With The First Pick
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Inching towards a year without college football and its effect on 2021 NFL Draft

By Cory Kinnan

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 and Grant Delpit #7 of the LSU Tigers receive the trophy after defeating the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42-25 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 and Grant Delpit #7 of the LSU Tigers receive the trophy after defeating the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42-25 for the national title. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /
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The 2021 NFL Draft landscape is about to be drastically impacted

Desperate pleas across the country are coming from the mouths of college football programs and head coaches as a season at all is currently in jeopardy. As the entire college football landscape continues to shift, the 2021 NFL Draft and its events will also be impacted greatly.

Just a day ago, the Big Ten announced all of their non-conference games were being cancelled and they would only play in-conference games. The Ivy League has already canceled their 2020 season, pushing it back until the spring.

Now, the Pac-12 and ACC are looking to follow the trend of the Big Ten, and potentially put together an all in-conference schedule together. Should this happen, even Notre Dame is looking to jump in a conference to fill their schedule (presumably the ACC).

Impact on the 2021 NFL Draft

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If there is no football this fall, and even if it is moved to the spring, the repercussions on the 2021 NFL Draft and its prospects will be significant. In fact, it may be safe to say if football does not happen in the fall, then the likes of Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields may never take another snap at the collegiate level.

Should the season be moved to the spring, there is no way for players to play a season of college football all while training for the draft. In fact, the 2021 NFL Draft would likely be mid-season at that point. Given players will have to hire agents for the draft, there would also be little possibility they could play while also putting their names into the pool.

Additionally, it would not be fair to those draft prospects; as soon as one player would finish a spring season, they would have to report to training camp to their respective NFL teams. Asking a rookie to play back-to-back seasons with no rest is not fair to the player, and shows no signs of respect for player safety.

Most realistic possibility should season be delayed or cancelled

It would seem, if the season is delayed until the spring or canceled altogether, than any prospect with any high stock would not suit up to play. The most realistic possibility would seem to be the NFL stepping in with an extended pre-draft process including 7-on-7s, positional training and drills, and other extensive ways for NFL teams to evaluate prospects.

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If we want to see Lawrence, Fields, Micah Parson, Penei Sewell and other top rated players suit up for their respective college teams, then football must happen in the fall. If we have no football in the fall, then drastic adaptions will have to be made as players and teams prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

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