​Ahead of the 2025 season, the NFL finally decided it was time to give its offensive linemen some love.After some urging from long-time Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins, the league created the Protector of the Year award specifically to honor its best offensive linemen.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe NFL handed out its first Protector of the Year award as part of its NFL Honors celebration for 2025. Chicago Bears left guard Joe Thuney – a perennial All-Pro and four-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs – won the inaugural edition of the award after helping the Bears to an NFC North title.Thuney will attempt to maintain his status as the award’s lone winner in 2026. That said, he will face plenty of competition from an ever-crowded field that features plenty of stud blockers from around the NFL.Who are the top candidates to take home the league’s most prestigious blocking award? Here’s a breakdown of the top offensive linemen who could win the award in 2026.1 / 4OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)Position: Left tackleAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSewell was a finalist for the Protector of the Year award in 2025 after putting together an All-Pro season at right tackle. Now, he will be shifting over to the left side to help replace Taylor Decker and keep Jared Goff’s blind side clean.Sewell only allowed two sacks last season and committed just two penalties while grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 overall tackle. The 25-year-old is arguably the league’s best tackle and should draw consideration for the award, especially if Detroit enjoys a bounce-back 2026 campaign.Position: Left tackleWilliams is coming off another stellar season for the 49ers. The future Hall of Famer was one of three tackles who ranked both top-10 in ESPN’s run block win rate and top-20 in its pass block win rate last season along with Warren McClendon Jr. and Brian O’Neill.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWilliams is entering his age-37 season and is running out of time to win the award. If he has another quality season after grading No. 3 overall among tackles, per PFF, that could be enough to earn the four-time All-Pro what would effectively mark a lifetime achievement award.Position: Left tackleTeam: Denver BroncosThe Broncos sported one of the NFL’s best offensive lines last season and rode it to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Bolles played a massive role in that, as he didn’t allow a single sack while grading as PFF’s top pass-blocking offensive tackle (and ninth in ESPN’s pass block win rate metric).Bolles’ pass-blocking prowess was enough to earn him a nomination as a finalist for the inaugural Protector of the Year award. Another no-sack season would surely put him in the mix for the award again.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPosition: Right guardTeam: Denver BroncosBolles wasn’t the only Broncos lineman to earn recognition la