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NFL Draft Expected To Proceed As Scheduled

Three-day event remains set for April 23-25

There won't be as many festivities for this year's draft, but it's still expected to proceed as scheduled.
There won't be as many festivities for this year's draft, but it's still expected to proceed as scheduled.

The presence of the coronavirus is not expected to postpone the NFL draft.

Commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly sent a memo to the 32 teams on Thursday afternoon, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, which said there was "unanimous and unequivocal" agreement by the Council Executive Committee to hold the draft from April 23-25, as originally scheduled.

While COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the nation, the memo says "there is no assurance that we can select a different date and be confident that conditions will be significantly more favorable than they are today."

The NBA, MLB and NHL seasons have been postponed, but the NFL was able to move forward with free agency because of its virtual setup, and the draft can be done similarly.

According to the memo, Goodell believes the presence of the draft, one of the signature events on the NFL calendar, can "serve a very positive purpose for our clubs, our fans and the country at large."

The draft will not look the same as in past years. The public events in Las Vegas have already been canceled, and it is unknown if teams will be able to make selections from the war room in their team facilities like usual.

It is uncertain how the Cardinals will handle their draft operations.

"All teams should now be doing the necessary planning to conduct draft operations in a location outside of your facility, with a limited number of people present, and with sufficient technology resources to allow you to communicate internally, with other clubs, and with draft headquarters," the memo read.

The Goodell memo said the NFL will be prepared to adjust to changed circumstances in the coming weeks, including the possibility that teams can make limited use of their facilities.

The Cardinals have six selections in the draft, including No. 8 overall. Their second-rounder went to the Texans in the DeAndre Hopkins trade.

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