Category: Draft News

Purdue WR Rondale Moore opts out of 2020 college football season

One of college football’s most explosive playmakers is opting out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Yet another top prospect is choosing not to play college football this season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore is opting out of the 2020 season, he announced via social media Thursday:

One of the most explosive playmakers in all of college football, Moore was a constant headache for opposing offenses, threatening to score on every touch. Despite his lack of ideal height, Moore is a tough runner with the ball in his hands, and his versatility made him one of the most dangerous players in the country.

Now, he joins top prospects like Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, Miami pass rusher Gregory Rousseau and more who are choosing top preserve themselves for the next level rather than playing another season at the college level amid health and safety concerns.

Moore is widely considered a first-round prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

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Penn State LB Micah Parsons to opt out of 2020 season

The best linebacker prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class is opting out of the 2020 college football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Yet another opt prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class is opting out of the 2020 college football season.

Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, a potential top-five pick in next year’s draft, is joining the ever-growing list of college football players who won’t be playing this season.

The news was first reported by Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports, and was confirmed Thursday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

A five-star, in-state recruit, Parsons is the rare off-ball linebacker who could end up warranting a top-five selection in the draft. Listed at 6-3, 245 pounds, Parsons has a rare combination of size, athleticism and physicality, to go along with impressive instincts and intelligence.

Much like we’ve seen top prospects skip bowl games in recent years to preserve their health for the next level, Parsons is now part of a growing trend of talented players who are opting to start their draft preparations early instead of risking their healthy by playing the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman opts out of 2020 college football season

One of the nation’s top wide receiver prospects is opting out of the 2020 college football season due to COVID-19

One of the top wide receiver prospects in the country is opting out of the 2020 college football season.

Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman is the latest top prospect to opt out, making his announcement via social media Tuesday morning:

A potential first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Bateman joins Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley as the most high-profile players so opt out of the 2020 season so far.

Listed at 6-2, 210 pounds, Bateman caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Golden Gophers last season, averaging more than 20 yards per reception.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, more players are expected to opt out and begin preparations for next year’s draft as opposed to risking their health and safety playing this season.

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Jets trade Jamal Adams to Seahawks for multiple 1st-round picks

A blockbuster deal is sending Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks in return for multiple first-round picks

Jamal Adams is finally getting his wish.

One of the NFL’s best safeties has been angling for a trade from the New York Jets for quite some time, and he’s headed to the Seattle Seahawks in a blockbuster deal that includes a pair of future first-round picks:

It didn’t take long for the Seahawks to confirm the move:

The No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Adams starred at LSU before becoming a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro over his first three seasons in the league. He has quickly established himself as one of the best players in the NFL at his position, but had recently falling out of favor with the Jets’ leadership, leading to his request for a trade.

While the team had continued to maintain that Adams was a big part of their future plans, and that they wanted to keep him with a long-term extension, Adams clearly wanted his football future to continue elsewhere.

The Seahawks gave up quite a haul to make it happen, but now Pete Carroll’s defense has a dynamic weapon in the secondary that could remind Seattle fans of Kam Chancellor in many ways.

For the Jets, they made the best of a sour situation, and though they’re losing one of their best players, they’re able to reload for the future with plenty of premium draft resources.

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Could a delayed college football season push back the 2021 NFL Draft?

If college football isn’t played until the spring, would the NFL be open to rescheduling the draft?

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the sports world in many different ways, and it’s highly likely we’ll see even more changes in the coming months as a result of the global health crisis.

One aspect of the potential fallout this year could be a delayed college football season, and it appears officials have already inquired with the NFL about the potential of moving back next year’s draft.

The league doesn’t seem too thrilled about the idea, per Dan Wolken of USA TODAY SPORTS:

It’s understandable that the league wouldn’t want to change their schedule, but a spring football season could present huge questions and challenges to draft-eligible prospects and teams alike.

Hopefully, it won’t come to that, but it looks like the NFL isn’t open to the idea of making seismic changes to their biggest offseason event just to appease the folks at the collegiate level.

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NFL will not hold supplemental draft in 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL will not be holding a supplemental draft this year

The 2020 NFL Draft went off without a hitch, despite being an entirely virtual experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the current public health crisis has now forced another NFL draft to be cancelled.

The league will not be holding a supplemental draft this year, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:

It’s unclear how many players would have made themselves available for a supplemental draft this year, but with the pandemic potentially impacting this year’s college football season, it’s possible that some talented prospects may have considered going that route.

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2020 NFL Draft: Latest rumors, news and reports

Check out all the latest news, rumors and reports from across the league as the 2020 NFL Draft kicks off

The 2020 NFL Draft has finally arrived, bringing the culmination of a months-long predraft process that has been challenging and unique in many ways.

Teams and prospects alike will be taking part in the league’s first every all-virtual draft experience, with all parties interacting with the process from their various homes.

As we prepare for Thursday night’s action, here are the latest rumors and news reports from across the league:

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ESPN’s Todd McShay recovering from COVID-19, will miss 2020 NFL Draft

ESPN’s Todd McShay is recovering from COVID-19, and will miss ESPN’s 2020 NFL Draft coverage

For years fans tuned in to watch Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay battle it out on ESPN with their takes on team fits, needs and of course where they projected players in the NFL Draft.

Unfortunately one half of that dynamic duo will not be present for the draft this year.

McShay announced via social media Thursday that he would miss the 2020 NFL Draft as he continues to recover from COVID-19:

This year’s draft coverage certainly won’t be the same without McShay, who has been an on-air staple for ESPN over the years. But most importantly, we hope he continues his recovery and is back to full health soon.

Tune in to see if the analysts do indeed keep Kiper in line while McShay is on the mend.

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Latest update on Tua Tagovailoa’s health entering 2020 NFL Draft

See the latest update on the status of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa heading into the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft is just hours away, and one of the top prospects is hoping teams feel comfortable enough with his health status to make him an early pick.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had his 2019 season cut short by a gruesome hip injury, but all signs indicated his recovery is going as well as possible.

ESPN’s Stephania Bell relayed this update from the independent doctor who evaluated Tagovailoa’s progress most recently:

While many wonder if Tagovailoa could slip down the board Thursday night, don’t be surprised if at least one team feels confident enough in his status to use a top-five pick on him, even if they have to trade up to make it happen.

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Patriots trading TE Rob Gronkowski to Bucs, swapping draft picks

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trading for retired New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, reuniting him with Tom Brady

What an offseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

First, they sign Tom Brady. Now, they’re trading for his old tight end, luring Rob Gronkowski out of retirement.

The Bucs and Patriots have agreed to a trade for the four-time All-Pro, per multiple reports:

Gronkowski would join a crowded depth chart at tight end, with Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard already in Tampa Bay. This move could push Howard fully onto the trade block.

Gronkowski retired after the 2018 season, and has since spent time as an analyst for Fox Sports and most recently, tried his hand at professional wrestling.

Now, he reunites with his former Patriots teammate in Brady, hoping to make more magic happen in Tampa Bay.

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