25 Best Players over 300 Pounds in the NFL in 2011

For much of the 2011 NFL season—and the ensuing playoffs—linemen dominated. 

Two of the four teams—the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers—are still alive and where they are almost completely because of their defenses and offensive lines. The New England Patriots and New York Giants have a few notable linemen too.

Linemen fascinate many fans. Analysts are often glued to the trenches, and many games are decided there. 

Part of what makes linemen so interesting is their massive size. It's amazing to watch these 300-pound beasts move more quickly than many of us can even imagine.

Jahri Evans

In 2010, the New Orleans Saints made Jahri Evans the highest paid interior lineman in the NFL.

Evans wasn't as dominant as usual in 2011, but he was still a superb player.

The 28-year-old is a power blocker with the athleticism to play in space as well. Over the past few years, few linemen—let alone guards—have been better, and 2011 was no different.

Carl Nicks

Jahri Evans's teammate, Carl Nicks, doesn't have as big of a name but is just as good. At 6'5" and 343 pounds, Nicks is lighter than Evans but is quicker on his feet.

Nicks has been great for New Orleans since the team drafted him in the first round, and 2011 was one of his best years as a pro.

Unfortunately for the Saints, Nicks is probably leaving in free agency.

Nick Mangold

Nick Mangold is a rare player. Few centers are noticed for their dominance, but Mangold has been honored with numerous accolades and ridiculous amounts of praise.

And it's all deserved.

Though the Jets' offensive line wasn't great in 2011, Mangold still was. The star center dealt with some injuries, yet he remained the game's best center.

Eric Winston

One of the Texans' many excellent offensive linemen, Eric Winston has been playing at a high level for a while now.

But for whatever reason, few people have noticed.

In 2011, though, Houston took off, winning the AFC South, and people finally began to see Winston as an elite right tackle. The 6'7" Winston is barely over 300 pounds, and he dominates because of his plus athletic ability.

Jason Peters

Even before he was an Eagle, Jason Peters had been an incredibly inconsistent player. Legendary offensive line coach Howard Mudd got the best out of Peters in 2011, though, and he was one of the game's best linemen.

At 6'4" and 340 pounds, Peters has an unusual build for a left tackle, but his results are undeniable. Michael Vick definitely noticed Peters in 2011, and so did the All-Pro voters.

Joe Thomas

Since he entered the NFL in 2007, Joe Thomas has been the game's best left tackle. Thomas is paid like it too, as he was given a seven-year, $84 million contract prior to the 2011 season.

The former No. 3 overall pick has made five Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams in his five NFL seasons.

He played up to his status in 2011 and remains a premier player.

Haloti Ngata

At 6'4" and 330 pounds, Haloti Ngata is a big man with freakish athletic ability.

Ngata can play any interior line position at an elite level, and he has dominated as a defensive end for the Ravens.

There may not be a better defensive lineman in football than Ngata. He is frequently double-teamed, yet he still racked up five sacks in 2011 while excelling against the run.

Joe Staley

Until 2011, Joe Staley was always a solid player. This past year, however, he was much more than solid.

The former Central Michigan star was one of the game's best offensive tackles.

Physically, Staley is a great athlete, and he combines this with excellent technique. Staley can be overpowered, but he is rarely beaten by quickness alone.

Calais Campbell

Though he hasn't garnered as much attention as teammate Darnell Dockett has, Calais Campbell may be the better player.

Campbell technically makes this list the "greater-than-or-equal-to-300-pounds list," but he's worthy of the eligibility change.

Campbell is a freakish athlete with superb length, and he racked up eight sacks as a 3-4 defensive end, where he is primarily a run defender.

2011 was just the beginning for Campbell, and he will be a star for years to come.

Marshal Yanda

After playing right tackle in 2010, Marshal Yanda was able to move back to his natural position of right guard and excelled on the inside.

Yanda is one of the toughest players in football, and he played though a variety of injuries in 2011, including one that required calf surgery.

The Ravens have an excellent offensive line, and Yanda is the unit's best player. There are few players who play with as much nastiness and power as Yanda does.

Geno Atkins

Geno Atkins burst onto the scene in 2011 after playing part-time as a rookie. Atkins ended up with 7.5 sacks on the season and lived in the offensive backfield.

At 6'1" and 300 pounds, Atkins doesn't have the body type of a penetrator, but that's exactly what he is.

It's no coincidence that Cincinnati's defense improved with Atkins playing in the middle.

Logan Mankins

How can someone with that mustache not be awesome?

For years, Logan Mankins has been an elite offensive lineman. He actually had a down year in 2011, but he was still a stud.

Mankins signed a six-year, $51 million contract in the offseason, and he played with as much nastiness as ever.

The former first-round draft pick may not have even been New England's best offensive lineman, though.

