The big guys in the trenches often get unnoticed with the spotlight going to skill positions but PFF turned attention to the protectors at the line of scrimmage. Continuing the series of 2021 NFL position rankings, offensive tackles are up next. The top 32 tackles are evaluated by PFF’s advanced database to create the compiled list of talent across the league.
Four former Oklahoma Sooners are among the group: Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, Orlando Brown Jr., and Daryl Williams. Here is a breakdown of each premiere tackle.
Trent Williams (2), San Franciso 49ers
What PFF says…
After taking a one-year hiatus in 2019, Williams returned to the field for a new squad in 2020 and looked like the same elite player. He notched a 91.8 PFF grade in San Francisco last season, leading all offensive tackles. While his pass protection was strong, it was his performance in Kyle Shanahan’s wide zone rushing attack that really solidifies his spot here. Williams earned a career-high 91.8 run-blocking grade and laid down more big-time and positively graded blocks than any other tackle in a season during the PFF era (since 2006).
What Sooners Wire says…
The 49ers gave Trent Williams a lofty six-year, $138.06 million paycheck to retain his services. The lucrative deal made Williams the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. He was acquired by the 49ers last offseason following a nine-year tenure in Washington. The blindside left tackle returned to peak form in 2020 after missing the entirety of the 2019 season, earning him an appearance in his 8th Pro Bowl. If the dollar amount given to a left tackle is not testament enough, his accolades/production at the line of scrimmage sure are.
Now, let’s move to the NFC East.