With The First Pick
Fansided

Coronavirus pandemic halts sports world as 2020 NFL Draft approaches

By Felix Davila

A photograph taken on March 12, 2020, shows a member of staff wearing a mask inside the empty stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League first leg of round-of-16 football match between Olympiakos FC and Wolves at the Karaiskakis Stadium, in Piraeus, near Athens. - The match is held behind closed doors due to the spread of COVID-19, the new coronavirus. (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP) (Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A photograph taken on March 12, 2020, shows a member of staff wearing a mask inside the empty stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League first leg of round-of-16 football match between Olympiakos FC and Wolves at the Karaiskakis Stadium, in Piraeus, near Athens. - The match is held behind closed doors due to the spread of COVID-19, the new coronavirus. (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP) (Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The new coronavirus, COVID-19, is spreading rapidly and disrupting normal schedules. With the 2020 NFL Draft vastly approaching, how will the NFL adjust?

As of Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization has designated the new coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, as a worldwide pandemic. Over 100 countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases of the coronavirus, leaving over 120,000 people infected around the globe. With the 2020 NFL Draft just a month and a half away, we are starting to see its impact on the event as well.

While leagues such as Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the National Basketball Association have all postponed their seasons, the NFL has the luxury of being smack dab in the offseason. They are, however, taking precautions as well as free agency and the draft approach.

But playing a more wait-and-see approach, is the National Football League. Having yet to officially change the start of the league year, the NFL has at least decided to cancel their annual Spring Meeting in Florida, which was originally scheduled for March 29th.

More from NFL Draft News

This meeting is tremendous for the progress on league-related issues including “playing rules, bylaws, and resolutions, as well as other business matters”. But it also acts as a place where teams discuss behind the scenes regarding player matters, trades, and more.

This minor change is not stopping NFL teams from changing their league year schedules at all though. The Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all made drastic changes to their usual schedules. Some teams have closed their training facilities while some have pulled their scouts from the road, avoiding college pro days and private workouts.

Next. Matt Rhule has work cut out in 2020 NFL Draft 7-round mock. dark

With the sports world at a standstill, it remains to be seen how far the NFL takes their changes. Will the start of the league year be delayed? Will free agency work as normal? But the big question for fans of the NFL Draft includes what happens come April for the draft in Las Vegas? There is plenty in flux, and this complicates the 2020 NFL Draft season.

For more information on COVID-19 and self-care during this time, visit the Center for Disease Control.

Home/NFL Draft News