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Monday, the NFL cemented details surrounding the 2020 NFL draft as the globe grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
According to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s memo sent to teams, the league will hold its first — and perhaps only — virtual NFL draft.
Translation: It’s going to look quite a bit like a typical fantasy football draft.
League and team facilities remain closed indefinitely, so team personnel have been advised to prepare to participate in the draft individually and virtually.
It’s not a shocking turn of events considering the league had already prohibited prospect-team meetings. That restriction hasn’t stopped the Bengals from seeing plenty of Joe Burrow.
The Bengals — and likely Burrow — will be first up leading the way for the NFL in this new virtual format. The actual broadcast itself will also be virtual, spanning multiple networks with some innovative ideas to keep fans engaged with the process as usual.
Though actually earning the first pick wasn’t fun, it should be interesting to see the Bengals leading the way in this twist to the usual draft format.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell just informed clubs in a memo that club facilities will remain closed indefinitely and the league will conduct a “fully virtual” draft, with club personnel separately located in their homes. pic.twitter.com/28t2kNnLAI
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 6, 2020
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