Is Lance Kendricks Worth Keeping?

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Ram65

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Over on the NCAA/Draft board I see a lot of mocks cutting Lance for the savings of 4.25 Million with NO dead money. Lance also will get the same amount in 2018 the last year of his contract. I put some things together to figure out if Lance is worth keeping around.

$$$$$$$$$
I looked up the TE contracts and found their average dollars over the contract length. The top guys are averaging 9 Million plus and even 10 Million for Jimmie Graham. It shows that Lance is on the lower end for a 29 year old veteran TE. Higbee is at 6 685K, Hemmingway is just shy 625K. Harkey TE?FB is at 1.8 M.So the Rams don't have a lot of money invested in the TE position. I'm not sure what free agents would be a good fit money, age and ability.

Blocking
I know it's pro football focus but it's what availble. It shows he is top 10 pass protector. I know Kendricks makes and misses some blocks in the run game. I would think he is solid and better than average but, you tll me.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/signature-stats-pass-blocking-efficiency-rbs-and-tes/

1 Gary Barnidge CLV 62.6 Pass Block %
2 Ben Watson NO 45.2
3 Michael Hoomanawanui NE 41.7
4 Jeron Mastrud OAK 36.5
5 Jim Dray ARZ 34.5
6 Marcedes Lewis JAX 26.7
7 Lance Kendricks SL 26.6
8 Jermaine Gresham CIN 24.7
9 Logan Paulsen WAS 24.1
10 Anthony Fasano KC 22.5

Pass Catching
Right off the top two passes dropped last year come to mind. IIRC both were critical drops.

"The Sun was in my eyes TD"
"Crossing pattern right to left that Goff fired right on the numbers."

https://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/drops/2016/
Over all Kendricks is a little high on the drop % but, not a complete butter fingers. He dropped 6.9% of his targets 87 and caught 50 passes. Lance was a outlet or safety value. We know Boras was not very creative and he seemed to not get Lance deep down the middle like in 2015. Lance is about in the middle on drops for TEs. If he caught the two mentioned drops maybe many wouldn't want he cut.

What do you think? Please give reasons for your answer.
 
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OldSchool

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Personally I don't think he is. I think everything you get from him you can get from Higbee and at less the cost. Add in Hemingway and maybe a draft pick or UDFA and we should be fine at the TE position, more athletic and spend less money on the spot.
 

CGI_Ram

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Some days... I think he's above average. Other days he disappears and frustrates me.

Then, you factor in the whole offense has struggled...

I don't know what to think of Kendricks. I don't.

Based on how he's performed statistically, he could be replaced much cheaper. Then again, we can't turn over the whole roster in one offseason.

McVay has a LOT of evaluations to do, that's for sure.
 

DaveFan'51

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I really don't know, But saving 4.25M by cutting him could come in handy!!
 

Ram65

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
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Personally I don't think he is. I think everything you get from him you can get from Higbee and at less the cost. Add in Hemingway and maybe a draft pick or UDFA and we should be fine at the TE position, more athletic and spend less money on the spot.

Some days... I think he's above average. Other days he disappears and frustrates me.

Then, you factor in the whole offense has struggled...

I don't know what to think of Kendricks. I don't.

Based on how he's performed statistically, he could be replaced much cheaper. Then again, we can't turn over the whole roster in one offseason.

McVay has a LOT of evaluations to do, that's for sure.

Interesting answers so far. I'm not sure you find a equal or near equal TE cheaper. Higbee had some struggles early on. Low draft pick TEs take time to able to block at the NFL level and so do most high draft picks. I think McVay can coach him up with the drops. Like CGI said he you can't turn over the entire roster. He can be cut next year. Right now it would be two 2nd year TE remaining on the roster.
 

TheDYVKX

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I'm higher on Kendricks than most, I think people tend to forget all the great moments he had last season. Quite a few times I'd say "Hell of a play Kendricks." It'd usually be followed by a "What the fuck Kendricks?" soon after, but there's worse players out there and in a McVay offense he could do some serious damage.

