The NFL announced on Monday that it will officially hold a “fully virtual 2020 NFL Draft with all team facilities remaining closed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was expected by teams with the NFL seeking to provide a level playing field for the upcoming draft. By shutting down all team facilities indefinitely, rather than allow state regulations to decide it, the league will now have general managers and coaches drafting from their homes.
In a memo to teams, Roger Goodell stated that each person must be at their own home during the draft. The decision wipes out the New Orleans Saints’ plan to hold their war room at a local brewery.
Instead, teach coach and executive will need to create a war room at home like the one San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch showed off.
The 2020 NFL Draft is likely to be jointly broadcasted by NFL Network and ESPN, with the show being done from ESPN’s studio in Bristol, Conn. EA Sports is also partnering with the NFL to show draft prospects virtually walking up to the podium to meet Roger Goodell.