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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