As the dust settles on the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams seem to have a need at third receiver.
At first glance, the idea of Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, or CJ Daniels playing a significant amount of snaps should not scare opposing defenses to this point. LA had the chance to draft Makai Lemon at pick #13 and instead opted for their quarterback of the future in Ty Simpson. They had other choices in the second and third rounds and still chose more long-term outlooks rather than pass catchers who could in theory contribute more in 2026.
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But the Rams are telling us they don’t see a need at third receiver. Is this a vote of confidence in the aforementioned trio, or should we reset our expectations for how often the team will be in 11 personnel?
Let’s take a look at how the Rams deployed receivers and tight ends through three playoff games in order to better understand what may be in store for this group in 2026.
Setting the scene: Davante Adams returned to health after LA rested him over the end of the regular season. Terrance Ferguson missed the opening playoff game with a soft tissue injury.
Snap counts:
Targets:
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Setting the scene: Ferguson returns to health.
Snap counts:
Jordan Whittington, WR: 47
Terrance Ferguson, TE: 23
Targets:
Jordan Whittington, WR: 2
Snap counts:
Jordan Whittington, WR: 3
Terrance Ferguson, TE: 36
Targets:
Snaps by WR#3 in playoffs: 173
Non-Parkinson TE snaps in playoffs: 199
Targets to WR#3 in playoffs: 8
Non-Parkinson TE targets in playoffs: 11
If the Rams are at least in 12 personnel—meaning that Ferguson, Allen, or Higbee are on the field with Parkinson, then one of the receivers must come off. These complimentary tight ends were on the field more often than the reserve receivers in Whittington, Mumpfield, and Smith. The tight ends also saw more targets. We can conclude the overall usage numbers are roughly the same, but that is still a significant takeaway for what could be in store for the 2026 Rams.
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This isn’t the same offense we are accustomed to that will operate primarily out of 11 personnel. The third receiver role was devalued by more than 50% in the playoffs, and that is the benchmark we should be using into next season.
The Rams could also lean further into their tight end usage now that Ferguson will be more experienced in year two and with the addition of second round draftee Max Klare. This would further diminish the production potential for the receivers after Nacua and Adams.
Yes – it seems the Rams have a hole at WR#3. This is no longer the same offense. It doesn’t make sense for the Rams to pay a premium for a third receiver when they could be on the field at least 50% less often in 2026.
LA has changed their way of thinking. We need to update our outlook too.
