Ranking the top 15 NFL centers for 2022
Tackles and guards might be more valuable, but centers play a significant role in getting offenses properly lined up and ready for action
Center is one of the most unique positions in the NFL. Tackles and guards might be more valuable, but centers play a significant role in getting offenses properly lined up and ready for action. It has quietly become one of the more underrated positions in the league. We’ll change that today by highlighting the NFL’s top 15 centers heading into 2022.
I organized this list by factoring in recent production, injuries, age, situations, and skill sets. The tiers are more important than the individual number ranking since most players are interchangeable in their tiers.
There are two 2021 rankings below each center. The first shows where I ranked the center among players at their position during the 2021 offseason. The second rank shows where each center landed on my top 200 players project last summer.
I understand these rankings will be controversial. Please remember that they are just my opinion and don’t really hold any greater meaning. You can reach me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 to tell me what I got wrong and what you would change.
*Indicates rookie player
NFL 2022: Top 15 Centers
Tier 1: The All-Pro Contenders
1. Creed Humphrey, C Kansas City Chiefs
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
2. Corey Linsley, C Los Angeles Chargers
2021 Center Rank: 1
2021 Top 200 Rank: 96
3. Jason Kelce, C Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Center Rank: 5
2021 Top 200 Rank: 176
4. Frank Ragnow, C Detroit Lions
2021 Center Rank: 2
2021 Top 200 Rank: 106
Tier 1 consists of centers talented enough to challenge for All-Pro honors every year. Two members of this tier are multi-time All-Pros, and the other two should join them soon. I struggled to pick a top player for this position since the top four are very close in talent. Please remember that players are mostly interchangeable within the tier.
Humphrey was statistically the best center in the NFL in 2021, but the All-Pro voters didn’t give the rookie the respect he deserved. Humphrey wasn’t selected to an All-Pro team or the Pro Bowl despite only allowing one sack and ten pressures, which tied for the fourth-fewest among centers with at least 500 snaps. The centers who allowed fewer pressures than the Oklahoma product played roughly 400 fewer snaps.
Linsley, a First-Team All-Pro in 2020, kept pace with Humphrey. The former Packer also allowed ten pressures but didn’t surrender a sack. However, he played more than 100 fewer snaps than his Kansas City counterpart. Linsley has only allowed 14 pressures and one sack over the past two years while committing just six penalties.
After looking like he was poised to experience a steep drop in play and possibly retire, Kelce returned to peak form for the 2021 season. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors, edging out Linsley. The 34-year-old Cincinnati product now has four of the last five First-Team All-Pro selections to his name and must be close to solidifying a serious Hall of Fame candidacy.
Despite his frame, Kelce remains a weapon in Philadelphia’s run-heavy offense. He’s no slouch in pass protection either. The wily veteran allowed 17 pressures and one sack in 2021.
Ragnow rounds out Tier 1. The former first round pick was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2020 and is one of the best run blocking centers in the NFL. Unfortunately, Ragnow required season-ending surgery on his foot just four games into 2021. The Lions have an excellent offensive line, and it will only become more dominant when the man who only allowed nine pressures and no sacks in 2020 returns to his role at the pivot.
Tier 2: High-End Starters
5. Ryan Jensen, C Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
6. Ben Jones, C Tennessee Titans
2021 Center Rank: 7
2021 Top 200 Rank: 189
7. Erik McCoy, C New Orleans Saints
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
8. Ryan Kelly, C Indianapolis Colts
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 2 centers are players capable of performing at an All-Pro level at various points during the season but don’t consistently maintain that level of play. These are the position’s top players who border on the “elite” tier but lack the merits to crack Tier 1.
Unfortunately, Jensen suffered a significant knee injury in late July and will miss several months. I decided to include him in Tier 2 anyway for several reasons. First, he might return during the regular season or playoffs. Second, I included at least one injured player on last year’s top 200. Third, it would be a shame not to recognize and discuss a mauler and tone-setter like Jensen. He’s been fantastic for the Buccaneers. Before his current injury, he hadn’t missed a start since 2016.
McCoy hasn’t lived up to his pre-draft expectations, but he’s still one of the better centers in the NFL. The former second round pick only allowed 28 pressures and two sacks during his first two years in the league. However, he missed five games last year and committed eight penalties. The only reason McCoy isn’t lower is that his fellow Tier 2 centers also struggled in 2021.
Kelly missed three games this past year and allowed career highs in pressures (29) and sacks (three). Jones allowed a career-high 26 pressures and one sack. Despite showing some signs of decline, the 33-year-old remains a force in the running game. Jones has only missed one start in the past eight seasons.
Tier 3: Quality Starters
9. J.C. Tretter, C Free Agent
2021 Center Rank: 4
2021 Top 200 Rank: 151
10. Mitch Morse, C Buffalo Bills
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
11. Brian Allen, C Los Angeles Rams
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
12. Connor Williams, C Miami Dolphins
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Based on his performance last season, Tretter belongs in Tier 2, but I almost dropped him to Tier 4 during my initial writing process. It’s strange for a player as accomplished as Tretter not to have a home this late into the offseason. The former Brown has only missed one start in the past five seasons, but reports of nagging knee and ankle injuries might mean his time as a top-ten center is over.
The remainder of Tier 3 consists of unspectacular players that teams believe they can win with. These players provide teams cap flexibility since they aren’t paid like superstars, and there’s only a slim chance they become cap casualties.
Morse is an established veteran with 96 starts under his belt. The 30-year-old carries an injury history, but he started in every game this past season, playing over 1,000 snaps for the second time in his career.
On the other end of the spectrum, Allen entered the NFL in 2018 and has two years of starting experience. He allowed 20 pressures and five sacks in 2021.
Williams is a unique case. The former 50th overall pick spent the past four years as a replacement level guard for the Dallas Cowboys, but he showed steady improvement each year. Williams has never played a snap at center in the NFL, but he’s Miami’s projected starter at the position. There will be growing pains, but the 25-year-old might ultimately benefit from the transition.
Tier 4: Injury Concerns
13. Chase Roullier, C Washington Commanders
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
14. Rodney Hudson, C Arizona Cardinals
2021 Center Rank: 3
2021 Top 200 Rank: 130
15. David Andrews, C New England Patriots
2021 Center Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 4 consists of players who would usually at least rank in Tier 3 but are returning from injuries or have significant injury concerns. Hudson is the most notable player in this tier. The former All-Pro was one of the NFL’s best pass blocking linemen during his prime, but he missed five games in 2021.
Even when he was available, Hudson wasn’t his usual self. Advanced statistics hint at the 33-year-old’s decline beginning in 2019. Of course, Hudson could rebound in 2022 and make this ranking look silly, but he only decided to continue playing football and pass on retiring in late July.
Roullier had a solid start to his 2021 season after a breakout campaign in 2020. Unfortunately, the former sixth round pick suffered a fractured fibula that ended his season after only eight games.
In 2021, Andrews started every game for the first time since 2018. Considering he missed 2019 with a fluky but severe condition (blood clots in his lungs), Andrews doesn’t really belong under the “injury concerns” banner, but he’s not cracking Tier 3. The 30-year-old allowed 17 pressures and one sack last year. He’s currently on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Honorable Mentions
Tyler Linderbaum, C Baltimore Ravens*
Connor McGovern, C New York Jets