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NFL outlines teams' options for draft-day operations amid COVID-19 concerns

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In a memo to NFL general managers and head coaches, the league outlined two potential plans for the 2020 NFL Draft.

In the first scenario, teams would be able to conduct the draft at their respective facilities with limitations on both the number of individuals present and with strict cleaning guidelines. Each club would be subject to guidelines from Dr. Allen Sills, who serves as the league's chief medical officer.

In the second scenario, teams would have to conduct the draft from personal residences and would be prohibited from having a certain number of people gather in place.

Both situations are being considered as the league grapples with the best way to proceed in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

The NFL will decide with which scenario to choose after receiving guidance from Sills, the CDC and state and federal guidelines.

The league emphasized that it is not currently mandating that teams move their draft operations away from the facilities. Teams can, however, choose to hold their operations at an off-site location as long as it meets local standards.

If the league decides club executives must conduct the draft from personal residences in isolation, then no teams will be able to host their operations from their given facility or a different location.

The NFL said it will discuss ensuring competitive fairness for the draft and college free agency in a conversation with the General Managers Advisory Committee and the Competition Committee.

President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway and Head Coach Vic Fangio are both preparing for the draft from their respective residences.

"I think the good thing is we've gotten a tremendous amount of work done already," Elway said Tuesday. "Our scouts are already looking at juniors that are possible guys that come out next year in the draft. Our scouts at this point in time [have] moved on to next year. So, as far as this year's draft and the information and the reports that we've gotten from all the scouts, those are all in. We feel good about where we are. It helped us tremendously [that] Vic … had the coaches stay home from the Combine and spend one full week on the draft, and so all the coaches got all their reports in on the players in this year's draft. That was beneficial.

"… We feel pretty good about where we are. The draft staying where it is is fine. … We're in good shape."

The 2020 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on April 23.

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