The NFL is always changing. What worked in one decade is usually solved by the next.

In the 2010s, the push for 12 personnel was all the rage. The New England Patriots were able to reach the Super Bowl with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez together on the field. The Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl with Brent Celek and Zach Ertz as their top targets as well.

But since the shift to a faster alignment, defenses have seemingly solved the 12-personnel conundrum. Even New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich abided by the trend, as his previous NFL offenses have heavily featured 11 personnel.

Nonetheless, the tide appears to be changing yet again.

With the New York Jets in need of more offensive firepower, drafting a tight end in the first round may be on the table for them — even after drafting LSU’s Mason Taylor in the second round last season.

Luckily for New York, there’s an athletic freak at the position that might just be the kind of player to bring back the benefits of what 12 personnel could offer.

Could Gang Green shift to 12 personnel?

There is no debate this year on who the best tight end in the 2026 class is. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq’s balance of speed and receiving ability makes him a surefire first-round selection.

Sadiq’s play in Oregon also creates an interesting conundrum for a team like the Jets.

Could they move to a more 12-centric personnel as a passing offense if they value Sadiq as a pass catcher?

“Let’s face it, Kenyon is an explosive player, and you can’t put anybody on him,” Greg Zierlein told the Jets team website on the “Now Boarding” draft show. “A lot of linebackers will be mismatched on him down the field. He may be too big for safety. It’s more likely you’d see a nickel corner on him. And those guys a lot of times run about 190 pounds. On Kenyon Sadiq, man, that is a physical mismatch.”

In three seasons with the Ducks, Sadiq caught 80 passes for over 800 yards and nine touchdowns. During the 2025 season, he led FBS tight ends with eight, while playing an integral role in the Ducks’ passing attack.

But is that enough for the Jets to double-dip at the tight end position after just drafting Taylor in the second round last year?

A combination of the sure-fire hands of Taylor and the athleticism of Sadiq is a tantalizing prospect for a Jets offense that was devoid of both last season.

It also shows why 12 personnel could benefit the 2026 Jets.

The benefit

In a majority of cases, it would be a major mistake for any team to draft a tight end within the first two rounds of back-to-back drafts. It’s what makes New York even think of drafting Sadiq a long shot.

The Jets are better served taking a wide receiver to fill their need at boundary receiver instead of a tight end who can play in the slot, something that Garrett Wilson is more than capable of doing.

But the benefit of drafting Sadiq is certainly there. New York needs to find players who can get open in a pinch and put up points. It’s the one thing the organization has consistently failed to do throughout its 15-year playoff drought.

Finding players who might be able to stretch what defenses are capable of defending could give the Jets an edge on Sundays.

It’s been over a decade since the Patriots used 12 personnel to reach the Super Bowl. Many teams have since responded with their own plans to stop it.

However, the New York Jets may well be able to crack the code if Sadiq is their first-round pick. However, there is no guarantee that he will be available by the time Gang Green is back on the clock at pick 16.