While the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down activity across all in-season sports leagues all over the world, the NFL had been immune to the cancellations and adjustments thus far.
They went on with free agency business as usual, and were trying to get through as much of a “normal” offseason as they could.
But with the 2020 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the NFL had no choice but to start to anticipate tangible changes to this year’s biggest team building event.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this weekend that multiple NFL teams are now preparing to conduct April’s Draft from home, keeping the front office away from the team facilities.
More on high-level officials from multiple NFL teams now preparing to conduct the April 23-25 draft virtually, from home, away from their team facilities:https://t.co/JPynxeuX56
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2020
It appears the Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams already prepping to work from home on April 23rd. The Cowboys put out a video on their official Instagram page this week, featuring owner Jerry Jones interviewing Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jalen Hurts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-kJ1LljDBq/?igshid=1sclgqfwtg2oq
It’s…well it’s insane that we are here right now. That the NFL Draft will be the equivalent of your company’s Zoom conference call. But these are some strange times we are living in, and the NFL is beginning to feel some of that weirdness.
Despite the virtual 2020 NFL Draft, the league is still expecting their regular season to kick off right on time. It’s being reported that President Donald Trump told league commissioner Roger Goodell that the NFL season should begin “on time,” though many others seem skeptical.
Ultimately, no one knows, but this virtual draft should be quite the scene in just a few weeks.