ESPN's Jeremy Fowler continues to look at position groups across the NFL and rank the best players within each. His latest effort was ranking the league's top offensive tackles.
Fowler's list is based on input from around the NFL. He surveyed over 50 league executives, coaches, scouts, and players to compile it.
"The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2021," wrote Fowler. "This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who's the best today? Pretty simple."
Last year, the San Francisco 49ers acquired Trent Williams from the Washington Football Team to replace a retiring Joe Staley at left tackle. It turned out to be a fantastic trade for the Niners. Williams missed the 2019 season but once again proved to be among the most dominant offensive linemen in the game upon returning to the football field.
The eight-time Pro Bowl tackle signed a massive six-year, $138.06 million contract this offseason to remain with the 49ers.
Williams tops Fowler's ranking, coming in at No. 1 — two spots higher than last year. It places him above names like David Bakhtiari of the Green Bay Packers and Laremy Tunsil of the Houston Texans.
"He's that player O-linemen are sharing videos about," one NFL offensive line coach told Fowler. "You could easily pull out 20 plays from every game where he's dominant."
Williams' 91.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus topped all offensive tackles and ranked second among all offensive linemen last season. Fowler notes that the veteran also owned a 93.6 percent pass block win rate, also topping all tackles.
"He's been on a whole different level the last five years," an AFC offensive coach said. "Dominant in every facet, runs in space, massive individual, more devastating on his blocks, plays violently and can drive a person back flat-footed."
