With the exciting announcement of the Developmental Simulation Football League (DSFL), there has been a new buzz surrounding the league. There have been limited rules and structure announced, so rumors are flying around between league insiders. While speculation continues to run rampant, I decided to look at what I think would work best for the NSFL and DSFL. Since nothing concrete has been announced, I would like to present my opinion on how it should work.
The DSFL should first and foremost be a developmental league. It will be the first stop for all players entering the league. However, it will also be a stop for some players who are already in the league.
DSFL will begin after S2 sometime in the S3 offseason. In my opinion, the DSFL should start after the NSFL S3 Rookie Draft. This way we keep the current model, where NSFL teams can draft players who joined during S2. However, after the S3 rookie draft, the NSFL teams will have a chance to send players under contract down to the DSFL. All players that NSFL teams designate for the DSFL are then entered into the DSFL Amateur Draft. Any player that goes undrafted is also entered into the DSFL Amateur Draft. Any player that is undrafted (or refuses to sign a contract with a NSFL team) retains their amateur status and can stay in DSFL for the max of 4 seasons. The DSFL teams can pick from all of the designated players to form their initial roster. This is the roster the DSFL teams will take into S3.
During S3, when a new player is created they are added to the DSFL waiver wire, any DSFL team can claim the player. The waiver wire will be similar to the NSFL system where once a team claims a player, the team is sent to the back of the order. That player can play in the DSFL for a max of 4 additional seasons, however if they hit the max TPE threshold (250 for example) they must declare for the next NSFL Draft.
NSFL players who are below the certain TPE threshold are also eligible to play in the DSFL. Their NSFL can freely call them up or send them down to the DSFL as needed. When a player is sent to the DSFL during the season, they are added to the DSFL waiver wire for any DSFL team to claim. DSFL teams should note, that since the player is under contract with a NSFL team, he could be recalled by their NSFL team at any time.
At the conclusion of the S3 playoffs, any DSFL not under contract must choose whether to declare or not declare for the upcoming NSFL Rookie Draft. Any player who does not declare for the draft, will retain their amateur status and can continue in the DSFL until they either declare, hit 250 TPE, or hit 4 years in the DSFL. Any player who declares for the NSFL Rookie Draft will be available to be drafted by any NSFL team. If a player goes undrafted, they retain their amateur status and can return to the DSFL and enter the following season’s NSFL Rookie Draft. If a player is drafted, but refuses to sign a contract they are not eligible to return to the DSFL until a contract is signed with any NSFL team.
Following the NSFL Rookie Draft, NSFL teams will again designate players to go the DSFL. All NSFL designated players and DSFL players are then entered into a dispersal draft. The draft pool will consist of NSFL designated players, DSFL returning players, and undrafted returning players. This would give each DSFL, essentially, an entirely new team every season. I think that this would keep it fresh for DSFL GMs and players, while also preventing DSFL dynasties where DSFL teams build a team of 249 TPE players and stick there for 4 seasons.
This is the system that would then repeat season after season. Players that join mid-season go directly into the DSFL. After their initial DSFL season, they choose to enter the NSFL draft or not. If they stay in the DSFL, they could end up on a different DSFL team after the DSFL dispersal draft. After their second DSFL season, they are presented with the same choice to enter the NSFL draft or not. Again, if they stay in the DSFL, another DSFL team could take them in the dispersal draft. Even if they are drafted, they could end up back in the DSFL on a different DSFL team.
I think this system presents a lot of challenges for the DSFL GMs, it should be good development for them as they have to build a new team and strategy every season. Having to draft an entirely new team every season should be an exciting aspect of being a DSFL GM though. You will get to work with many different players and hone your skills in talent evaluation while being able to test different play styles and strategies in real games. It is also good for the players to switch teams because they will learn from different GMs and get different perspectives on how to build their player and how to be a member of the league. The players will also get the opportunity to play in different systems. NSFL teams will get a chance to see if certain archetypes work better in different schemes. The constant change in this DSFL is one thing that I think everyone will benefit from.
