Tag: Joseph Noteboom

Joe Noteboom is competing for starting RG position, won’t eliminate him from winning LT job

Joseph Noteboom is competing for the starting RG spot, but that won’t eliminate him from potentially starting at LT.

Joseph Noteboom is in a competition with Alaric Jackson for the starting left tackle spot for the Los Angeles Rams, and he’s getting reps at another position during the preseason. In case Noteboom doesn’t get named the starting left tackle, the Rams are also having him compete for the starting right guard spot.

The Rams handed Noteboom a three-year, $40 million contract before the 2022 season, though they reworked his deal earlier this offseason. Noteboom entered last season as the team’s starting left tackle, replacing Andrew Whitworth following his retirement from the NFL.

But in Week 6 versus the Carolina Panthers, Noteboom suffered a season-ending torn Achilles, cutting his 2022 campaign short. After needing months to recover, the Rams have brought Noteboom along slowly, and he was able to practice throughout training camp.

Even though Noteboom was believed to be the long-term replacement at left tackle for Whitworth, Sean McVay and Mike LaFleur have made it clear that the best offensive linemen will start this season. Jackson has performed well in Noteboom’s absence in the offseason and he’s gotten plenty of meaningful reps at left tackle.

Many assumed that Logan Bruss would play guard this season, but he’s been getting more snaps at right tackle. And with Tremayne Anchrum currently listed as the starting right guard, Noteboom is beginning to get more reps in the interior.

The Rams are giving Noteboom every chance they can to earn a starting job in 2023, and if it’s not at the left tackle position, he could make the move to right guard.

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Joseph Noteboom has strained MCL, is listed as day-to-day

Joseph Noteboom suffered a strained MCL in Thursday’s loss to the Bills, but the Rams expect him to be active in Week 2.

Joseph Noteboom had a forgettable performance in Thursday night’s season opener against the Buffalo Bills. After having to try to keep Von Miller off of Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay shared that Noteboom strained his MCL on Thursday night and is day-to-day.

Noteboom didn’t miss a single offensive snap in the loss to the Bills despite visibly being in pain when he suffered the knee injury. The knee injury occurred in the second half of the game, causing him to have a noticeable limp to finish the contest.

While the Rams are considering Noteboom to be day-to-day, the team expects him to be ready for next week’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. If the TCU product is unable to show enough progress in his recovery, AJ Jackson would be in line to replace him in Week 2.

Besides Noteboom, Brian Allen also sustained an injury on Thursday night, though, he’ll miss a minimum of two weeks after undergoing a knee procedure. The offensive line of the Rams mightily struggled in the loss to the Bills and it’s evident that they won’t be close to one-hundred percent healthy in Week 2 versus the Falcons.

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Joe Noteboom feels prepared as Rams’ LT after getting blueprint from Andrew Whitworth

Joseph Noteboom feels prepared to take over as the Rams’ LT after getting the blueprint from Andrew Whitworth for four years

Joseph Noteboom was drafted into a perfect situation four years ago when the Rams took him in the third round. They already had Andrew Whitworth as their starting left tackle, which allowed Noteboom to sit back and learn from one of the best linemen of this generation.

He probably didn’t expect to sit behind Whitworth for all four years of his rookie contract, but the Rams still rewarded Noteboom with an extension this offseason.

They committed to him as their starting left tackle with a three-year, $40 million contract, a considerable deal for a player who has never been a full-time starter in the NFL. But Noteboom appreciates the Rams showing confidence in him, and he knows he’s the man for the job after getting to see Whitworth work every week.

“It was the perfect situation. There’s no other guy in the league I would’ve rather been behind those four years. That gives me confidence going into it. I was sitting behind a guy who does everything the right way on and off the field,” Noteboom said Monday. “Sixteen-year vet, Walter Payton Man of the Year. I mean, to step into this role, I had a blueprint for it for four years and I was watching his every move on and off the field so that’s what gives me confidence to go into this position.”

