Under the radar draft prospect sent Rams message they can no longer ignore

The Los Angeles Rams no longer have the No. 29 pick in this year's NFL draft, which they traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie.

They still have the No. 13 pick, however, courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons. Assuming they hold onto it, you can bet they will consider all possible options depending on who is available on draft day and any free agent signings in the meantime. 

Does adding McDuffie to the defensive backs room change their draft strategy? The Athletics' Jourdan Rodrigue hints that it may not.

But it's far too early to tell. The full fury of NFL official free agency lies ahead. What it could do, however, is remove some of the pressure to draft a top-tier corner like Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy, or at least broaden the Rams' options if they tackle the position further with trade or free agent additions.

One player they could consider, who is not a cornerback, or a wide receiver, or even an offensive tackle, is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. He bolstered an already impressive resume with a stellar showing last week at the combine.

His stock is rising.

The Rams could use another productive tight end. Would they consider Sadiq? If his testing results tell them anything, it's that, yes, they definitely should.

Sadiq's athletic gifts could make him irresistible match for Rams offense

Obviously, LA still has ample work to do in the secondary, beyond trading for McDuffie. Pairing him and Delane would be something of a dream scenario. If the Horns don't draft a corner at No. 13, they'll take a receiver, right?

If someone like Makai Lemon is still available, he would be hard to pass up. Why has Sadiq started creeping into the conversation? He's just that good, and the combine did everything to highlight that.

At 6-for-3 and 241 pounds, the Oregon product ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash, easily topping tight ends and better than 23 testing receivers. That includes projected top 10 pick Carnell Tate, as well as potential Rams targets Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) and Skyler Bell (UConn). 

Sadiq went on to record a 43.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-1 broad jump. He is a freak of nature, as indicated by his 95 estimated athleticism score. His NFL comparison? Cardinals All-Pro Trey McBride. Needless to say, he would look sweet in blue and yellow.

As a pass catcher, Sadiq mitigates concerns about declining to take a receiver early in the draft. For the Ducks in his junior season, he brought in 51 balls for 560 yards and an FBS-best eight touchdowns at the position. 

On the Rams roster, tight end might not seem like a position of need. Certainly, Colby Parkinson stepped up last season. But he clearly lacks Sadiq's ceiling, and with how much Sean McVay adores his three tight end sets, the offense could use an athlete like him in the mix.

Of course, McVay wants all his pass catchers involved in the blocking game, and that's true of tight ends by default, but having Sadiq there would make securing a third receiver less urgent. 

All things considered, LA might still be better off taking a corner or receiver, but the current roster is also likely much different than what it will look like once free agency begins and the draft rolls around.

The McDuffie signing is a big step toward addressing existing needs. If the team gets its ducks in a row in free agency, Sadiq could suddenly be a home-run addition the Rams never knew they needed.