Head coach Sean McVay has become well-known for his 11 personnel groupings with the Los Angeles Rams offense, utilizing three receivers, one tight end and one running back.
McVay has been able to craft one of the most sophisticated and well-layered schemes in the league because of the different plays and concepts that come out of using the same formations. However, he has tried to incorporate more 12 personnel sets, meaning they use two tight ends instead of just one.
Tyler Higbee has been the starting tight end for years and is currently healthy during training camp, a great sign considering the health issues he’s run into the past few seasons. Aside from Higbee, Los Angeles also has promising rookie Terrance Ferguson, as well as Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen behind him on the depth chart.
Higbee has operated as the primary tight end for years, but he had high praise for the state of the room now, via Wyatt Miller of TheRams.com:
“This is probably the deepest room I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here,” Higbee said. “A lot of guys can play top to bottom. So just trying to be a leader and mentor for those guys… I’ve seen a lot of ball, played a lot of snaps, so (I) try to pass on all the knowledge I can and keep competing with those guys.”
It’s hard to argue with Higbee’s assessment as the Rams haven’t had much luck finding a solid running mate for him. Ferguson represents arguably the most talented tight end Los Angeles has had since McVay took over because of his all-around skillset on the field.
Parkinson was decent in relief of Higbee in 2024, though the veteran was much more useful as a blocker than he was as a receiver. Meanwhile, Allen has shown flashes of being a legitimate weapon in the passing game, though he could struggle to find snaps with Higbee and Ferguson ahead of him on the depth chart.
With Higbee healthy and Ferguson looming as a weapon, McVay should have more flexibility with his play-calling. While 11 personnel will always be the Rams’ bread and butter, getting more usage out of their tight ends could vault their offense to new levels.
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