Last year the N.F.L. used a deep judge — he will line up, as his title suggests, about 25 yards downfield, essentially staying behind the deepest receiver in a pass route — in eight preseason games. Coaches gave that limited experiment positive reviews, telling the officiating department they did not find the additional official intrusive.

But now the competition committee wants even more data and video before pondering the next step. The N.F.L., which typically deliberates at length before changing its rules, most likely will take another year or two before considering whether to expand the officiating crew for regular-season and postseason games, said the committee’s chairman, Rich McKay.

The N.F.L. last added an official, going to seven from six, in 1978, when the game was much more about 3 yards and a cloud of dust than the three-wide-receiver sets prevalent now. In 1978, the pass was used on 40.9 percent of all plays. The percentage was 53.4 percent last season.

“These receivers are bigger, faster, and the defensive backs are better and they have better coaching now,” said Carl Johnson, the N.F.L.’s vice president for officiating. “They’re doing a really fine job of being creative in the passing game. This is one of the ways to keep up with the game.”

With the deep judge joining the back judge, the side judge and the field judge, there will be four officials arrayed across the defensive backfield. That creates three lanes between the officials, presumably making it easier for them to watch the play unfold. The deep judge’s position would change depending on the offensive formation. If the offense is in a five-wide receiver formation, the deep judge would line up in the defensive backfield, but shaded to the quarterback’s right, to focus on one of the slot receivers. If a bunch formation is lined up on the quarterback’s left side, the deep judge will shade toward that side, along with the back judge and field judge, leaving the side judge to focus on the lone receiver to the quarterback’s right.