Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen reveals 3 toughest O-Linemen he's gone against
![Dec 15, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen (41) reacts after the Oakland Raiders missed a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Dec 15, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen (41) reacts after the Oakland Raiders missed a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4887,h_2748,x_0,y_65/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01j2rwm3t0ajq225y8bs.jpg)
If you want to know who are the best offensive linemen in the NFL, you should ask Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. Having faced virtually every offensive tackle in the NFL, he's well-equipped to tell you who the crème de la crème is. Just recently he told Colin Cowherd who is on his top 3 list.
Cowherd asked Hines-Allen who are the toughest offensive tackles he faced. Off the top of his head, he mentioned Tristan Wirfs and later brought up Trent Williams and Laremy Tunsil. Here's what the two-time Pro Bowl nod had to say.
"There's a couple guys out there that are really talented. Tristan Wirfs is one of those guys. Tristan Wirffs, he's a dog. He's no joke," Hines-Allen told Cowherd during an appearance on The Herd. "You gotta get ready to play when you go against him, his base. You have obviously Trent Williams, who's a freaking athlete. Strong, powerful, you gotta get ready to play against him. Then, Laremy Tunsil. Laremy is a guy that I see every year, twice a year.
Cowherd wonders if having to go against Tunsil twice a year is an advantage. Hines-Allen says it's a battle, and he loves it.
"It's a battle. I like going to war against Laremy. When we have that talk, let's get these one-on-ones going. You know what I'm saying? You're the best on your team. I'm the best on my team. Let's go to war, and I love that battler. I look forward to it every year. I don't know what he feels like but I know I look forward to it... and I love it," Hines-Allen said.
All things considered, Allen's top 3 is a solid one. Tristan Wirfs was a first-round pick like him in 2020, who's earned a First-Team All-Pro designation and three Pro Bowl selections in his short career. He'll routinely pop up in the top 5 of every offensive tackle list. He was second in Pro Football Focus' latest rankings, having posted an 81.1 overall grade last year.
On the other hand, it's hard to disagree with Hines-Allen's pick of Trent Williams. At 35, he's still going strong and is the consensus top offensive tackle in the NFL. He earned first place in PFF's ranking, ESPN's list of top offensive tackles for 2024, and CBS Sports' top 20 players at the position.
Laremy Tunsil is no slouch either, having landed at No. 3 on ESPN's list. While he doesn't get nearly as much recognition as either Williams or Wirfs, he's most definitely one of the best in the business, having made four Pro Bowls in his career. Here's the clip of Hines' Allen's exchange with Cowherd.
.@JoshHinesAllen tells @ColinCowherd the toughest players he's ever faced in the NFL pic.twitter.com/UatcgAxFpu
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 11, 2024
Jaguars DE Josh-Allen embraces the challenge of going against the best O-Lineman
The Jacksonville Jaguars should be thrilled to see Josh Hines-Allen not shy away from going against the best in the business. He's been one of their best players since they drafted him seventh overall in 2019 and was without a doubt their defensive MVP last year.
Even though he flashed elite talent at times, it wasn't until 2023 that Hines-Allen became the player the Jags envisioned, setting a new team record for sacks in a season with 17.5. And after posting a banner season, he inked a massive contract that reflects his status as one of the top pass rushers in the league.
Following his breakout season, Hines-Allen has set his sights on becoming the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. If he wants to pull it off, he'll need to dominate against the likes of Trent Williams, Tristan Wirfs, and Laremy Tunsil. Based on his exchange with Colin Cowherd, he's looking forward to the challenge.
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