2015 Rams Roster Preview: TE Lance Kendricks Looks to Justify Investment

You'd be hard pressed to find a Rams fan that doesn't appreciate what Lance Kendricks does. He's a willing blocker, a quiet leader, and has improved every aspect of his game since he entered the NFL. You'd also be hard pressed to find a fan that wasn't at least a bit taken aback at the contract the Rams gave Kendricks.

Contract aside, Kendricks brings a steady presence that you like to have for your QB. Sure the Rams have Jared Cook, but he can be a bit inconsistent. There's no doubting the Rams have potential at WR, but unfortunately all of them have their question marks. When I think of Kendricks, I think of a security blanket for Nick Foles.

Roster Battle

Kendricks is firmly entrenched as the #2 TE behind Cook. That's not to say he's a backup though, as he frequently lines up at FB as well. If you really want to stir the pot, you could argue that Corey Harkey could steal some snaps at FB, but that's a bit of a stretch.

Expectations

Continued improvement; steady presence. He's entering his 5th season and is entering the prime of his career at 27 years old. The Rams can't afford him to stagnate in his development. He had some drop issues early in his career, and he needs to make sure that those issues stay firmly in his past.

His new contract dictates - fairly or not - that he maintains the versatility and general well-roundedness that makes him an asset to this team.

Chances of Making Final Roster (10/10)

Not much to discuss here. The Rams gave him big money - up front no less. He's not going anywhere.