Copycat league: 2026 draft shows teams are following Sean McVay on this new trend

During the Los Angeles Rams' Week 7 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Sean McVay pulled out his solution to injuries affecting Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. His 13 personnel offense, which is a personnel group that consists of one running back, one wide receiver, and three tight ends, revolutionized offensive theory within the sport.

Most rosters are built to execute and defend against 11 personnel offenses – offenses with three wide receivers, skewing more often toward the pass. Thanks to the physical mismatches that multiple tight ends create against modern defenses, McVay had an edge that most of the NFL didn't. He had four starting-caliber tight ends in Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson.

After witnessing Matthew Stafford use the formation to achieve tremendous success, on his way towards his first MVP award, the NFL is catching up.

During the 2026 NFL Draft, 22 tight ends were selected, which is the second most in the common draft era, and two off the record that was set back in 2002.

This shows one thing: The Rams continue to influence the NFL. After McVay made 11 personnel the standard for most teams, he’s now blazing a trail of higher tight end usage — and his competition is following suit.