Category: Draft News

Rams trade WR Brandin Cooks to Texans, swapping draft picks

The Los Angeles Rams are sending Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans, swapping draft picks in the deal

Brandin Cooks is being traded yet again, this time to the Houston Texans to replace DeAndre Hopkins.

The Los Angeles Rams are sending Cooks to Houston, along with a future fourth-round pick, in return for a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, per multiple reports:

Cooks has been traded twice before in recent memory, but both times for a first-round pick. The 20th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Cooks was was traded by the New Orleans Saints to the New England Patriots in 2017, then from the Pats to the Rams a year later.

An undersized but explosive playmaker, Cooks gives Deshaun Watson another dynamic deep threat to pair with Will Fuller, Kenny Stills and Randall Cobb, helping to ease Hopkins’ departure.

The Rams are still strong at wide receiver, but without a first-round pick. This gives them a pair of second-rounders in this year’s draft.

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Top prospects to participate in virtual 2020 NFL Draft experience

More than 50 of this year’s top prospects will take part in the NFL’s virtual draft experience

The 2020 NFL Draft will be like no other, thanks to league and government restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The league has cancelled all public events set to take place in Las Vegas, and instead, this year’s draft will be a completely virtual experience.

That won’t stop this year’s top prospects from getting their chance to shine, though. The league will have more than 50 of this year’s best players involved in their virtual draft experience:

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young, Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor are among those confirmed to be taking part in the festivities.

The full list of virtual draft participants will be announced on NFL Network’s “Path to the Draft” show, Thursday at  8 p.m. ET.

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2020 NFL Draft to serve as fundraiser for COVID-19 relief

The 2020 NFL draft will be used as an opportunity to raise money for organizations providing COVID-19 relief

The 2020 NFL Draft will be like none other in league history, due to league and government restrictions in the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This year’s event will also be used as an opportunity to raise money for organizations that are working to help those impacted by the virus, the league announced Wednesday:

The organizations that this year’s draft will be funding, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

This is a great gesture from the NFL, and something that will help the millions of people impacted by this unfortunate situation. Football can not only be a welcome escape from difficult times, but also a powerful force for good.

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2020 NFL Draft will be a completely virtual experience

Commissioner Roger Goodell confirms that the 2020 NFL Draft will take place virtually due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Fantasy will be reality when it comes to professional football’s real draft this year.

Yes, much like our fantasy drafts every season, the 2020 NFL Draft will officially be a completely virtual experience, commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed Monday (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero):

As expected, Goodell confirms that team facilities will remain closed for the foreseeable future, and that team officials will participate in the draft separately from their own homes rather than in their usual draft rooms.

The impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be felt across the NFL landscape, and this year’s draft is just the latest aspect of this year’s offseason to feel the effects.

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Roger Goodell sends memo to teams detailing 2020 NFL draft plans

The 2020 NFL draft will look much different this year, and the commissioner is giving teams details on how they should prepare

The 2020 NFL draft will be unique in many ways due to new league restrictions in the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

While most sporting events have been postponed or cancelled, the NFL is planning to go ahead with this year’s draft on its previously scheduled dates, April 23rd-25th.

Commissioner Roger Goodell recently sent a memo to all 32 teams regarding how they should be preparing for the unprecedented challengers this year’s draft will present (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter):

This will definitely be a draft to remember, but hopefully, the more important things that are causing these changes clear up sooner than later.

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Every RB from the 2015 NFL draft has changed teams

With the release of Todd Gurley, every single running back taken in the 2015 NFL Draft is no longer with his original team.

In today’s NFL, the running back position has been one that is devalued. Giving running backs a second contract, especially a contract that breaks the bank is unheard of in this climate. The latest to sign a big deal was the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott.

Prior to him it was Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley who cashed in on a huge deal, however Gurley is now a free agent after being released.

For the “running backs don’t matter” crowd, this isn’t news to them. However, the 2015 NFL Draft was just six years ago and now each running back selected are no longer with their original team. The question now becomes when does this happen to the 2016 class that was headed by Elliott.

In a passing league, the days of the running back are becoming much like the fullback. Forgotten.

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Colts to trade 2020 1st-round pick to 49ers for DeForest Buckner

A blockbuster trade has been struck between the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts for DeForest Buckner at the No. 13 pick

Another blockbuster move that impacts the 2020 NFL draft, and this time, in the first round.

The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to send the No. 13 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, who is signing a massive deal in Indy:

The deal gives the Colts the interior presence they need along their defensive line, while giving the 49ers some much-needed draft capital.

More to come.

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2020 NFL draft changes

The 2020 NFL draft will take place as scheduled.

On Monday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that it will proceed as scheduled with the 2020 NFL draft on April 23-25.

To comply with guidance from medical experts concerning COVID-19, the NFL will continue to modify its plans regarding the draft. Any public NFL draft events previously planned in Las Vegas next month have been canceled.

The selection process will be televised as planned, however, the league is exploring innovative options for how it will be conducted.

“This decision reflects our foremost priority — the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” Goodell in a statement. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”

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2020 NFL draft to happen on schedule, events in Las Vegas cancelled

Amid concerns over the novel coronavirus, the 2020 NFL draft will still take place, but the big events in Las Vegas have been cancelled

As expected, the long list of sports event changes due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached the 2020 NFL draft.

This year’s three-day extravaganza in Las Vegas is off, but the draft itself will still take place as scheduled:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement Monday regarding the league’s plan for the three-day event:

“This decision reflects our foremost priority – the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” said Goodell. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”

Much like so much of the current major sports landscape, this year’s draft will look much different than we’ve seen it in recent years.

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How the coronavirus outbreak could impact the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft might have to make some big changes in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak

Every few hours, it seems the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) causes another massive decision to be made across the sports world.

From the NBA suspending its season, to the NCAA Basketball tournaments deciding not to allow fans in attendance, this global health crisis continues to have a significant impact on every facet of society, including sports.

The NFL is currently in the offseason (if there’s ever such a thing), but as the major sports leagues continue to shut down large gatherings of all kinds, what could that mean for a massive event like the 2020 NFL Draft?

It appears the league is starting to make plans (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post):

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke Wednesday about the situation via conference call (per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News):

The league office, the players association and the city and the state are working together. They’re making a measured decision. Health and safety will always be No. 1.

They’ll make the correct decision. They won’t put anyone in jeopardy over it.

NFL.com’s Judy Battista notes the the league will likely face some important decisions as the draft draws near:

The NFL draft has become a destination event for football fans from all over the world, which is normally an exciting and extremely entertaining venture for the league. But with the rise of such a global health crisis, that’s exactly the kind of event that could present a significant risk to all in attendence.

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