NFL Network’s Rich Eisen offers look at what a virtual draft could look like
A lot can happen between now and April 23, which is when the NFL Draft is set to start.
The three-day draft was scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, but all public aspects of the draft were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For now the draft will happen, but because of social distancing, things will look much different.
NFL.com reported the league is “working on a virtual solution that will incorporate prospects in the broadcast from their locations.” Current and former players are expected to take part the draft, according to the story.
With FaceTime and Skype, interviews with draftees could still be held, albeit in a different manner.
Rich Eisen anchors the draft for the NFL Network, but he said the usual studio setting may not be used.
“From what I’ve heard, it’s entirely possible I may be hosting the draft from right here,” Eisen said while broadcasting his podcast from his home. “Literally from this seat.”
While teams gathered information on the players from the NFL Combine and watching college games, communication issues could arise.
Eisen said some teams could have an advantage depending on where they are based.
“I spoke to a high-ranking management official on the team side of things talking about how it is a competitive imbalance for teams in a shelter-in place city that are not using their war rooms and their facilities,” Eisen said. “And other teams are in states where there isn’t such a hindrance and they are in their war rooms and they are all together in their facilities.”
Those war-room scenes likely won’t be seen during the broadcast, either.
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said on the Peter King Podcast that most of his team’s employees are working remotely because of a shelter-at-home order. Loomis said it will be difficult to conduct the draft and he’s in favor of postponing it.
Another wrinkle for teams: the NFL Physicians Society said last week it would suspend physicals until after the coronavirus threat has passed.
“This is not a fantasy draft that you conduct out there with just a list of things on a piece of paper,” Loomis said. “There’s a lot of work that goes into it to prepare and there’s a lot of work that is done during the draft. Listen, it’ll be very, very difficult to conduct that and do it in a way that you’re doing justice to the process.”
Eisen said he goes back and forth about whether the draft should go on as planned, particularly with the death toll rising daily.
“I had similar reservations prior to sitting down for the Free Agency Frenzy shows on the NFL Network but I heard nothing from fans but ‘this was a great respite,’” Eisen said.
“And I’m thinking that maybe when this virus does spike ... that perhaps people who are sheltered in place and bombarded with the most worst possible news outside of their doors might seek some sort of escape for three nights that the NFL can provide. Some sort of normalcy.”
Here is Eisen talking about the draft:
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 2:35 PM with the headline "NFL Network’s Rich Eisen offers look at what a virtual draft could look like."
