St. Louis Rams Re-Sign Lance Kendricks for Four Years, $18.5 Million
As ESPN’s Nick Wagoner and Adam Caplan first reported on Tuesday afternoon, the St. Louis Rams have agreed with tight end Lance Kendricks on a four-year deal that will pay him “in the neighborhood” of $18.5 million to stick with the team that drafted him long-term.
While Kendricks has been the Rams’ secondary option at tight end since they brought in Jared Cook prior to the 2013 season, he does have some strong skills. He led the Rams with five receiving touchdowns in 2014 and has had at least four in each of the past three seasons. And while his receptions and yardage have decreased since his move down the depth chart, he’s still very efficient when he touches the ball, as he averaged 9.6 yards per catch in 2014.
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Kendricks has also had his moments as a blocker, and while his performance in that area has decreased over the past two years, he’s a bit more viable providing support in the run game than Cook is. With the Rams continuing to shift towards a run-first attack, his opportunities to get on the field should increase in 2015 due to his ability to contribute as an in-line blocker.
The 27-year-old Kendricks, who was the Rams’ second-rounder in 2011, will step into an exceptionally deep tight end group that also includes Cook, Alex Bayer, H-backs Cory Harkey, Justice Cunningham and Brad Smelley, and two-way player Mason Brodine. He should continue to receive regular starts, as the Rams often open in a two-tight end package with Kendricks and Cook or put Kendricks on the field to block when they open with a run play.