58 prospects, including Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow and Ohio State edge rusher Chase Young, are among those who will participate remotely in the NFL draft next week. Traditionally, top prospects would be invited to the draft itself, but this year’s festivities in Las Vegas were modified due to the coronavirus outbreak. Instead, the draft will be conducted in a studio with the league’s 32 teams participating remotely from their hometowns.
The NFL also said that throughout the three-day draft it will host a “Draft-A-Thon” to benefit COVID-19 relief efforts and pay tribute to healthcare workers and others on the front lines of the pandemic. The draft will serve as a three-day fundraiser benefiting six charities that are battling the virus and delivering relief to millions in need. Those charities are: the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross; CDC Foundation’s All of Us; and the COVID-19 response funds of Feeding America, Meals on Wheels America and United Way.
Despite the logistical challenges of operating a 255-pick draft remotely, teams will still have just 10 minutes between picks in the first round, seven for rounds 2 and 3 and five for rounds 4-7. The Cincinnati Bengals own the first overall pick.
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