• Ravens hit big on Morgan Moses: The veteran set a new career-best pass-blocking grade (76.9) in 2022 after allowing a career-low 4.5% pressure rate.
• Mitchell Trubisky underwhelms but puts up career numbers: While Pittsburgh's offense struggled with him at the helm, he finished 2022 with a career-best passing grade (74.0).
• Browns get elite play from Anthony Walker before injury: Walker earned a 90.0 coverage grade through three weeks before suffering a torn quadriceps.
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Baltimore Ravens
T Morgan Moses: 78.6 PFF grade, 1,087 offensive snaps
Moses spent his first seven seasons in Washington, where he developed into a reliable right tackle (75.7 offensive grade). He still endured some struggles there despite earning a 72.7 pass-blocking grade, surrendering 210 total pressures (11th worst), including 33 sacks (third worst). However, he ranked eighth in run-blocking grade (77.2).
Moses spent 2021 with the New York Jets, where he remained a solid run blocker (74.9) but was responsible for a 7.7% pressure rate (fifth worst). He managed to get back on track in Baltimore, earning a 78.6 grade in his first season (13th) after continuing to perform well as a run blocker (80.7; eighth) and improving as a pass protector. Moses set a career-best pass-blocking grade (76.9) after allowing a career-low 4.5% pressure rate. He gave up only 24 total pressures after surrendering 49 in 2021 — his best mark since 2015 (27).
Cincinnati Bengals
G Alex Cappa: 67.6 PFF grade, 1,086 offensive snaps
Pass protection has been an issue in the Joe Burrow era. Since 2020, the Bengals' offensive line has given up 353 total pressures (ninth most) at a rate of 27.5% (10th highest). Collectively, the unit has earned a 58.3 grade (fifth worst).
Cappa is not an elite guard (69.0 offensive grade heading into 2022), but he did his best to provide reinforcement. He earned a career-best 71.4 (24th) pass-blocking grade after giving up 20 pressures at a 2.9% clip (eighth best). While Cappa has improved his pass-blocking grade every year he’s been in the league, run blocking is his Achilles heel. He earned only a 62.3 run-blocking grade this past season and has only one season with a 70.0-plus mark in that facet (2021).
Cleveland Browns
LB Anthony Walker: 82.7 PFF grade, 120 defensive snaps
Walker has an interesting arc to his NFL career. He earned a 56.0 defensive grade during his first four seasons in Indianapolis, grading below 70.0 in each phase. Things changed when he joined Cleveland in 2021, though.
Run defense (51.0) and pass rushing (63.7) remain problematic for the veteran, but he ranks second in coverage grade (85.9) since joining the Browns. Walker earned a 78.2 coverage grade (third) in 2021. He was targeted 40 times and allowed 33 catches, but for only 281 yards. He didn’t allow any touchdowns, gave up only four catches of 15-plus yards and made 19 pass stops (tied 14th).
Walker was arguably off to an even better start in 2022. He boasted a 90.0 coverage grade (tied second) through Week 3, which helped him earn an 82.7 defensive grade (sixth). Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a quadriceps injury after just 120 defensive snaps.
Pittsburgh Steelers
QB Mitchell Trubisky: 76.6 PFF grade, 195 dropbacks
The Chicago Bears drafted Trubisky second overall in 2017, the start of an underwhelming NFL career for the North Carolina product. He struggled to get anything going for the offense. Trubisky left Chicago with a 63.2 passing grade (second worst), ranked near the bottom in big-time throw rate (3.9%; sixth worst) and was in the bottom 10 in turnover-worthy play rate (3.9%; 7th). He ranked 26th in yards per attempt (6.7) and second to last in adjusted completion rate (71.2%).
Trubisky spent 2021 as a backup in Buffalo, earning a 53.0 passing grade on limited playing time. There was hope that he could turn things around in Pittsburgh — and he seemed to get off to a good start. He earned the starting job ahead of first-round pick Kenny Pickett and helmed the offense for the first four games. In that time, Trubisky tied his career best in passing grade (69.5; 12th) and threw just two picks (tied fourth fewest) against three turnover-worthy plays (tied fifth fewest).
But then again, the offense struggled in front of him. Trubisky ranked second to last in passing yards (653). He made seven big-time throws (tied fourth) but threw just two touchdowns (last). He placed last in first downs (35), last in yards per attempt (5.6) and last in adjusted completion rate (65.7%). Trubisky did not have a single 300-plus-yard game. He may have finished 2022 with a career-best passing grade (74.0), but convincing coaches that he is anything other than a bridge option at this stage of his career will be a tall task.
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