Noteboom has made starts at left tackle when Whitworth was injured or out due to COVID-19, and he played well in those opportunities – far better than he performed as a starting guard in 2018. Against the Buccaneers in the divisional round, Noteboom allowed just one pressure in pass protection, the same number he allowed the week prior against the Cardinals.

He’s allowed more than three pressures in a game just once since 2020, excelling in pass protection. Noteboom could get stronger and more physical in the running game by finishing off blocks, but he should continue to get better as he develops further in a starting role.

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Projecting Rams’ starting offensive line after initial free agency moves

The Rams retained three linemen but lost one in free agency. What does their starting offensive line look like as of now?

The Rams’ offensive line was bound to undergo some changes this offseason. Andrew Whitworth is on the verge of retirement, Brian Allen and Austin Corbett were free agents and Joseph Noteboom has been waiting in the wings to replace Whitworth at left tackle.

One day into the legal tampering period of free agency, the Rams’ O-line is already taking shape. They re-signed Noteboom, Allen and Coleman Shelton, keeping them in the mix for 2022. Corbett won’t be back in Los Angeles, however, after he landed a three-year, $29.25 million deal with the Panthers.

We still don’t officially know Whitworth’s plan for 2022, but he’s been hinting at retirement for some time now. So assuming he does retire from the NFL, the Rams’ starting offensive line isn’t terribly difficult to project at this point.

It will probably look something like this

LT: Joseph Noteboom

LG: David Edwards

C: Brian Allen

RG: Coleman Shelton

RT: Rob Havenstein

There’s a chance that Shelton could play left guard and Edwards could move to the right side, but for now, we’ll project Edwards to stay at left guard and Shelton to replace Corbett at right guard.

Shelton started at left guard against the Vikings in Week 16 after Whitworth and Havenstein tested positive for COVID-19, forcing Edwards to play left tackle with Noteboom at right tackle. So he has experience at left guard, and in college, Shelton also played right guard.

Had Allen not been re-signed, it would’ve been easy to pencil in Shelton as the starting center, too. He has position flexibility across all three interior spots, giving the Rams plenty of options in the event of injury.

The Rams committed to Shelton for longer than they needed to, as well, which is a good sign for how highly they think of him. He was a restricted free agent, so he could’ve been tendered for one year for as low as $2.4 million. We still don’t know how much Shelton’s two-year deal is worth, but the Rams clearly wanted to keep him beyond just 2022.

Joseph Noteboom’s contract has low 2022 cap hit and 2 void years

Here’s a full breakdown of Joseph Noteboom’s contract, which has a low cap hit in 2022 and two void years at the end.

The Los Angeles Rams were surprisingly active on the first day of the free agency tampering period Monday, wasting no time getting their own offensive linemen under contract. The first deal they made was with Joseph Noteboom, agreeing to a three-year deal worth up to $47.5 million.

It’s a big extension for a player who’s never been a full-time starter at left tackle, but it was a smart move by the Rams to secure the versatile lineman for several more years.

And looking at the breakdown of the contract, it’s not as costly as it seems on the surface – especially in the first year. According to Spotrac, Noteboom’s cap hit is only $3.5 million in 2022.

The Rams also tacked on two void years in 2025 and 2026 to spread out money, which leads to a dead cap charge of $4 million in 2025. The second void year is for cap flexibility in the event that the Rams want to restructure his contract in the next two years.

Noteboom got $16.5 million guaranteed at signing and another $8.5 million next March, essentially making it a two-year deal worth $25 million. The Rams could technically cut him after one season, but that would leave a dead cap charge of $13.5 million and a cap savings of only $2.5 million in 2023.

If the Rams cut Noteboom after the 2023 season, they’ll save $11 million in 2024, so they can easily get out of the contract after two years if he doesn’t meet expectations.

The structure of his contract shouldn’t surprise any fans, given how often the Rams utilize void years to keep players’ cap hits lower in the first year. That was a necessity with Los Angeles being $20 million over the cap before signing Noteboom.

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After 4 years of waiting, Joseph Noteboom is finally getting his shot

After agreeing to a three-year extension with the Rams, Joseph Noteboom is finally getting his shot as a starter

The Rams used their top pick in 2018 on a lesser-known tackle out of TCU. That player, of course, was Joseph Noteboom.

