The Los Angeles Rams had to wait patiently for their turn to make a selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Fortunately, they managed to address an eventual need on offense.
The Rams initially had the 87th overall pick in the draft before trading back to acquire more picks. However, they were still able to get a viable prospect two spots later in TCU offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom. According to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, Noteboom cannot wait to be a part of the movement going on in Los Angeles:
“It’s fantastic, just knowing all the pieces they’ve added, what a great young team it is,” Noteboom said during a teleconference. “And Coach McVay. I think it’s the perfect spot.”
The Rams were one of the most active teams at this year’s Senior Bowl.That said, it is safe to assume that Noteboom made a strong impression on the coaching staff. He capped it off with a solid performance at the combine when he ran a 4.96 40-yard dash and put up 27 reps on the bench press. At 6-foot-6, 306 pounds, he looks every bit the part of an NFL tackle.
Although the Rams may be one of the most youthful teams in the league, they have a bevy of experience on their offensive line between left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan. Not to mention, he will be under the tutelage of offensive line coach Aaron Kromer which should do wonders for his development. While there may be some concern about using a pick on a player that will not make an immediate impact, it is important for Los Angeles to start shoring up the protection for quarterback Jared Goff moving forward.