Again, this is all my opinion on how it should work. None of this was discussed with any members of the league office. I also have no knowledge of their current plan, so it could be this or something drastically different from this. It is my hope that the league office will take some of this into consideration before announcing their plan. However, I am certain that whatever they choose will be a solid option that continues to drive the NSFL and DSFL forward.
GRADED
The DSFL should first and foremost be a developmental league. It will be the first stop for all players entering the league. However, it will also be a stop for some players who are already in the league.
DSFL will begin after S2 sometime in the S3 offseason. In my opinion, the DSFL should start after the NSFL S3 Rookie Draft. This way we keep the current model, where NSFL teams can draft players who joined during S2. However, after the S3 rookie draft, the NSFL teams will have a chance to send players under contract down to the DSFL. All players that NSFL teams designate for the DSFL are then entered into the DSFL Amateur Draft. Any player that goes undrafted is also entered into the DSFL Amateur Draft. Any player that is undrafted (or refuses to sign a contract with a NSFL team) retains their amateur status and can stay in DSFL for the max of 4 seasons. The DSFL teams can pick from all of the designated players to form their initial roster. This is the roster the DSFL teams will take into S3.
During S3, when a new player is created they are added to the DSFL waiver wire, any DSFL team can claim the player. The waiver wire will be similar to the NSFL system where once a team claims a player, the team is sent to the back of the order. That player can play in the DSFL for a max of 4 additional seasons, however if they hit the max TPE threshold (250 for example) they must declare for the next NSFL Draft.
NSFL players who are below the certain TPE threshold are also eligible to play in the DSFL. Their NSFL can freely call them up or send them down to the DSFL as needed. When a player is sent to the DSFL during the season, they are added to the DSFL waiver wire for any DSFL team to claim. DSFL teams should note, that since the player is under contract with a NSFL team, he could be recalled by their NSFL team at any time.
At the conclusion of the S3 playoffs, any DSFL not under contract must choose whether to declare or not declare for the upcoming NSFL Rookie Draft. Any player who does not declare for the draft, will retain their amateur status and can continue in the DSFL until they either declare, hit 250 TPE, or hit 4 years in the DSFL. Any player who declares for the NSFL Rookie Draft will be available to be drafted by any NSFL team. If a player goes undrafted, they retain their amateur status and can return to the DSFL and enter the following season’s NSFL Rookie Draft. If a player is drafted, but refuses to sign a contract they are not eligible to return to the DSFL until a contract is signed with any NSFL team.
Following the NSFL Rookie Draft, NSFL teams will again designate players to go the DSFL. All NSFL designated players and DSFL players are then entered into a dispersal draft. The draft pool will consist of NSFL designated players, DSFL returning players, and undrafted returning players. This would give each DSFL, essentially, an entirely new team every season. I think that this would keep it fresh for DSFL GMs and players, while also preventing DSFL dynasties where DSFL teams build a team of 249 TPE players and stick there for 4 seasons.
This is the system that would then repeat season after season. Players that join mid-season go directly into the DSFL. After their initial DSFL season, they choose to enter the NSFL draft or not. If they stay in the DSFL, they could end up on a different DSFL team after the DSFL dispersal draft. After their second DSFL season, they are presented with the same choice to enter the NSFL draft or not. Again, if they stay in the DSFL, another DSFL team could take them in the dispersal draft. Even if they are drafted, they could end up back in the DSFL on a different DSFL team.
I think this system presents a lot of challenges for the DSFL GMs, it should be good development for them as they have to build a new team and strategy every season. Having to draft an entirely new team every season should be an exciting aspect of being a DSFL GM though. You will get to work with many different players and hone your skills in talent evaluation while being able to test different play styles and strategies in real games. It is also good for the players to switch teams because they will learn from different GMs and get different perspectives on how to build their player and how to be a member of the league. The players will also get the opportunity to play in different systems. NSFL teams will get a chance to see if certain archetypes work better in different schemes. The constant change in this DSFL is one thing that I think everyone will benefit from.
Again, this is all my opinion on how it should work. None of this was discussed with any members of the league office. I also have no knowledge of their current plan, so it could be this or something drastically different from this. It is my hope that the league office will take some of this into consideration before announcing their plan. However, I am certain that whatever they choose will be a solid option that continues to drive the NSFL and DSFL forward.
GRADED