Joe Thomas named top offensive lineman in the NFL

Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas continues to be recognized for being one of the best overall players in the NFL.

Joe Thomas will go down as of one of the greatest players to ever wear a Cleveland Browns uniform. He has remained great when the players around him have failed, and has never tried to force his way out of Cleveland.

He has made the Pro Bowl in each of his nine seasons, and continues to be recognized as one of the game’s best as training camp approaches.

Thomas was voted the No. 23 overall player in the NFL on NFL Network’s Top 100 list, and was rated as the top offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus earlier this month.

He received another honor when Pro Football Focus named Thomas the top overall offensive lineman in the NFL. The honor should come as a shock to no one, as Thomas is among the best to ever play the position.

From the article:

"Still the gold standard in pass-protection, Thomas has recovered some of his early-career form as a run blocker in the last couple of seasons to re-emphasize his status as the league’s preeminent offensive tackle, and not just its best pass-protector. If you prefer stats to grades, then Thomas has that covered in pass-protection, too. In the last two years combined, he has allowed only 41 pressures (four sacks, four hits, 33 hurries); 24 offensive tackles allowed that many pressures or more in just the 2015 season alone."

The fact he has only allowed four sacks in the past two years is astonishing. While Browns quarterbacks frequently find themselves on the ground, it is rarely ever because of Thomas.

Next: Which defensive rookies will make the team?

The Browns have some questions to answer regarding the offensive line in 2016, but having a reliable left tackle as great as Thomas helps set some foundation while those questions are answered.