NFL announces TV plans for virtual draft

The NFL is giving further details on its plans to televise the unusual virtual draft planned for late April.

The league confirmed in a statement that the 2020 NFL Draft telecast will be a joint production between ESPN and NFL Network which will be simulcast across both stations. ABC will also produce its own telecast of the first three rounds, as it did last year.

The ESPN-NFL Network broadcast will originate from ESPN’s Bristol, Connecticut studios, with limited personnel on site observing social distancing. The league says that the “majority” of on-air contributors will broadcast from home studios. As previously reported, that includes commissioner Roger Goodell, who will announce first round selections from his home.

The coronavirus pandemic has set up a very unusual situation, but the league is trying to put on a show anyway. They will also recognize the crisis by raising money for relief efforts during the telecast.