With so much worldwide uncertainty over the past few weeks due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many have been wondering if the NFL will delay upcoming events, particularly the start of free agency and the NFL Draft.
You can read the latest on what I’m hearing below or tune into a special edition of PFN’s NFL Draft Insiders for all the details. You can search for and subscribe to PFN Draft Insiders on your favorite podcast player, click here to listen, or tune in below. Please note that there are two updates (12:38 PM ET and 10:57 AM ET) below the podcast player.
New update – 12:38 PM ET: Since the passage of the CBA and our initial report the league would likely push back the start of free agency and the draft, word has been coming fast and furious.
Approximately 35 minutes after we broke the story the league was looking at a two-week postponement of FA and the draft, Andy Slater posted on Twitter, “The NFL has informed their biggest host hotels in Vegas that the draft won’t take place there April 23-25, industry sources tell me.”
The NFL has informed their biggest host hotels in Vegas that the draft won’t take place there April 23-25, industry sources tell me.
Many Vegas hotels are planning to scale down their operations beginning on Monday limited to a couple of restaurants, guest rooms, and casinos.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) March 15, 2020
I can tell you word is the NFL Draft won’t be held anywhere near the weekend of April 23-25 and there’s been no decision as to when it will happen or where it will happen. While there’s been speculation it will be moved from Las Vegas, I’ve been told there’s been no final determination on the events just yet.
Related: NFL News and Rumors Tracker: Free Agency, 2020 NFL Draft, and More
Original story posted today at 10:57 AM: I’m told one option that is being strongly considered is pushing back free agency, which was slated to begin on March 18 at 4 PM ET, to Wednesday, April 1. Additionally, there’s a consideration to push the NFL Draft back two weeks and hold it on the weekend of May 8.
I want to emphasize that nothing has been confirmed, and I’m told all options are being reviewed. That said, both of these changes make a lot of sense as it gives the league time to readjust the events taking place and gives them a larger degree of flexibility.
An April 1 start date for the free agency period means teams have a better chance to medically examine players they wish to sign. Pushing the draft back two weeks means there’s a better chance of pre-draft workouts taking place, whether they be pro day workouts or individual workouts, as well as the ability to bring in players for official visits at team facilities.
We’ll have more as it comes in.
Tony Pauline is Pro Football Network’s NFL Draft Analyst and Insider. Follow him on Twitter @TonyPauline. Follow PFN on Twitter @PFN365.