The ongoing precautions to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus haven’t impacted the 49ers’ draft preparations as of Wednesday according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
A team spokesman told Branch the team is proceeding as usual in their visits with players and travel. From the Chronicle:
The team’s college scouts typically travel by car to pro days and their coaches rarely travel to those pre-draft events at this time of the year. The 49ers are continuing to monitor public health recommendations.
Santa Clara County has already banned events with more than 1,000 people, including NHL hockey games at the SAP Center, home of the San Jose Sharks. The City of San Francisco has done the same, impacting the Golden State Warriors’ home games at Chase Center. Meanwhile, the NCAA has announced preparations to proceed with the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Tournament without fans in attendance.
While the 49ers may not be altering their pre-draft plans in early March, the ripple effects of COVID-19 could wind up changing how the league operates its league meetings in late March, and the NFL draft is scheduled to begin April 23 in Las Vegas.
Even if those events see noticeable changes though, it shouldn’t have a huge influence on the 49ers’ pre-draft plans. Where their preparation may see a hit is in pre-draft visits and workouts. Schools could begin cancelling Pro Days, and travel may become more difficult for the 49ers’ pre-draft visits and workouts.
Some teams have already begun taking extra precautions against the spread of the virus. The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it public that they’re altering their travel plans per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. Pittsburgh and the Saints were the only teams not at the University of Oklahoma Pro Day. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the Eagles’ coaching staff won’t attend Pro Days, while their scouts will continue heading to those events.
With COVID-19 safety measures quickly expanding, we’ll provide updates on the 49ers’ plans as they become available.
[vertical-gallery id=653900]