LA Rams FA Joseph Noteboom tops PFF’s 2022 boom-or-bust list

It does not come as any huge surprise that the LA Rams’ signing of backup offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom comes with some questions. Some critics were always going to protest against the valuation of whatever contract he signed. If the perspective viewed Noteboom as nothing more than a solid backup at offensive tackle, then any contract over an average of $5-8 million per year would be viewed as overpaying.

But the flipside was equally true if the perspective viewed Noteboom as a clear 2022 NFL starting offensive left tackle.  If that were the case, then anything less than an average of $15-20 million would be viewed as underpaying.

We posed that ‘how do you value Joseph Noteboom?’ question ourselves long before the 2022 NFL Free Agent market began.

PFF Biggest Boom or Bust signings in 2022

Now, we have learned that Pro Football Focus has ranked the LA Rams‘ three-year $40 million contract extension of left tackle Joseph Noteboom as the Biggest Boom or Bust signing in 2022.  I’m not sure that’s fair. In fact, I’m certain that it’s not.

Perspective over the potential of a player who is promoted is not always easy to come by. For anyone trying to assess the potential of players on all 32 NFL teams, it’s darn near impossible. So let me clarify here. My intent is not to throw any shade at PFF’s author Kambui Bomani. From a distance, the LA Rams are indeed taking a bit of a gamble on paying a backup offensive tackle as though he were already starting.

What we are doing is rounding out that from-a-great-distance viewpoint with that of someone with boots on the ground. Consider this like someone standing behind the corner, while we have turned the corner and perhaps have a better grasp of the minutia details involved with the signing.