Joseph Noteboom first Frog to hear his name called in the NFL Draft

TCU had a player drafted in the third round for the first time since Paul Dawson went #99 overall in 2015, when Jospeh Noteboom went to the LA Rams with the 89th pick Friday night. The highest Frog picked since Josh Doctson went in the first round two seasons ago, the 6’5”, 309 pound offensive lineman was the first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft by the franchise who was one of the biggest surprises of the 2017 season.

Noteboom, who started every game at left tackle for the Frogs over the past two seasons, and has 40 starts to his name over his career, will head west after a success career for Gary Patterson and TCU. The Plano native played in all 53 games of his career after redshirting in his first year on campus, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors in each season that he played. The tenth offensive lineman to be drafted into the NFL out of TCU during the Gary Patterson era, Noteboom has gone higher than any TCU lineman since 1995, when Barrett Robbins went to Oakland in the second round.

The Rams, who shocked the NFL by winning the NFC West a season ago, won’t need to rush Noteboom into the starting lineup. The rookie will have the opportunity to learn behind Pro Bowler Andrew Whitworth, who likely has one or two more productive seasons left in him at age 35. Noteboom, for one, can’t imagine a better situation. “I know a lot about Whitworth, watched a lot of him. That’s perfect — I learn from a Pro Bowler.”

One of the youngest and most aggressive franchises in the league, the Rams have been active traders in the draft - moving down before making their first selection at 89 - and have a young, exciting core on offense and defense. Noteboom will block for guys like Todd Gurley and Jared Goff, who led the Rams to a league best 29 points per game, and help a rushing offense that was already a top ten unit. “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.”

Congratulations to Joe Noteboom on landing in a terrific spot, and be tuned into the draft today as several Frogs are likely to be chosen in rounds 4-7.