The coronavirus pandemic is about to really shake up the NFL’s offseason.
Not only will the NFL draft be held virtually, but Packers president Mark Murphy said offseason workout programs will be delayed and teams are planning to do much of the program virtually.
“With so many states under stay-at-home orders through the end of the month, the normal offseason programs will obviously not start as planned,” Murphy wrote on Packers.com on Saturday. “The details of the offseason programs are being worked out with the NFLPA, but much of it will likely be handled virtually with players communicating with their strength coaches as well as position coaches.”
The offseason workout program consists of three phases spread over nine weeks. Seven of the nine weeks include on-field work, which obviously won’t be happening under current conditions.
Murphy said he’s hopeful teams will have an opportunity to have some on-field work later in the offseason before the start of training camp, but nothing is certain in terms of a timeline.
Teams with new head coaches were allowed to start the program on Monday, April 6, while all other teams could have started on April 20. Neither start date is possible now. The NFL draft is April 23-25 and is scheduled to go on as planned.
Murphy revealed how the NFL is planning to handle the draft.
“The focus will be on the teams and the players that are selected, but technology will obviously be crucial,” Murphy said. “The league described the concept as a hub with four spokes. The hub will be the league office and Roger Goodell, and will be where the selections are announced. The four spokes will be the draftees, the clubs, fans and former and current players. There will be cameras in various locations to interview people within the four spokes.”
Murphy said teams are still figuring how to handle the selection process, which will largely depend on if team facilities are available to team personnel.
Rookie minicamps are scheduled for early May. Rookie transition programs are held in late June, with training camps opening for most teams in late July.
