2020 NFL Draft Coverage
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all sports have been shut down indefinitely with no exact timetable for return. However, one thing will help sports fans cope with the loss of sports. The NFL Draft continues, but not how you would think.
Traditionally, the draft takes place physically in a set location with the prospects and their families waiting for their names to be called by the 32 teams. This year it would have been in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 23rd to the 25th. However, among the pandemic, the league has decided to move to a virtual draft in hopes of preventing the spread of the virus. Teams will stay at home and conduct the draft process. General Managers, coaches, and the IT staff will participate in the virtual draft in a one of a kind draft. On the other hand, many are not aware of how the draft will now work. Let’s dive into that.
In the first-ever virtual NFL Draft, teams will use a combination of modified versions of Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Zoom. Each of these communication networks will be secured for only team access. This will allow each aspect of a team to work together and effectively in deciding on the prospect that they are going to take. A tradition at the draft is the commissioner announcing the picks on stage for the first round of the draft. This year NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, has also stated that he will announce the picks from his New York home basement.
While these communications networks will be secured, some NFL GM’s have concerns that they will be hacked and that the hypothetical hackers will be able to make a pick that the team does not want to make. While this is a valid point, the NFL has made contingencies for these scenarios. While the normal pick would be sent to Goodell through the Microsoft Teams application, if that system goes down, teams can send their picks through email or a phone call.
In the case of this virtual draft, we can only hope that this is the first and last of its kind. However, the presence of the draft provides some light in the darkness that we face.
One of the highly touted wide receiver prospects is Henry Ruggs III. His sad backstory provides us with purpose in his determination. Ruggs’ best friend was Roderic Scott. They seemed like twin brothers to anyone who didn’t know the two with their similarly cut hair and secret handshakes and signals. Ruggs said, “I keep a lot to myself.” Scott was one of the few people who knew how to get him to talk. One day, Ruggs became sick with the flu and couldn’t go to a basketball game with Roderic Scott. Scott was involved in a car accident and was thrown from the car, which resulted in serious head injuries. When Ruggs heard about this, he ran to the hospital where Scott was. Scott died the next day and Ruggs blamed himself for his best friend’s death. However, Ruggs found a way to memorialize his best friend forever. When Ruggs scored his first touchdown for the University of Alabama, he did “3’s up”. When asked about why he did that, he stated that Roderic Scott wore number 3 when they used to play basketball. After every touchdown scored by Ruggs, he always remembered his friend who helped push him to play football. While Ruggs might be best known for his speed, with a 4.27-second 40-yard dash (the fastest at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine), his heart and friendship overweigh his physical gift. His story should inspire us to appreciate our loved ones and friends as we will never know when it comes to an end.
MOCK DRAFT
Trades:
1. Dolphins get No. 3 | Lions get No. 5, No. 39
2. Browns get No. 4 | Giants get No. 10, No. 41, No. 97
3. Buccaneers get No. 7 |Panthers get No. 14, No. 45
4. Jets get No. 9, No. 116 | Jaguars get No. 11, No. 79
Round 1
Round 1- Pick 1
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow QB
LSU • SR
Round 1 – Pick 2
Washington Redskins
Chase Young EDGE
OHIO STATE • JR
Round 1 – Pick 3
Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa QB
ALABAMA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 4
Cleveland Browns
Isaiah Simmons LB
CLEMSON • JR
Round 1 – Pick 5
Detroit Lions
Jeff Okudah CB
OHIO STATE • JR
Round 1 – Pick 6
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert QB
OREGON • SR
Round 1 – Pick 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jedrick Wills Jr. OL
ALABAMA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 8
Arizona Cardinals
Tristan Wirfs OL
IOWA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 9
New York Jets
Andrew Thomas OL
GEORGIA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 10
New York Giants
Mekhi Becton OL
LOUISVILLE • JR
Round 1 – Pick 11
Jacksonville Jaguars
Derrick Brown DL
AUBURN • SR
Round 1 – Pick 12
Las Vegas Raiders
CeeDee Lamb WR
OKLAHOMA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 13
San Francisco 49ers
CJ Henderson CB
FLORIDA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 14
Carolina Panthers
Patrick Queen LB
LSU • JR
Round 1 – Pick 15
Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy WR
ALABAMA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 16
Atlanta Falcons
Javon Kinlaw DL
SOUTH CAROLINA • SR
Round 1 – Pick 17
Dallas Cowboys
Xavier McKinney S
ALABAMA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 18
Miami Dolphins
Josh Jones OL
HOUSTON • SR
Round 1 – Pick 19
Las Vegas Raiders
A.J. Terrell CB
CLEMSON • JR
Round 1 – Pick 20
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kristian Fulton CB
LSU • SR
Round 1 – Pick 21
Philadelphia Eagles
Henry Ruggs III WR
ALABAMA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 22
Minnesota Vikings
Jaylon Johnson CB
UTAH • JR
Round 1 – Pick 23
New England Patriots
Justin Jefferson WR
LSU • JR
Round 1 – Pick 24
New Orleans Saints
Tee Higgins WR
CLEMSON • JR
Round 1 – Pick 25
Minnesota Vikings
K’Lavon Chaisson EDGE
LSU • SOPH
Round 1 – Pick 26
Miami Dolphins
Cesar Ruiz OL
MICHIGAN • JR
Round 1 – Pick 27
Seattle Seahawks
Ezra Cleveland OL
BOISE STATE • JR
Round 1 – Pick 28
Baltimore Ravens
Kenneth Murray LB
OKLAHOMA • JR
Round 1 – Pick 29
Tennessee Titans
Jeremy Chinn S
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS • JR
Round 1 – Pick 30
Green Bay Packers
Denzel Mims WR
BAYLOR • SR
Round 1 – Pick 31
San Francisco 49ers
Ross Blacklock DL
TCU • JR
Round 1 – Pick 32
Kansas City Chiefs
Grant Delpit S
LSU • JR