Who are the Best Centers in the NFL Currently?

The slow march of the NFL off-season continues as off-season workouts continue to heat up including rookie mini camps as well as Organized Training Activities (OTA’s). As the offseason continues to move on, the excitement for the upcoming season continues to build across the country as fans, players, and teams prepare for a run at Super Bowl LIX, the success of any great offensive team starts up front with a great offensive line including at the center position. One of those centers is Connor Williams of the Miami Dolphins who lands atop the Top 10 NFL Centers 2024 Rankings list.

When it comes to the center position, it can be difficult to point to a specific statistic to help solidify which are the best around the NFL. However, most if not all the best centers in the NFL display a high Football IQ and an understanding of their respective playbooks to help position the offensive line for success.

That is the case with Williams of the Dolphins as well as the likes of Frank Ragnow of the Detroit Lions, Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens, Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Drew Dalman of the Atlanta Falcons. Each of these five talented centers rank among the best centers in the league.

Here is a look at the Top 10 NFL Centers 2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Andre James

Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Just missing the Top 10 NFL Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Las Vegas Raiders center Andre James. James, who received a new three-year extension with the Raiders during the off-season, entered free agency ranked among the best free agent centers in the NFL.

After failing to be drafted during the 2019 NFL Draft, the former UCLA Bruins center has developed into every down center while posting solid grades both against the run and against the pass. Over 963 offensive snaps last season, James allowed just four total sacks. 

Robert Hainsey

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

One under the radar center to watch entering the 2024 NFL season is Robert Hainsey of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hainsey, who was thrown into action due to an injury to former Pro Bowl Center Ryan Jensen, stepped up in a big way for a Buccaneers team that won the NFC South division and a trip to the NFL Playoffs.

Overall Hainsey played a strong role in the success on the line posting a strong 72.6 pass blocking grade while allowing zero sacks across 1,102 snaps during the regular season and just one sack in 134 snaps during the playoffs.

Top 10 NFL Centers 2024 Rankings

10. Zach Frazier

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 NFL Centers 2024 Rankings list is the 2024 NFL Draft second round pick Zach Frazier. While Frazier was the second center selected during the draft, the former West Virginia Mountaineers star will be called on to help bolster a Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line that struggled at times during the 2023 NFL season.

Frazier will be a strong physical style of blocking to the Steelers offensive line while coming off his second First Team All-Big 12 Conference selection as well as landing as a Third Team All-American.

During his final season with the Mountaineers, Frazier has ranked among the best centers since 2021 while posting a combined 84.6 grade from PFF over the past three college football seasons. The future looks promising for a fresh young Steelers offensive line that also includes first round offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. 

9. Ryan Kelly

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Possibly the most underrated and overlooked offensive lines in the NFL last season belonged to the Indianapolis Colts who posted a combined 75.1 pass blocking grade from PFF. One of those offensive line members was Ryan Kelly who finished off the season with an overall 72.2 grade from PFF.

Entering the 2024 NFL season the Colts will rely on their strong offensive line to provide better protection for second year quarterback Anthony Richardson who will look to take a huge step forward while also staying healthy for a full season. Kelly will look to repeat his success last season that earned the former Alabama Crimson Tide his fourth Pro Bowl selection.

8. Mitch Morse

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Another veteran who continues to put in the work while continuing to provide strong blocking performance up front is the Jacksonville Jaguars Mitch Morse.

Morse, who had previously spent the past five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, signed a two-year deal with the Jaguars to help bolster an overall offensive line that struggled last season. The veteran center was a viable weapon on the Bills offensive line that finished last season averaging 26.5 points per game and 374.5 yards per game.

Over 1,128 snaps last season the former Missouri Tigers offensive lineman allowed just one sack to go along with 71.7 pass blocking grade from PFF. With Trevor Lawrence continuing to develop at the quarterback position, a strong offensive line is key to that growth and success.

7. Cam Jurgens

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

The start of the 2024 NFL season will deliver the Philadelphia Eagles a new starting center after future NFL Hall of Famer Jason Kelce retired following the 2023 NFL season.

