NFL Details Virtual Draft Procedures for Teams Having Technical Issues

The NFL has developed a contingency plan in the event teams have technical issues during the 2020 NFL draft. 

An NFL spokesman told ESPN's Tim McManus on Friday that three separate team representatives are able to submit a pick in the event there is an issue at one person's house and if there are technological issues, the NFL player personnel department will stop the clock to ensure a pick or trade gets submitted. 

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told teams in a memo issued earlier this month that the draft would be conducted virtually with team personnel advised to stay in separate locations and communicate using phones and the internet. 

Some coaches around the league have expressed various concerns about holding a virtual draft. Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters the potential of getting hacked or team information being stolen is "a big concern."

An NFL spokesman told The Athletic's Jeff Howe that the league has "provided the best practices" for teams to maintain communication and ensure things run smoothly over the course of the draft's three days. 

"At the league level, we are working closely with our tech partners to ensure a smooth operation throughout the three days," the spokesman said. "We are not disclosing our cybersecurity processes other than to say they are comprehensive and thoughtful."

Communication is essential for teams throughout the draft, especially in the later rounds when there is less time between picks. Clubs have 10 minutes to make a pick in the first round, seven minutes in the second round, five in rounds three through six and four in round seven. 

The 2020 NFL Draft will run from April 23-25.