CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The 2020 NFL Draft will be held Thursday, April 23 and run through Sunday, April 25. This year’s television presentation of the event will look a lot more unconventional to fans watching at home.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams will now make their selections virtually. The upcoming spectacle should look night and day compared to the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville where immense crowds gathered on Broadway to see players being picked right in front of them.
This year’s version in Las Vegas was supposed to be nearly as extravagant, as draftees were reportedly going to take a boat ride onto stage in front of the Bellagio fountains after being picked. This now will no longer be the case.
Beginning on Thursday, teams will be forced to adjust to the new format by working from remote locations, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Front offices have already begun to face many challenges when it comes to evaluating talent since the conclusion of the NFL Scouting Combine while in-person interviews have gone by the wayside for the majority of the offseason.
To avoid potential complications, the league has devised a plan to ensure that all of the technology used by teams will hold up throughout the entire process.
Even if a mishap does in fact occur, a team will still be allowed to submit a pick or make a trade after their time is up by an authorized member from their player personnel department.
Many security measures have also been taken by the league to avoid a hacking scenario after the application Zoom recently fell under scrutiny for allegedly selling users’ personal data.
Those watching at home can still expect to see some player reactions as close to in real time as possible. Reportedly 58 of the more high-profile prospects have been sent equipment for potential interview opportunities.
No one knows for sure, entirely, what to expect the finished product to look like come April 23-25.
However, the NFL still reigns supreme in the sports world and with no other games or events currently happening for other organizations, this year’s draft is assured to bring in eye-popping ratings once again.