NFL Draft 2020 Rumors: Teams Could Be 'Super Safe' with Trades Due to Technology

The "fully virtual" format of the 2020 NFL draft could limit the number of draft-day trades across the league, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Fowler reported some general managers could avoid pulling the trigger on any deals given the hurdles presented by the tactics used to stage the draft:

"This year, some teams have made it clear that they would prefer not to execute trades while on the clock because of the technological hurdles of working from home, according to multiple execs. And with less information on prospects due to the cancellation of pro days and player visits because of the coronavirus pandemic, one NFC exec suspects teams could play it 'super safe' with their picks. But others aren't so nervous and expect business as usual. 'Don't overcomplicate it -- make your pick, call it in,' one general manager said."

With all league and team offices closed to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the NFL is having the necessary personnel work remotely to conduct the draft. Rather than the traditional war rooms, coaches and front-office members are relying on third-party services to communicate.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the league was working to address any issues and staging its own mock draft to help everyone grow familiar with the changes:

However, teams were unable to conduct their usual evaluations on players since the pandemic forced the cancellation of all but a few pro days and any in-person visits after the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Undefeated's Jason Reid reported April 7 that "the chatter out there about teams being worried about blowing this draft is very, very real."

The WNBA staged its draft Friday, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert remotely announcing every pick and players watching from their homes. In general, neither WNBA nor broadcast partner ESPN experienced too many issues.

Of course, the NFL is nearly three times the size of the WNBA, and the NFL draft generally features much more movement than its WNBA counterpart to alter the draft order.

No matter what happens later this week, the 2020 installment is likely to look unlike any before it.