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Editor’s note: This article was originally published by USA TODAY Sports and has been republished in part below.
Even for an event defined by uncertainty, this year’s NFL draft could produce an uncommon number of surprises.
With the coronavirus pandemic prompting massive shifts throughout college and the NFL, the scouting process has already been significantly disrupted. Teams will need to account for prospects who have opted out of this year’s season, and scouts’ access to players who are participating has been curtailed. Should such complications continue, intel might be at even more of a premium than usual.
But with the NFL’s regular season reaching its midway point and multiple teams already in dire straits, it’s only natural to look ahead to next year. USA TODAY Sports used the occasion to unveil its first mock draft for 2021, using the current tentative first-round order.
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