But with the cap savings we get and this fantastic TE draft class and Higbee should be getting ready to develop into the #1, I don't mind cutting him at all.
 

rams56

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I am torn also.... not just the drops but the timing of some of them..... on the other hand there is a distinct difference between being able to block and willing to try.....like mentioned before.

Go Rams...... ;)
 

hotanez

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I say yes because of his blocking. Cutting him and leaving Higbee to pass protect for Goff is going to get our QB killed. I say keep him this year and let Hemingway and Higbee get up to speed. Remember it's going to be a whole new offense the Rams will be running so we need a vet like Kendricks.
 

A55VA6

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Right now I say yes, he's worth keeping.

Sure, he has some drops and isn't very consistent but he often makes a lot of great plays in the pass and run game. We could obviously get better at that position, but right now I think Kendricks is a piece we need to hang on to.
 

Austin

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I think some of us are a little tired of Kendricks, but he was our most reliable receiver last year (down to down), and he's not slow or small or weak. He's a solid TE with experience, and I believe he can be a decent weapon for McVay. If all else fails, he's a better blocker than our other TEs.
 

FaulkSF

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Yes, cut him. His attitude stinks and does not hold himself accountable. No more of the Jeff Fisher era. Bring in a low cost vet or draftee.

His run blocking was laughable too.
 

LACHAMP46

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looks like a below average blocker....and not the flypaper hands you'd like at TE. What are we keeping him for?

Good player...just overpaid...and before we start harnessing McVay with players, I want them to be his guys. I will say, a very inconsistent TE, Vernon Davis, just had a rebirth of sorts while with Washington.
 

CGI_Ram

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I think some of us are a little tired of Kendricks, but he was our most reliable receiver last year (down to down), and he's not slow or small or weak. He's a solid TE with experience, and I believe he can be a decent weapon for McVay. If all else fails, he's a better blocker than our other TEs.

He also played in all 16 games. While dinged up at times, not exactly injury prone. So, there is value there.
 

Florida_Ram

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http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17081/breaking-down-te-lance-kendricks-contract

Mar 16, 2015: Kendricks received a four-year, $18.5 million deal


The deal includes $10 million guaranteed but includes no signing bonus and thus, no proration, which means they could part ways with Kendricks after the first year without any dead money.

Here's the breakdown with all numbers courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

2015 Base salary: $1.5 million (fully guaranteed) Roster bonus: $4 million (fully guaranteed)
Cap charge: $5.6 million Cash charge: $5.5 million.


2016 Base salary: $3.25 million (becomes fully guaranteed on fifth day of 2016 league year)Roster bonus: $1.25 million (Guaranteed on fifth day of league year) Cap charge: $4.6 million Cash charge: $4.5 million.


2017 Base salary: $3.75 million Roster bonus: $500,000 (Guaranteed on third day of 2017 league year) Cap charge: $4.35 million Cash charge: $4.25 million.


2018 Base salary:$3.75 million Roster bonus: $500,000 (Guaranteed on third day of 2018 league year)
Cap charge: $4.35 million Cash charge: $4.25 million.


Lance is not terribly overpaid for the 2017 season but he's not a must have player at the TE position based on his overall talent level. With the current talent on the Rams roster at theTight End position going into the 2017 season, there are plenty of pros and cons of why he could be kept or released.

Personally I have no strong argument why Kendricks should be kept or released going into the 2017 off season. I will say that Kendricks is worth keeping if the Rams decide to stay put and not bring in any other TE's via free agency.

Lance Kendricks Stats the last 3 Years

2016 Receptions 50... Yards 499 YPC 10.0 TD 2
2015
Receptions 25... Yards 245 YPC 9.8 TD 2
2014
Receptions 27... Yards 259 YPC 9.6 TD 5



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Memento

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No. It's a great tight end class in the draft, and you save money by cutting him.