Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin repeated this year as the top interior offensive lineman in a survey of NFL coaches, scouts and executives conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Martin, who was also No. 1 in the survey last year, was one of seven different guards or centers to receive a first-place vote this year. The entire top 10 is as follows:
- Zack Martin (Dallas Cowboys)
- Chris Lindstrom (Atlanta Falcons)
- Quenton Nelson (Indianapolis Colts)
- Joe Thuney (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Joel Bitonio (Cleveland Browns)
- Landon Dickerson (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Creed Humphrey (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Frank Ragnow (Detroit Lions)
- Trey Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)
- Elgton Jenkins (Green Bay Packers)
Martin, 33, has been widely regarded as an elite offensive lineman ever since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2014, as he has earned nine Pro Bowl nods, seven All-Pro First Team selections and two All-Pro Second Team selections during his 10-year career.
Much of the top five is similar to last year except the ascension of Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom, who went from seventh in 2023 all the way up to second in 2024.
The 27-year-old has been named a Pro Bowler in each of the past two seasons, although he is arguably still somewhat underrated, as he has yet to secure a spot on the All-Pro First Team, settling for Second Team selections in 2022 and 2023.
Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson maintained his No. 3 ranking from last year, Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney dropped from No. 2 and No. 4 and Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio held steady in fifth.
Nelson has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his six NFL seasons, Thuney is four-time Super Bowl champion between stints with the New England Patriots and Chiefs, and was named a First Team All-Pro for the first time last season, and Bitonio has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the past six campaigns.
The Chiefs are the only team with more than one entry in the top 10, as their entire interior offensive line comprised of Thuney, center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith made the list.
Much of the credit for the Chiefs' success in recent years has gone to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and head coach Andy Reid, but it can't be discounted that KC has arguably the best offensive line in the entire league.
Chiefs quarterbacks were sacked just 28 times last season, which was the second-lowest mark in the league, plus Kansas City had a solid running game spearheaded by running back Isiah Pacheco, who rushed for 935 yards and seven touchdowns, and averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
With Thuney, Humphrey and Smith leading the way, the Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls, and they have a legitimate chance to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat.
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