The trenches are finally getting their moment. For years, offensive linemen have been the invisible warriors of the NFL—eating double-teams, swallowing sacks, and making superstars look super. Now, the league is handing out the inaugural Protector of the Year award, and the debate is already on fire.
The Six Finalists Battling for Immortality
Only one man will be crowned the first-ever Protector of the Year at NFL Honors. Here are the warriors in the running:
- Garett Bolles, LT, Denver Broncos
- Aaron Brewer, C, Miami Dolphins
- Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs
- Quinn Meinerz, RG, Denver Broncos
- Penei Sewell, RT, Detroit Lions
- Joe Thuney, LG, Chicago Bears
The Experts Are Split—And It’s Personal
NFL.com’s staff threw down their votes, and the divide is dramatic:
- Three votes for Penei Sewell: Called a “generational” right tackle who allowed just two sacks and two penalties despite injuries and a crumbling Lions offense.
- Three votes for Joe Thuney: The ultimate protector who posted zero sacks allowed on 643 regular-season pass-blocking snaps—while guarding Caleb Williams, the QB who held the ball longest in the league.
- Two votes for Garett Bolles: Blind-side beast who didn’t surrender a single sack in 676 pass-blocking snaps and dominated one-on-one matchups like no one else.
- One vote for Creed Humphrey: The anchor of Kansas City’s short-yardage attack with the slowest pressure allowed in football.
Aaron Brewer and Quinn Meinerz? Elite, but left off the ballots—proof of how brutal this competition really is.
Why This Award Hits Different
These guys don’t get fantasy points. They don’t get highlight reels. They just get hit—in the face, every Sunday. Yet without them, the Mahomes magic, the Goff deep balls, the Nix scrambles… none of it happens. This award isn’t just recognition—it’s long-overdue justice.
The Burning Question
Will history remember a blind-side lockdown artist like Bolles? A do-everything road-grader like Sewell? Or the veteran winner who’s been quietly dominant on three Super Bowl teams like Thuney?
One thing’s certain: whoever wins Thursday night will forever be the first. And that’s a legacy no pass rusher can strip away.
