Why the NFL Needs a Developmental League

It seems that many NFL coaches do not like the rules of the off-season work outs and the limited time they now have with their players.  It can hinder evaluating players especially rookies both drafted and undrafted who are trying to make the team.

So how can this be fixed?

A developmental league, players can play there and learn the game, it will allow playing time as well as more time with other players trying to get better and play in the NFL.  Now if a rookie or veteran is cut and cannot find another team they can come here and show their skills and become better players.  

The NFL Europe folded in 2007, but some Super Bowl winning quarterbacks have played there, being Kurt Warner and Brad Johnson, Johnson did not have the career Warner did but still won a Bowl.  Jake Delhomme also played in the NFL Europe as well.  

Bills running back Fred Jackson played in NFL Europe and has had success in the NFL in his career.

Here are some notable undrafted players who are successful or had success in the NFL:

Arian Foster, Houston Texans 6,777 total yards 52 total touchdowns 

Wes Welker, Denver Broncos, 5 1,000 plus receiving yard seasons, 5 100 plus reception seasons

Kurt Warner (3 Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl win as well as great stats in his career)

Priest Holmes, set the single season mark for most total touchdowns in a season with 27 in 2003, this record was broke in 2005.  

Rod Smith, holds numerous records for undrafted receivers, has over 11,300 receiving yards and 68 touchdowns.  

Jeff Saturday, played center for the Ravens, Colts and Packers, very successful career.  

Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers he is just over 800 yards shy of 10,000 career receiving yards and needs 13 more touchdowns to hit 100 for his career. 

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys 4 4,000 plus passing yard seasons, 208 passing touchdowns

Players do not always have to be drafted to play well in the NFL, and you can be a late round pick and have a great career such as: 

Tom Brady

Shannon Sharpe

Marques Colston

T.J. Houshmandzadeh  

Jamal Anderson

Terrell Davis 

Ronde Barber 

Russell Wilson is a steal as well

The point I am trying to make is that you have to look at the players I have mentioned and look at their careers, I feel not many young players have the opportunities these players did when they entered the NFL.  A league to help young players develop is needed, you never know when another late round pick, a steal in the draft, or undrafted player could become a great.  

The NFL really needs this to help with the rules of the off-season workouts.  It will also benefit players and the NFL could make some more profit off of this as well, if they do the right thing they can make it work this time.  

The way it should work it:

12 teams, 4 divisions of 3 teams

10 week season

4 team playoffs

If the NFL really wants to help players out this is a must, coaches will most likely support this as well to help them look for talent to build their rosters and help their team win more games.  

It is time the NFL listens to coaches and players and make sure with their new rules there are other ways for evaluating talent and ensuring players in the league now can have a chance like the players I have talked about.

*ALL STATISTICS ARE FROM WWW.NFL.COM*