They drafted him with the plan that he would replace Andrew Whitworth eventually as their starting left tackle, not knowing exactly when Whitworth would decide to retire. The Rams probably thought Noteboom could take over as early as 2019, but Whitworth signed a three-year extension in 2020 and still has yet to retire from the NFL.

On Monday, the Rams committed to Noteboom long-term. They agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $47.5 million, with a base value of $40 million and $25 million guaranteed.

Whitworth is still on the roster as of now, but this extension for Noteboom indicates that Whitworth is likely on his way out. And after four years of patiently waiting for his opportunity to start, Noteboom is finally getting his shot.

He’s gotten the chance to start here and there before, but never as a full-time player at tackle. In 2019, Noteboom was the starting left guard for six games before getting injured. He looked overmatched on the interior, struggling with stronger defensive tackles.

In 2020, he started nine games while Whitworth was out with a knee injury, and last season, he made two starts in the regular season – one at right tackle and one at left tackles – and started another game for Whitworth in the playoffs.

So while $47.5 million seems like a lot for a player who’s never been a primary starter at left tackle, Noteboom proved he’s more than capable of handling a larger role such as the one he’ll have in 2022 – assuming Whitworth does indeed retire.

One of Noteboom’s biggest moments came in the divisional round of the playoffs when he started at left tackle and went toe-to-toe with Jason Pierre-Paul on the left side. He allowed one pressure, zero sacks and earned a pass-blocking grade of 86.3, according to Pro Football Focus.

He’s only had one game at tackle in which he allowed more than three pressures, which shows how reliable he’s been for the Rams. And in the last two seasons, he’s given up just three total sacks.

The Rams are confident in Noteboom stepping in at left tackle, and once Whitworth does officially retire, it’ll be Noteboom’s perch for the next three years.

Rams are re-signing Joseph Noteboom to 3-year deal worth up to $47.5 million

The Rams are bringing back Joseph Noteboom, agreeing to a 3-year extension with the young left tackle

The first free-agent domino has fallen for the Los Angeles Rams, and though it’s not a marquee player like Von Miller or Odell Beckham Jr., it is an important move.

The Rams have agreed to terms on a new three-year contract for Joseph Noteboom. According to Ian Rapoport, the contract has a base value of $40 million and can be worth up to $47.5 million. He can earn that extra $7.5 million through playtime incentives, Rapoport noted.

He gets $25 million guaranteed, as well, so it’s a big payday for the likely heir to Andrew Whitworth’s throne at left tackle. Whitworth hasn’t officially retired yet, but with Noteboom back, that news could come soon.

Noteboom has played both guard and tackle in the NFL since being drafted by the Rams in the third round in 2018. He filled in well at left tackle when Whitworth was out due to COVID-19 or injuries.

In four seasons, he’s made 17 career starts in the regular season, as well as one in the playoffs.

Rams 2022 free agency preview: Joseph Noteboom is ideal heir at LT

Joseph Noteboom would be the most logical replacement for Andrew Whitworth at left tackle – if Whitworth retires

Joseph Noteboom was drafted in 2018 to be the Rams’ starting left tackle after Andrew Whitworth retires. When they made that pick, they probably didn’t expect Whitworth to stick around as long as he has, but they’re not going to complain about keeping their stud left tackle in Los Angeles for five years.

After being a swing tackle and guard for the Rams, Noteboom is now scheduled to be a free agent and could command a contract fit for a starting left tackle. The Rams will have some competition for Noteboom in free agency, but they shouldn’t let him get away.

The Athletic names 3 free agent fits for the Colts

The Athletic listed 3 strong fits for the Colts in free agency.

With the most salary-cap space in the NFL and several needs to address, the Indianapolis Colts are expected to be somewhat aggressive when the free-agent market opens next week.

We say “somewhat aggressive” because we already know general manager Chris Ballard isn’t going to splurge just to fill a need. He’s likely going to wait out the initial wave of signings with a wrinkle or two mixed in.

