LA Rams FA OT Joseph Noteboom: re-sign, sign, draft, or promote?

Sign a Free Agent

The next option available to the LA Rams front office to plug roster holes is to sign a new player for that position from the 2022 NFL Free Agency Market. Of course, there is always a risk of signing someone up who may not deliver in the type of role envisioned for him. And then there is the risk of overvaluing what that player will contribute to the team.

One such player who could be a relatively inexpensive option is Korey Cunningham, a player who has had a limited role with the Arizona Cardinals, the New England Patriots, and the New York Giants. Originally drafted by the Cardinals with the 254th pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, he started six games at left tackle as a rookie before a foot injury shut him down for the rest of the season. The Patriots traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Cardinals and used Cunningham as a reserve offensive lineman.  He was waived by the Patriots before the 2021 NFL season and signed on as a backup with the Giants.

At 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, he is certainly checking all of the boxes for the prerequisite size and strength of an offensive lineman. And his NFL career should limit his market value enough to allow the Rams to sign him to an inexpensive 1-2 year team-friendly deal.

Cheap experience

Another offensive tackle that may make sense is recently waived NFL veteran OT Jordan Mills. An eight-year veteran of the NFL. The 6-foot-5 316-pound veteran of eight NFL seasons has played in 100 NFL games and started in 87. He has played for the Buffalo Bills, the Chicago Bears, the New Orleans Saints, and the Arizona Cardinals. He also competed for playing time with the Detroit Lions, the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, and the Dallas Cowboys.

Mills was drafted by the Bears with the 163rd pick of the 2013 NFL Draft. He started all 16 games for the team at right tackle. He injured his foot late into the 2014 season and never returned to the lineup. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills and started at right tackle for them for four seasons. His last contract was a modest 1-year deal for $1,075,000 with the Saints.