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The New Orleans Saints thought that they had a good plan for the 2020 NFL Draft. They moved their “war room” to the Dixie Brewery in New Orleans East, a gated property secluded in an industrial park and owned by Gayle Benson (who also owns the Saints). Saints coach Sean Payton explained last week how he and several other decision-makers — including general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant G.M./college scouting director Jeff Ireland — had set up shop in a large banquet room, teleconferencing with scouts and position coaches for daily draft meetings. The plan was to remain there once the 2020 NFL Draft begins on April 23.
But they’ll have to adjust to new guidelines from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday told teams that they must send personnel home for the day of the draft. Staff will huddle digitally and make decisions remotely, calling in their picks much like many fantasy football drafts are held each year. That’s a notion Loomis may have scoffed at, but it’s their new reality.
Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football first confirmed that these new orders from the NFL mean the Saints will be unable to hold their draft from the Dixie Brewery as planned. So Loomis, Payton, Ireland, and their crew will have to work remotely just like every other NFL club, somewhat leveling the playing field. It’s shaping up to be one of the more-unique drafts in recent memory, and we’re still weeks away. Hopefully another video won’t get leaked of a top draft prospect smoking from a gas mask in the hours before kickoff, which was easily the strangest draft situation in recent memory.
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