The Copycat Kingdom: Why the Jaguars Are Betting Everything on the Rams’ Blueprint
The image is striking: Liam Coen, head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, in conversation with general manager James Gladstone on the sidelines of Lucas Oil Stadium in December 2025. It’s a seemingly ordinary moment before a game against the Indianapolis Colts, but it encapsulates a quiet revolution happening in Jacksonville – one built entirely on imitation. Beyond the headlines of wins and losses, the Jaguars aren’t just trying to beat the Los Angeles Rams; they’re trying to become them. And in a league obsessed with innovation, this wholesale adoption of another team’s philosophy is a gamble that could redefine how franchises are built.
For years, the NFL has operated on a model of incremental improvement, teams tweaking existing strategies and poaching individual talent. But the Jaguars are doing something different. They’ve essentially imported the entire Rams’ ecosystem, starting with Sean McVay’s offensive disciple, Coen, and extending to Gladstone, who served as an understudy to Rams GM Les Snead. This isn’t about hiring a coordinator with a similar scheme; it’s about replicating a complete organizational mindset. The most visible manifestation of this strategy? The Jaguars, like the Rams, will skip the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. As Michael DiRocco of ESPN explained, the team believes the exhaustive film already available – workouts, weightlifting, on-field drills – provides sufficient evaluation material, rendering the in-person spectacle of Indianapolis redundant.
Reporting from Yahoo Sports informs this analysis.
This decision isn’t simply about saving time or money. It’s a statement about the evolving value of traditional scouting methods. The Combine, for decades, has been a cornerstone of the NFL draft process, a place where prospects can “prove” their athleticism with timed drills. But the Rams, and now the Jaguars, are betting that those numbers are less predictive than years of accumulated game tape and, crucially, the data collected during practices and games. They prioritize GPS data, tracking a player’s actual speed and movement in a live environment, over a single 40-yard dash time. In 2025, the average NFL team spent roughly $3.2 million on scouting, according to Team Marketing Report. The Jaguars are effectively reallocating those resources, investing more heavily in data analysis and individualized player evaluation.
However, this strategy isn’t without its inherent risks. The most immediate concern is a potential collision course in the draft. Coen’s offensive scheme mirrors McVay’s, and Gladstone understands Snead’s player evaluation criteria. This means both teams will likely be targeting the same types of players – quarterbacks with quick releases, receivers with precise route-running, offensive linemen with exceptional footwork. While a healthy competition for talent is normal, the Jaguars’ near-identical approach could lead to them consistently losing out on key prospects, driving up prices and ultimately hindering their ability to build a competitive roster. The Rams, after all, were the first to identify this blueprint.
The Rams’ success is undeniable. They’ve consistently been contenders, culminating in a Super Bowl LVI victory in 2022. But the NFL is a league of constant adaptation. What works today may not work tomorrow. The Jaguars’ bold move to fully embrace the Rams’ model isn’t just about winning games; it’s a test of whether a team can truly replicate a culture, a philosophy, and a winning formula. Will this level of imitation lead to innovation, or simply create a shadow franchise perpetually chasing its predecessor? The 2026 NFL Draft will be the first major test, and the question isn’t just who the Jaguars select, but whether they can find players the Rams haven’t already identified – and whether they can prove that copying isn’t just flattery, but a viable path to sustained success.
