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

Draft

The third option for filling a backup offensive tackle position is to use the 2022 NFL Draft. The problem? Not many rookie starters are overlooked and available by the time that the LA Rams will step up to the podium.

One such player who could entice the LA Rams to choose him is Southern Utah offensive tackle, Braxton Jones. To grab him, the Rams will need to use their first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, their lone pick in the third round. Jones is worth the investment. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 312-pounds, the collegiate left tackle is plug-and-play ready as a pass protector.

He is not perfect, as no offensive tackle who falls out of the Top-100 will be, but he has all of the spit and polish of a long-tenured NFL offensive lineman. He will need to refine his techniques, build lower body mass and sculpt his frame, and get more pop out of his stance to improve his run blocking. But he is the type of prospect who can develop into something special with a little patience and a lot of good positional coaching.

Tulsa’s Tazmanian Devil?

Another option early in the draft is to select Tulsa offensive tackle Tyler Smith. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 332-pounds, Smith is the more ferocious offensive lineman who will keep blocking until he hears the referee’s whistle signifying the end of the play.

Why might he fall to the LA Rams? He is a powerful force at the line of scrimmage. But like a wildfire versus a torch, his energy output is unfocused and haphazard. He has potential to perform well at the NFL level at offensive tackle over time. But many have already projected him to the offensive guard role at the NFL level.