With free agency just a few days away, The Athletic listed three fits for the Colts. All three seems pretty realistic targets for Indy:

“Indianapolis Colts

WR Christian Kirk
OT Joseph Noteboom
CB Casey Hayward

The Colts typically haven’t been aggressive in free agency, but given how frustrated Jim Irsay was with last year’s showing, maybe that changes this offseason. We don’t yet know who’s playing quarterback for the Colts, but we do know that he will need someone to throw to other than Michael Pittman Jr. Kirk was a productive slot receiver last season in Arizona, finishing with 77 catches for 982 yards. Left tackle is a need area for the Colts, but they don’t have a first-round pick. Noteboom has just 18 starts under his belt, but he’s only 27 and looked like a capable left tackle when asked to fill in for Andrew Whitworth. Hayward is 33, but he’s coming off of a fantastic season with the Raiders and could be a nice option on a one-year deal. His defensive coordinator in Vegas was Gus Bradley, who is now running the defense in Indy.”

Starting with Kirk, he would give the Colts a versatile option both downfield and in the intermediate game. He’ll be the most expensive of this trio, but he’s a strong complement to Pittman Jr. as the WR2 in the offense.

Noteboom is arguably my favorite and most realistic target for the Colts if they decide not to pursue Terron Armstead. The 26-year-old Noteboom would be a cheap, high-upside piece to the offensive line while possessing the necessary size and athleticism the Colts covet in offensive tackles.

Hayward has been a favorite to join the Colts ever since Gus Bradley was hired as the defensive coordinator. At this point, it would be more shocking if Hayward didn’t sign with the Colts in free agency.

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Why the Rams should re-sign Joseph Noteboom

The Rams have a few offensive linemen hitting free agency this offseason and Joseph Noteboom should be a priority for them to re-sign.

The Los Angeles Rams have a bevy of impending free agents this offseason, most notably Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. Besides the notable names, Joseph Noteboom is someone that the Rams should prioritize.

Protecting your franchise quarterback has long been a necessity in the NFL, with some teams making it more of a priority than others. In the last two Super Bowls, we’ve seen front and center just how important it is to ensure that your quarterback isn’t fearing for his life on every play.

While the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals experienced heartbreak in the Super Bowl in the last two seasons partly due to dismal offensive line play, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Rams have reaped the benefits of their opponent’s struggles in the trenches.

For the Rams, they were able to get spectacular play from their offensive line throughout the 2021 season. The starting unit of Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, and Rob Havenstein were able to keep Matthew Stafford upright for the majority of the season.

Even when Whitworth missed some time due to an injury, Noteboom was able to fill in as if nothing changed, flashing the massive strides he’s made in his game. Entering the offseason, there’s uncertainty surrounding each of Los Angeles’ starting offensive linemen outside of Havenstein and Edwards.

Whitworth is considering retirement at 40 years old following a Super Bowl win while Allen and Corbett are unrestricted free agents. Given the potential state of the offensive line, Noteboom becomes vastly important for the Rams moving forward.

If I had to guess, Whitworth is going to retire, creating a massive void at the left tackle position. Noteboom, who the Rams selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, would be an affordable option to replace Whitworth for the foreseeable future.

Drafting a replacement for Whitworth would be reasonable, but to assume that a rookie could instantly start — and succeed — at one of the most important positions in football is naive, especially when you consider that the earliest the Rams will be able to select an offensive tackle is in the third round this year.

Even if Whitworth returns, Noteboom’s ability to fill in at either tackle spot — or at either guard spot — makes him an invaluable piece for Los Angeles.  During the regular season, Les Snead revealed how the Rams view Noteboom, sharing that multiple teams have attempted to trade for the backup tackle.

Seeing that Noteboom was never traded, the Rams likely always had plans for Noteboom to be the team’s eventual starter at left tackle. Amid what could be an eventful offseason, with Los Angeles potentially losing a couple of starting offensive linemen, the Rams should prioritize bringing back Noteboom to keep as much of their offensive line intact as possible.

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