That new piece on the offensive line is Cam Jurgens who was anchored in at the guard position on an offensive line that ranked among the best overall units in the NFL.

While question marks still surround his talent of play regarding Kelce, overall, however Jurgens has showcased his physical tools and skills at the NFL level at the guard position since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Landing on an extraordinarily talented offensive line, Jurgens should see his status move up among the best centers in the league in 2024.

6. David Andrews

Team: New England Patriots

One of the longest tenured centers in the NFL, David Andrews of the New England Patriots continues to put together a strong resume while ranking among the best centers in the NFL.

Andrews, who recently signed a two-year deal to keep him with the Patriots has been a staple on the Patriots offensive line since signing with the team as an undrafted free agent after failing to hear his name called during the 2015 NFL season.

Since then Andrews has posted four seasons with at least 1,000 snaps played including the 2023 NFL season. While his overall pass blocking numbers took a step back, Andrews continues to rank among the best run blocking centers in the NFL helping him to finish with a 71.2 overall grade from PFF.

5. Creed Humphrey

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NFL Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Kansas City Chiefs former second round pick Creed Humphrey. Since being drafted by the Chiefs during the 2021 NFL draft, Humphrey has blossomed into one of the top overall centers in the NFL on a team that has very few flaws on the offensive side of the football.

The two-time Super Bowl Champion is coming off a season allowing just 4 sacks across 1,380 total snaps during both the regular season as well as the 2023 NFL Playoffs while posting a strong 81.4 grade from PFF while ranking among the best pass blocking centers in the league.

Humphrey enters the 2024 NFL season looking for a new contract to rank among the tops at the position in the league coming off his second straight Pro Bowl selection. 

4. Tyler Linderbaum

Team: Baltimore Ravens

When you look at the landscape of the Baltimore Ravens offense it all starts with their running game led by playmaking quarterback Lamar Jackson. With the team’s focus on a strong running game a top tier offensive line is key and that is the case with the Ravens unit that ranks near the tops in the NFL.

One of those key weapons is third year center Tyler Linderbaum who the Ravens drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Linderbaum’s impressive performance both run blocking and pass blocking earned him his first Pro Bowl selection during the 2023 NFL Draft while allowing zero sacks over the course of the season. The strong play of the offensive line helped earn Jackson his second NFL MVP Award.

3. Drew Dalman

Team: Atlanta Falcons

One name that is often overlooked at the center position is Drew Dalman of the Atlanta Falcons who is entering his fourth season with the team. Dalman, who was selected during the 4^th round of the 2021 NFL draft has been solid at the center position while supplying the Falcons with one of the top ranked blocking centers in the NFL.

A key focus for a Falcons team that upgraded the running back position and their running plan in two of the last three NFL drafts including during the 2023 NFL Draft with Bijan Robinson. The Falcons guard helped the Falcons average ninth most rushing yards per game (127) last season.

2. Frank Ragnow

Team: Detroit Lions

When it comes to the top two centers in the NFL, Frank Ragnow is well deserving of one of those two spots if not the overall top spot. Ragnow played a viable role in the overall success of the Detroit Lions offense last season while helping the Lions reach the NFC Championship game.

Ragnow’s success on the field last season earned him a Second Team All-Pro selection as well as his third Pro Bowl selection after posting an 88.8 overall grade from PFF.

The former Arkansas Razorbacks center also led all guards and centers with a 91.3 run blocking grade. With Ragnow anchoring down the line, the Lions offense finished the season ranked third in overall yards per game (394.8) and fifth in scoring (27.1).

1. Connor Williams

Team: Miami Dolphins

In at number one on the Top 10 NFL Centers 2024 Rankings list is the Miami Dolphins center Connor Williams. Williams, who entered the 2024 NFL offseason as one of the top ranked free agents on the market at the center position, landed a new two-year deal with the Dolphins, however his overall market was quiet as he rehabs from a Week 14 ACL tear.

While question marks are present on his return to the field, his play to start the season was hard to look past at the center position. Williams prior to his injury posted an impressive 86.5 overall blocking grade from PFF while excelling in the zone blocking scheme run by the Dolphins and coach Mike McDaniel.

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