Ted Karras Ranked Among Top-5 Centers in NFL

After losing the 2021 Super Bowl, largely due to poor play by their offensive line, the Cincinnati Bengals set their sights on a proven, experienced offensive lineman. That same offseason, as soon as free agency began, they signed Alex Cappa from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cappa won a Super Bowl with Tampa during the Tom Brady era.

A few hours later, the team signed Ted Karras, who won a Super Bowl with Brady in New England. Karras had played guard and center during his career, but the Bengals specifically used him to solidify the middle of their offensive line.

After a few viral clips and the hugely successful Cincinnati Hat Project, Karras quickly became a fan favorite in Cincinnati. Not only was he a fan favorite, he was also in top form and a regular in the Bengals’ ever-changing offensive line.

CBS Sports recently ranked the top offensive linemen for the 2024 season. The list includes the best centers and guards in the league separately.

Karras made it into the top five. This is a great sign for the Bengals, as he just signed a contract extension and will be in uniform for at least two more years.

“One of the bright spots on the Bengals’ ever-shifting offensive line, Karras has allowed a 2.6% pressure rate in his two years in Cincinnati. His six sacks allowed don’t tell the whole story, as Karras allowed 20 pressures and a 2.9% pressure rate allowed per dropback in 2023.

With Joe Burrow healthy, those numbers should improve for Karras. He’s been a very good center for several organizations and systems in his career.”

Karras doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all. Arguably the best offensive line Joe Burrow has had in his professional career should be led by him in the middle.