In the 2025 NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey emerged as the league’s highest-graded center, showcasing remarkable consistency and excellence. Humphrey maintained his elite status by earning his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection while leading his team in offensive performance, solidifying his reputation as the top center amid intense competition.
Humphrey excelled on both run and pass blocking fronts, ranking in the top two for each according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) with an overall grade of 88.8. His dominance in zone-blocking schemes was evident through an outstanding 90.6 run-blocking grade, which ranked first in the NFL for the season. This level of performance emphasized why Humphrey is regarded as the league’s highest-graded center since entering the NFL in 2021.
Exceptional Blocking Skills Defined Humphrey’s 2025 Season
Humphrey’s run-blocking excellence was clear in his 88.5 PFF run-blocking grade, positioning him second-best in the entire league for the season. He demonstrated an impact-block rate of 20.8% and minimized his defeated blocks to 10.4%, proving his effectiveness in opening running lanes. His pass protection was equally impressive, allowing just eight pressures at a league-best rate of 1.1%, the fifth-fewest among centers.
Since being selected in the second round in 2021, Humphrey has never earned a PFF overall grade lower than 82.1. Over these seasons, he has consistently topped the charts with a cumulative overall PFF grade of 95.6, achieving unparalleled success in both pass protection (88.8) and run blocking (95.6). His resilience and steady improvement further underline his crucial role for the Chiefs offense.
Aaron Brewer’s Breakout Year with the Miami Dolphins
Following Humphrey, Miami Dolphins’ Aaron Brewer made a significant leap in 2025, posting his career-high PFF overall grade of 87.4. Brewer stood out particularly as a run blocker, leading all NFL centers with an exceptional 91.5 run-blocking grade. His versatility was clear, excelling in both zone (87.3) and gap (90.0) schemes, while maintaining the highest impact-block rate (22.6%) among his peers.
Despite committing six penalties, the highest among centers for the season, Brewer was disciplined in pass protection, permitting only 12 pressures at a rate of 2.3%, placing him seventh in pass-blocking efficiency. After transitioning from left guard to center in 2023, the Texas State product has rapidly evolved into one of the league’s best offensive linemen, ranked as the fourth-highest graded center since 2023.
Rising Talent Tanor Bortolini Shines for the Indianapolis Colts
Second-year center Tanor Bortolini impressed in 2025 after stepping into the starting role for the Colts. Replacing veteran Ryan Kelly, Bortolini made swift progress, elevating his PFF overall grade from 65.1 in 2024 to 82.6. His run-blocking (88.2) was a key factor in helping Indiana maintain a top-three offensive line grade (81.2) for the year.
Bortolini performed strongly across both zone (85.2) and gap (76.9) blocking schemes, accompanied by an impact-block rate of 19.6%. His pass blocking lagged slightly with a 66.2 grade, surrendering 17 pressures at a 3.2% rate, which was average for NFL centers.
Veteran Ryan Kelly Brings Experience to the Minnesota Vikings
After nine seasons with the Colts, Ryan Kelly joined the Vikings and posted a career-high 82.2 PFF overall grade in 2025, despite being limited to eight games due to three concussions. When available, Kelly excelled with top-five run (82.6) and pass-blocking (77.7) grades. He allowed just four pressures and recorded the lowest run-blocking defeated rate (8.9%) among the list’s centers.
Kelly’s strongest performance came in gap schemes, where he earned the second-best run-blocking grade (86.2). However, his age and injury history present concerns as he approaches the 2026 season at 33 years old, having missed 16 games over the past two seasons. Still, he remains a top-tier center, ranking eighth overall in PFF grades during that span.
Tyler Linderbaum Continues to Impress for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore’s Tyler Linderbaum reinforced his status as a premier run-blocking center, posting an 83.7 PFF run-blocking grade in 2025, his third consecutive season among the top in that category. He delivered solid performance in zone runs (84.1) but struggled with pass protection, surrendering a career-high 26 pressures at a 5.2% rate.
With three Pro Bowl appearances by age 25, Linderbaum’s career run-blocking grade of 91.2 ranks third among centers, and despite some inconsistency in pass blocking, he remains a valuable asset. As a highly sought-after free agent, his departure would leave a significant gap in Baltimore’s offensive line.
