There are much bigger things to worry about with the outbreak of the coronavirus than the 2020 NFL draft. But this is an NFL draft website, so we might as well keep tabs on how the pandemic might impact next April’s selection weekend.
NFL teams like the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already pulled area scouts off the road and the expectation is more teams will follow suit. Pre-draft workouts are being canceled, too, even for highly-touted prospects. Pro days are being limited to just ‘essential personnel‘ and NFL clubs are contemplating shutting down training facilities.
I'm told, several NFL teams have reached out and cancelled their NFL prospect visits.
So far, the NFL hasn't made any "official" mandate, but numerous teams are making the decision to cancel anything travel-related for at least 30 days. #NFLDraft
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 12, 2020
Even the NFL is taking action to protect its employees. The league has informed non-critical staff at their New York City headquarters to begin working from home “out of an abundance of caution and with the health and safety of our communities” as their foremost priority.
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out on Twitter, the coronavirus outbreak could threaten the start of the NFL’s new league year on March 18.
“If NFL teams in fact shut down their training facilities, as many are now discussing, then it would be challenging at best to start the new league year next week,” Schefter tweeted, “when buildings are closed and more pressing issues face their communities and this country.”
The NFL has a big decision to make regarding the 2020 NFL draft, which is scheduled to kick off on April 23 in Las Vegas. With tens of thousands of fans expected to attend, the risk of keeping the draft a public event is extreme and would fly in the face of the social distancing process being implemented by the NBA, MLS and NCAA. The NHL is expected to follow suit, too.
As a result, we could see a significant change in how the draft is conducted this year.
“The league office, the players association and the city and the state are working together,” Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a Wednesday phone interview, via the Dallas Morning News. “They’re making a measured decision. Health and safety will always be No. 1.”
The NBA season is suspended. College basketball tournaments are being canceled. Major League Soccer is on hold. The writing is on the wall: The NFL Draft won’t be a public event. In fact, it could even be delayed if the coronavirus isn’t contained by then.
And if that’s the case, the draft will be the last thing on anyone’s mind.