Vince Wilfork

It may not look like it, but Vince Wilfork is a terrific athlete. The 6'2" "325-pounder" can rush the passer, stuff the run or penetrate the backfield.

There's nothing he can't do on the field.

However, Wilfork wasn't as dominant as usual in 2011. He may have been a little more out of shape than he typically is, but he was still a great player for the Patriots.

Tyron Smith

In his rookie campaign, Tyron Smith made a noticeable impact for the Cowboys. Smith played at right tackle, but he looked capable of stepping in on the blind side without any ill effects.

Smith was capable of blocking powerful or speedy rushers, and he seemed to skip the whole learning curve thing.

Doug Free played left tackle for Dallas, but Smith was the much better player.

Richard Seymour

Richard Seymour was seen as past his prime when the Patriots traded him in 2009, but he's still playing at an elite level.

The 6'6" 310-pounder picked up six sacks in 2011 while playing defensive tackle.

Seymour has played a variety of positions in the NFL, and he is fitting in just fine at defensive tackle for the Raiders. The former No. 6 overall pick does everything well and is a huge part of the Oakland defense.

Brian Waters

The Chiefs actually released Brian Waters prior to 2011, and boy did he make them regret that decision.

Waters is playing better than he has in years, and he was a legitimate All-Pro candidate.

At 34 years old, Waters is pretty far along in the aging process. Something about New England made him turn it on this year, though, and he was the best player on a great Patriots offensive line.

Isaac Sopoaga

With Aubrayo Franklin now a member of the New Orleans Saints, Isaac Sopoaga had to step in at nose tackle for the 49ers.

Sopoaga made San Francisco completely forget Franklin, and the 6'2" 330-pounder dominated next to Justin Smith.

Sopoaga won't provide much of a pass-rusher, but he takes up blockers and plugs holes. There may not have been a better nose tackle during 2011, yet no one seems to be talking about Sopoaga.

Evan Mathis

Evan Mathis came out of nowhere in 2011. The former Bengal has been around for a while, but 2011 was the first year he played at anything close to an elite level.

Mathis has great length at 6'5" and 302 pounds, has filled in for Todd Herremans at left guard, and he was a big part of LeSean McCoy's success in 2011. 

Sione Pouha

Kris Jenkins suffered multiple knee injuries and retired as a result, but Sione Pouha filled in at nose tackle for the Jets.

Though he plays for the high-profile Jets, Pouha doesn't garner a ton of media recognition.

The 6'3" 325-pounder was crucial to the Jets' run defense, and New York would really miss him if he left in free agency. Pouha is actually the Jets' lone star defensive lineman.

Josh Sitton

At only 25 years old, Josh Sitton is one of the game's best young linemen. Sitton was great last year for the Packers, and the team rewarded him with a contract extension.

The 318-pounder is rarely recognized as an elite guard, but he is nonetheless.

Green Bay's right side of the offensive line is excellent, and Sitton is better than right tackle Bryan Bulaga.

Ahtyba Rubin

Ahtyba Rubin may be the best player no one knows about. The 25-year-old has accumulated 163 tackles the past two years as a space-eating defensive tackle.

At 330 pounds, Rubin is more athletic than most men of his size, and he racked up five sacks in 2011.

Rubin has an unbelievable motor and is a great all-around player.

Michael Roos

There have been only two left tackles better than Michael Roos in recent years, and the 320-pounder played at a high level once again in 2011.

On the whole, Tennessee's offensive line struggled, but it was not because of Roos.

If the Titans start Jake Locker next year, the team can feel comfortable knowing it has its franchise left tackle in place.

Roos has been consistently dominant, and he still has some high-quality years left in the NFL.

Brodrick Bunkley

Brodrick Bunkley never really played up to his draft status in Philadelphia, but he did in his first year as a Bronco.

The 6'2", 306-pound Bunkley is more of a run defender than his size might suggest, but he can make some plays.

Bunkley struggled with injuries in 2010, and he benefited from finally being healthy. The former No. 14 overall pick wasn't elite in 2011, but the Cleveland Browns certainly wish their trade with Philadelphia had gone through.

Cullen Jenkins

Though Brodrick Bunkley did well away from Philadelphia, the Eagles were fine with Cullen Jenkins in his place.

Jenkins is a versatile defensive lineman, who has started at both defensive end and defensive tackle.

2011 was Jenkins' first year away from the Packers, and he excelled. The 305-pounder racked up 5.5 sacks and did a more-than-adequate job against the run.

Duane Brown

Duane Brown isn't usually a top-five left tackle, but he was in 2011. The former first-round pick wasn't Houston's best offensive lineman, though.

The 6'4" Brown weighs in at 320 pounds and is solid as a pass-blocker and run-blocker.

Though he is only average athletically, Brown does a good job of handling speed rushers.