Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is entering his 10th season as the leader of the franchise. At 40 years old, he may be one of the youngest head coaches in the league, but he’s also the second-longest tenured shot caller in the NFL, tied with Kyle Shanahan for that honor.
McVay exists on two separate planes. In the real world, he’s a younger man. In the NFL, he’s an old man in a place where men do not get old. His ability to balance both worlds requires him to be timeless with his approach. Last season, McVay displayed his ability to evolve, staying ahead of offensive innovation with his 13 personnel offense.
After a shocking 2026 draft, here’s how McVay could evolve his offensive scheme this season.
More five wide
McVay has said it before, and he’ll say it again. He believes his offense is at its best when they have five eligible receivers going downfield. While McVay utilizes Kyren Williams a lot, especially for his ability as a pass protector, Williams usage as a receiver remains the most undervalued aspect for the Rams’ offense.
With the addition of Max Klare, the 2025 usage of Colby Parkinson, and Terrance Ferguson’s ability to be used as a receiver, I anticipate McVay pairing his bigger tight ends with Davante Adams to create physical matchups that Matthew Stafford will be able to diagnose pre-snap. That will lead to a quick passing attack, using five eligible receivers and their routes to create space between the layers and gaps of the defense.
Those bigger bodies can box out defenders, while having a physical advantage over smaller defensive backs and a speed advantage over linebackers. Stafford’s ability to make pre-snap decisions and instant post-snap reads means the ball can come out quickly, mitigating the opposing pass rush. The Rams also had one of the best offensive lines in football last season and it’s returning all five starters.
On top of that, McVay could then manipulate defenses into tough spots by employing heavier personnel. That will cause the opposition to match with more run defenders, using young pass catchers like Klare and Ferguson to run routes against defenders who should not be attempting to cover open space.
The brilliant part of why McVay loves to go with five eligibles is that it helps Stafford identify the pass rush. With his understanding of coverages and defensive tendencies, Stafford often knows how much time he’ll have to make a throw and what routes fit within that timeframe.
By going five wide, not only will McVay have that advantage, but with the tight ends naturally creating physical mismatches, defenses will likely run zone coverages. That will provide the space for Puka Nacua and company to feast, as Stafford targets the deeper layers of the secondary. Expect CJ Daniels to shine in this area.
Keagan Trost, the offensive lineman from Missouri, works as a backup to every position along the offensive line, while Ty Simpson addresses the backup position with a high floor and a higher ceiling than any other available backup. These rookies are built to run a high-powered passing offense.
The best part is that if Stafford gets a look he doesn’t like, he can pull Williams into the backfield with him, changing the formation and play into something more familiar and comfortable. He can do that, regardless of personnel packages.
For these reasons, and given how the Rams went about their draft, I see McVay utilizing five eligible receivers downfield and increasing his usage of spread offense concepts. In a league that is reverting back towards the run, the Rams are one of the few teams left with an ace from a prior generation, and perhaps the only ace who still has his stuff.
Why not use him while you have him?
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams’ draft class paves way for Sean McVay’s next offensive evolution
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