Ryan Neuzil Establishes Himself as Atlanta Falcons’ Starting Center
Ryan Neuzil became the Falcons’ starting center in 2025 after Drew Dalman’s exit and quickly demonstrated his run-blocking capabilities with an 83.3 PFF run-blocking grade, fifth best among his position peers. His impact-block rate came in at a notable 18.4%, while his defeated rate remained low at 11.4%.
Neuzil, an undrafted fifth-year player from Appalachian State, struggled in pass protection, recording a subpar 59.3 PFF grade and allowing multiple pressures. Nonetheless, he has steadily improved his overall grades since becoming a starter and ranked ninth among centers in run-blocking over the past two seasons.
Zach Frazier Builds Upon Early Success with the Pittsburgh Steelers
In the 2025 season, 24-year-old Zach Frazier solidified his place among the NFL’s top centers, appearing in the top 10 highest-graded centers during his first two years. While his run-blocking grade dropped slightly to 71.4, he improved significantly in pass protection, rising to a 75.8 PFF grade.
Frazier allowed only 11 pressures at a low rate of 1.7% and committed just one penalty throughout the season. Overall, he ranks as the NFL’s sixth-highest graded center since 2024, demonstrating balanced skills in run blocking (79.2) and pass protection (73.9).
Drew Dalman’s Impact with the Chicago Bears in 2025
After moving to Chicago from Atlanta, Drew Dalman started every offensive snap in 2025, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Dalman excelled as a run blocker, achieving an 11.8% defeated rate, sixth lowest among NFL centers. His run-blocking grade in zone schemes ranked eighth at 79.2 PFF.
Dalman’s pass protection remained an area of challenge, allowing 31 pressures (third most) at a 4.2% rate, although he posted a career-best 67.3 pass-blocking grade. Since 2023, he has been ranked sixth among centers in run-blocking performance.
Experienced Center Jake Brendel Anchors San Francisco’s Line
Veteran Jake Brendel maintained a steady presence for the 49ers in his tenth NFL season, earning a 71.4 overall PFF grade. Although he had the highest run-blocking defeated rate on the list at 16.8%, Brendel showcased strength in zone blocking, earning a ninth-best 74.6 grade.
Brendel registered a 16.6% impact-block rate helping him tie for eighth in run-blocking grades. Despite not allowing any sacks, he conceded 27 pressures, resulting in a 62.5 pass-blocking grade—his highest in three seasons.
Tied for 10th: Connor McGovern and Coleman Shelton’s Solid Performances
Connor McGovern, now with the Buffalo Bills after four seasons with Dallas, improved steadily over three years to a 70.9 PFF overall grade in 2025. Though not elite, McGovern provides reliable blocking, ranking within the top 15 for both run-blocking (68.6) and pass-blocking (70.8) and has not allowed a sack since 2023.
Coleman Shelton returned to the Los Angeles Rams in 2025 after a season in Chicago, posting a 77.2 run-blocking grade but struggling significantly in pass protection with a 53.1 grade. Shelton excels in zone-blocking schemes (82.1 run-blocking grade) but remains vulnerable to pressures, having allowed the fourth most since 2023.
The Unyielding Challenge and Promise in the NFL Center Position
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the performances of centers like Creed Humphrey highlight the critical role these players have in offensive success. Humphrey’s relentless consistency and high-level play reinforce why he remains the highest-graded center in the league and set a benchmark for upcoming talents.
With emerging stars like Aaron Brewer and Tanor Bortolini showing rapid improvement, and seasoned veterans like Ryan Kelly providing leadership despite injury setbacks, the center position continues to be a competitive and evolving battleground. Players such as Tyler Linderbaum and Ryan Neuzil demonstrate the mix of youth and development pushing the boundaries of line play, while free-agent movements may significantly reshape team lines in 2026.
The intensity and determination of these players reflect the urgency and resilience demanded from the center role, one where both pass protection and run blocking define team success. The upcoming draft and offseason moves will be pivotal for teams seeking to build around established centers or uncover the next generation of top-tier linemen.
