Could Joe Noteboom steal the LT job with Alaric Jackson serving a suspension
To say the least, Joe Noteboom hasn’t become the player that some thought when the Los Angeles Rams drafted him on the third round or signed him to a contract after 2021. Seen as the heir apparent to Andrew Whitworth, Noteboom has become an extension of the offensive line as the sixth-man rather than a starter at left tackle.
However, through the first two weeks of the season, Noteboom will have an opportunity that he hasn’t gotten since the 2022 season. For the first two weeks Alaric Jackson will be sidelined due to a suspension and in those games it will be Noteboom who subs in at that spot.
With that will come the opportunity for Noteboom to potentially take over Jackson’s spot at left tackle. At the end of the day, what Jackson offers at left tackle and what Noteboom offers aren’t that much different. They are both average to below average starters who provide swing depth and the ability to fill in at multiple spots.
If Noteboom performs well over the first two weeks, an argument could be made that the Rams would just keep him there. In fact, the Rams might actually prefer it. This season, they are paying Noteboom $11.6M compared to Jackson’s $4.3M. In the case the Noteboom does play well, there would be no reason to make a change, especially when Jackson provides similar depth.
The first two weeks of the season allows for Noteboom to build chemistry and cohesion with others along the offensive line. When it comes to successful offensive line play, that chemistry and cohesion is important. If the level between the two players is even somewhat similar, it’s not always worth disrupting that.
A similar situation happened last year with Noteboom on the other end of it. In Week 5, Noteboom had to move to left tackle due to Jackson missing the game. Because of that Kevin Dotson took over in his place at right guard. Dotson started the game against the Colts and never looked back. In fact, he became one of the more important pieces along the offensive line.
This isn’t to say that Noteboom will take over for Jackson. There’s a reason that the former third-round pick hasn’t been able to take the next step as a proven starter in the NFL. While he’s played well in spots, he’s lacked week-to-week consistency needed over a 17-game season.
However, that also doesn’t mean that there isn’t an opportunity here for Noteboom. Over the first two weeks of the season, he will have a chance to show the coaching staff what he can do as the starting left tackle. In the case that he does play well, given that Jackson provides similar swing depth, there wouldn’t necessarily be reason to replace him.
Outside of the Colts game last year, Noteboom started Week 17 against the New York Giants. In that game, he allowed zero pressures and had a pass-block grade of 90.6 according to PFF.
Again, when it comes to the offensive line, the Rams do value chemistry and cohesiveness. Noteboom hasn’t necessarily lived up to his expectation as the starting left tackle, but he’ll have a chance to prove himself as more than just a sixth-man over the first two weeks of the season.
With Jackson missing the first two games combined with Steve Avila moving back to left guard from center, the Rams offensive line certainly isn’t without its drama heading into Week 1. Most of the time, that’s not something you want to see. It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how this group performs in the early stages of the season. One player everybody will be watching is Noteboom and if he plays well, he may just take the starting spot.
