ESPN ranks all 32 OL units: Where do the Colts fall?

ESPN put together its ranking of all 32 offensive line units ahead of the 2024 NFL season. So, where does the Colts’ offensive line group fall on this list?

As I’m sure you can imagine, the Colts offensive line ranks quite well among its peers. This is a unit that in 2023 ranked top 10 in both yards per rush as well as pressure rate, and they return all five of their starters for this season, including what should hopefully be a healthy version of Braden Smith at right tackle.

Of course, all eyes will be on Anthony Richardson and much of the attention this offseason was on putting added playmaking around him, which the Colts did by selecting wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second round of the NFL draft.

However, as GM Chris Ballard mentioned, consistent success for Richardson, and therefore the offense as a whole, starts with the play up front.

“Block and protect,” said Ballard. Just look through the league, just look through the playoff teams and they all can block and protect. I think that’s critical. So that’s one.

“I remember Andrew (Luck) used to tell me all the time, ‘Chris, let’s get me protected. Give me guys who can catch it and get to the right spot, and I’ll make the rest work.’ Most of the good ones that’s how they roll. Do you want the superstar out there? Absolutely. But protection, to me, is always first and foremost.”

Here is where the Colts’ offensive line unit ranks among the rest of the NFL:

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32. Seattle Seahawks

Sep 30, 2018; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Seattle Seahawks helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Cross, Laken Tomlinson, Nick Harris, Anthony Bradford, Abraham Lucas

31. Arizona Cardinals

Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals helmet on the bench during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Paris Johnson Jr., Isaiah Adams, Hjalte Froholdt, Will Hernandez, Jonah Williams

30. New York Giants

Nov 24, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the New York Giants helmet during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, John Michael Schmitz, Jon Runyan, Evan Neal

29. Houston Texans

Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Houston Texans helmet during the AFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Laremy Tunsil, Juice Scruggs, Jarrett Patterson, Shaq Mason, Tytus Howard

28. Jacksonville Jaguars

Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars helmet on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cam Robinson, Ezra Cleveland, Mitch Morse, Brandon Scherff, Anton Harrison

27. New Orleans Saints

Nov 17, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail view of New Orleans Saints helmet during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Taliese Fuaga, Nick Saldiveri, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, Trevor Penning

26. Miami Dolphins

Dec 29, 2019; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; A Miami Dolphins helmet rests on cooler during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Terron Armstead, Isaiah Wynn, Aaron Brewer, Robert Jones, Austin Jackson

25. Dallas Cowboys

Jan 5, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet prior to the NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shane Roper-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Brock Hoffman, Zack Martin, Terence Steele

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Feb 4, 2020; Tampa, FL, USA; Detailed view of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets on the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tristan Wirfs, Graham Barton, Robert Hainsey, Cody Mauch, Luke Goedeke

23. Buffalo Bills

Jan 24, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Buffalo Bills helmet in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Dion Dawkins, La’el Collins, Connor J. McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown

22. Baltimore Ravens

Sep 22, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Baltimore Ravens helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Ronnie Stanley, Sala Aumavae-Laulu, Tyler Linderbaum, Ben Cleveland, Patrick Mekari

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jun 12, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet sits on the field during minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, James Daniels, Troy Fautanu

20. Minnesota Vikings

Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Darrisaw, Dalton Risner, Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Brian O’Neill

19. San Francisco 49ers

Nov 24, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the helmet for the San Francisco 49ers in the game against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Trent Williams, Aaron Banks, Jake Brendel, Jon Feliciano, Colton McKivitz

18. Washington Commanders

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of a Washington Commanders helmet during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Cornelius Lucas, Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie

17. Los Angeles Rams

Dec 1, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an Los Angeles Rams helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

AJ Jackson, Jonah Jackson, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein

16. New England Patriots

Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of a New England Patriots helmet against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Caedan Wallace, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Sidy Sow, Michael Onwenu

15. Los Angeles Chargers

Oct 22, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Los Angeles Chargers helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Jamaree Salyer, Joe Alt

14. Las Vegas Raiders

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Kolton Miller, Dylan Parham, Andre James, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Delmar Glaze

13. Cincinnati Bengals

Oct 29, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Bengals helmet on the sidelines in the game of the Indianapolis Colts against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Orlando Brown, Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Trent Brown

12. Carolina Panthers

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton

11. Tennessee Titans

Oct 29, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of the throwback Houston Oilers helmet the Tennessee Titans will wear against the Atlanta Falcons at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

J.C. Latham, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Daniel Brunskill, Dillon Radunz

10. Chicago Bears

Nov 10, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bears helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Nate Davis, Darnell Wright

9. Green Bay Packers

Oct 27, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Green Bay Packers helmet during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom

8. Kansas City Chiefs

Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Wanya Morris, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Jawaan Taylor

7. Denver Broncos

Dec 15, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Denver Broncos helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Sam Mustipher, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey

6. Philadelphia Eagles

Sep 26, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Philadelphia Eagles helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cameron Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson

5. Indianapolis Colts

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Braden Smith

4. Atlanta Falcons

Nov 22, 2018; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons helmets on the bench during their game against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary

3. New York Jets

Dec 29, 2019; Orchard Park, New York, USA; General view of a New York Jets helmet prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Morgan Moses

2. Cleveland Browns

Dec 24, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a Cleveland Browns helmet prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Bears won 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin

1. Detroit Lions

Dec 20, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of a Detroit Lions helmet on the bench before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Penei Sewell