Key Committee Recommends Postponing 2020 NFL Draft Due to COVID-19 Risks
The 2020 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin April 23 in Las Vegas. It has already been reported that the event will take place in a studio setting without the typically massive crowds.
As of now, however, teams are dealing with closed facilities and are unable to get in the normal preparation for such an important event. That reportedly led a subcommittee of NFL general managers to ask the league to postpone the draft.
New: The NFL’s General Manager subcommittee unanimously recommended to commissioner Goodell today that the draft be moved back due to COVID-19, however the league plans to stick with the 4/23-25 dates at this time, league sources tell me and @AdamSchefter https://t.co/nL9sLh9jNh
— Dianna (@diannaESPN) March 25, 2020
Commissioner Roger Goodell said as recently as Tuesday that the draft will continue as planned.
This committee recommendation could lead to an uncomfortable conflict between teams and the league office. The concerns from these GMs are genuine; some areas are hit harder by the virus and are on more of a total lockdown, while others have yet to be adversely affected. That could only be a matter of time, however.
Note: There are differing accounts of the vote today. Some sources say it was unanimous, and others say it was 6-1. Either way, the GMs strongly favor pushing the draft back.
— Dianna (@diannaESPN) March 25, 2020
Teams are also not able to meet with prospects and could end up being forced to draft players they have never met with face-to-face. As it stands, however, the owners themselves would have to step in and voice concerns for anything to change.