How coronavirus could affect 2020 NFL Draft, offseason
The spread of coronavirus has suspended the NBA season among other sports and it could have a substantial effect on the NFL despite it being the offseason.
Sports throughout the world have already felt the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday night, the NBA season was suspended as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive. The Ivy League has canceled all spring sports. March Madness, as of Wednesday night (meaning if it’s played), will be played in empty arenas. Italian soccer matches have been suspended until April. And even though the NFL is in the offseason, it could feel the effects of the spread of coronavirus.
Because preseason games won’t be played for another five months, there is no immediate concern that about the NFL canceling those for now. However, with free agency, the 2020 NFL Draft, owners meetings and more in the immediate future, there could very well be some measures taken to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Perhaps the most immediate effect is NFL teams altering pre-draft visits, as reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garofolo on NFL.com. The Pittsburgh Steelers are “limiting commercial flights for coaches and scouts”, as have the New Orleans Saints. According to Charles Robinson and Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports, the Philadelphia Eagles have also pulled coaches off the road. Meanwhile, another team “canceled a private workout with a draft prospect”.
As noted in the report, the next six weeks are travel-heavy for teams as they approach the NFL Draft, between attending pro days, meeting with prospects and hosting private workouts. With coronavirus heightening concerns over travel and the spread of the pandemic, however, many teams could follow suit with the Steelers, Saints and Eagles, if not taking more drastic measures.
Meanwhile, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, NFL coaches believe that the annual spring meetings, scheduled for March 29 to April 1 in West Palm Beach, FL, between league owners and front office members will be called off. Freeman also notes that the 2020 NFL Draft, slated for April 23-25 in Las Vegas, is believed to be held without fans in attendance.
NFL coaches are saying privately it's only a matter of time before the owner's meetings are canceled, and the April draft is changed to occur without fans in attendance.#COVID19
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 11, 2020
As for what the league is saying publicly, however, they maintain that everything is going on as planned for now — or at least they did on Monday, March 9. When ESPN’s Kevin Seifert asked about any possible changes, the NFL stated again that “our plans remain in place”, including the owners meetings, offseason workouts (April 6) and the NFL Draft.
Asked @NFL about potential changes to offseason schedule due to coronavirus. Referred to earlier statement: “Our plans remain in place.”
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) March 9, 2020
Owners meetings in 20 days.
First offseason workouts April 6.
Full statement: pic.twitter.com/S6NlxyqjFN
As we’ve seen with the NBA, who first seemed content to simply play games in empty arenas but has now suspended the league after a player tested positive, this is an extremely fluid situation. What Freeman reports about the coaches’ belief about the meeting and the draft seems to hold water as, with the way things have progressed with the coronavirus, that could be where things are headed.
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The current pandemic is, frankly, uncharted territory for the NFL and all sports leagues at this point. While there are no NFL games being played right now, the league could very well see major effects from the coronavirus if the current trend continues, which it seems likely to. Ultimately, there are no major changes yet but it’s something that will undoubtedly be worth monitoring in the coming days and weeks.