisco’s offense were dispelled by the noticeable decline in the team’s performance during his recent absence due to injuries.
Over the last three games without Williams, the 49ers have transitioned from being one of the most productive offenses to struggling. This factor contributes to Williams reclaiming the top spot as the league’s premier offensive lineman, as voted by a panel of nine AP Pro Football Writers. The rankings, based on the current status through Week 8, involved assigning points with first-place votes carrying 10 points, and subsequent votes being worth 5, 3, 2, and 1 points.
Williams received votes on all nine ballots, securing seven first-place votes, reaffirming his No. 1 position from the preseason poll. Lane Johnson, also present on every ballot, claimed second place with one first-place vote. Jason Kelce, Zack Martin (who garnered the final first-place vote), and Christian Darrisaw rounded out the top five, with Darrisaw being the only new entry from the preseason poll.
The detailed breakdown of the top five offensive linemen is as follows:
1. TRENT WILLIAMS, San Francisco 49ers:
Williams, a key figure on San Francisco’s offensive line, contributes to the team’s running game with his athleticism and protects the quarterback’s blind side effectively. He has earned back-to-back All-Pro honors and is known for delivering highlight-reel blocks.
2. LANE JOHNSON, Philadelphia Eagles:
Johnson, the standard-bearer on the right side of the line, has not allowed a sack since the 2020 season and has been exceptionally solid, permitting only three pressures in the past seven games.
3. JASON KELCE, Philadelphia Eagles:
Despite being undersized, Kelce is crucial to one of the NFL’s most unstoppable plays. He plays a key role in Philadelphia’s “Brotherly Shove” play, contributing to near-automatic conversions in 3rd and 4th and 1 situations. Kelce has been a first-team All-Pro in five of the last six seasons.
4. ZACK MARTIN, Dallas Cowboys:
Martin has maintained remarkable consistency for nearly a decade as the standout player on one of the league’s top offensive lines. His numerous All-Pro selections reflect his excellence, with six first-team honors being only one shy of the guard position record.
5. CHRISTIAN DARRISAW, Minnesota Vikings:
Darrisaw, in his third season, has solidified his position as one of the league’s top pass-blocking left tackles. After surrendering nine sacks in his first two seasons, Darrisaw has only allowed one so far this year, showcasing his proficiency according to PFF.
