The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting everything in the sports world, including the NFL draft. The draft being in Las Vegas has already been scrapped for a while, but now it appears teams won’t even be gathering in their respective buildings. In an unprecedented situation, multiple high-level officials will conduct the draft from their homes, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The pre-draft preparation will be more important than ever, as it will likely be more difficult for teams to coordinate internally while the draft is going on. It’ll be very interesting to see how this impacts draft-day trades, among other logistical issues.
Here’s more from around the league on a quiet Saturday night:
- The Bills signed offensive lineman Daryl Williams a couple weeks ago, and now we have the details on his contract. Williams got a one-year deal worth $2.25MM from Buffalo with only $250K guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets. As Pelissero points out the two sides are very familiar with one another since a lot of Buffalo’s brass, including head coach Sean McDermott, used to be with the Panthers. Williams started all 16 games at right tackle for Carolina in 2017 and played very well, but missed almost all of 2018 with a knee injury. He signed a one-year deal with the Panthers worth $7MM last year and started 12 games, a few each at left tackle, right guard, and left guard. Pelissero adds that Buffalo plans to move him back to the right side.
- Greg Manusky spent the last three years as the Redskins’ defensive coordinator, but he got bounced last year after head coach Jay Gruden got the axe. Manusky has a new job now, and it’s a big step down the coaching ranks. The former 49ers, Chargers, and Colts defensive coordinator has accepted a position as a defensive quality control assistant with the University of Kentucky, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports. It’s an unusual move for such a grizzled veteran, but it’s possible he decided to take this gig as a temporary stopgap before emerging with a more prominent role in 2021. Quality control coaches are often young guys on one of their first jobs, but nonetheless Manusky will be serving on Mark Stoops’ staff this fall.
It could be worse for Manusky the Browns or Cowboys could of tried to hire him.
Yeah an nfl paycheck would be so bad
They could just use Zoom. For trading with other teams, not sure the protocal, but technology is so good and there’s plenty of time to still get it all set up.
They’ll be fine.
They have 2 weeks they should be doing zoom conferences everyday with the entire war room. And running thru some scenarios of making trade calls. Making sure the room is silent etc..
I wouldn’t want anyone in my home right now and the coach isn’t conducting a draft alone in his living room. Tech people traipsing through. Movers bringing in war room tables and white boards. Video screens. Coaches and scouting directors setting up shop for a couple weeks of pre draft meetings. Hi fives after picks. Just saying. There is this killer virus spreading around.
Yeah really