The NFL may finally have an alternative to the onside kick as soon as the start of the 2020 season. According to Pro Football Talk, the Philadelphia Eagles have put forth a proposal that would allow teams to have a 4th-and-15-style try from their own 25-yard line as a means of retaining the ball. Gain a first down, keep the ball; fail to make the 15 yards, the opposing defense takes over at the spot of the ball.

While the the proposal would allow the 51-yard try to be utilized by each team twice per game, the traditional onside kick would also reportedly remain in existence. By putting the offense back on the field in the final seconds of close contests, the NFL would likely see much more exhilarating scenarios than the usually mundane, predictable nature of an onside kick.

The question becomes whether or not the conversion rate would be worth the risk of allowing teams to come from behind in such a succinct fashion at the end of the contest.

It’s unclear at this point in the process if certain offenses (and thereby, coaches) would feel more comfortable utilizing this scenario in situations others than late in the fourth quarter. Imagine Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs strolling out for a 4th-and-15 onside scenario early in the second quarter in an attempt to keep down the opposition and put the contest out of reach early.

It may not take long for fans to find out whether the proposal passes, as it is expected to be voted upon later in May during the NFL-wide league meetings. Should it gain approval, it would likely be instituted as soon as the 2020 year, altering end-of-game scenarios in a way that fans have never seen.