The St. Louis Rams did end up going for a receiver for Sam Bradford in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, but not a wide receiver—the Rams have selected tight end Lance Kendricks of Wisconsin with the 47th overall pick in the draft. Kendricks is the third tight end the Rams have drafted in two years, joining Michael Hoomanawanui of Illinois and raw project-pick Fendi Onobun. Kendricks is a pass-catching specialist who should become one of Sam Bradford’s favorite targets in the mid-range passing game to which Bradford might finally not be tethered.
As a senior with Wisconsin Kendricks caught 43 balls for 663 yards and five touchdowns, all career high. It was only his second year as a major weapon for the Badgers; in 2009 he caught 29 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns.
The Rams’ tight end situation looked pretty full already, but it appears that Josh McDaniels is already making his presence felt as St. Louis’s new offensive czar. It’ll be interesting to see what he has planned for Kendricks.
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