NFL wants to keep 2020 Draft on schedule for April 23-25: report

General manager subcommittee unanimously recommended to push draft back

3/25/2020, 1:41 AM
Apr 25, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Quinnen Williams (Alabama) stands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he was selected as the number three overall pick to the New York Jets in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in Downtown Nashville. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports / Christopher Hanewinckel
Apr 25, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Quinnen Williams (Alabama) stands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he was selected as the number three overall pick to the New York Jets in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in Downtown Nashville. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports / Christopher Hanewinckel

As of now, the 2020 NFL Draft is still scheduled to take place in Las Vegas from April 23-25, and it sounds like the NFL is hoping to keep it that way, despite some push-back from some general managers around the league.

According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini, the league's GM subcommittee has unanimously recommended that the draft be pushed back due to the coronavirus outbreak. Russini later said that differing accounts had the voting at 6-1, but either way, there was an overwhelming majority.

Some league GMs fear that there could be a competitive disadvantage since some teams may have easier access to their own facilities, while teams like the Jets and Giants in New Jersey would have a tougher time given local restrictions due to Covid-19.

 

The report also states that some teams are concerned that there will not be enough time to conduct prospect physicals, psychological testing, and other general information gathering. 

Given the way new information about the virus is being revealed and new restrictions are being constantly enforced, there's still a chance the draft does indeed get pushed back, but for now, the league wants to keep the draft schedule the same.

"I think a lot of owners aren't sold on keeping it on schedule," one league source is quoted in the reported as saying. "Of course the power owners are calling the shots. Plus, add to the fact that April is going to be the toughest month with this virus. It's really a poor look."

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