NFL Bans In Person Visits With Draft Prospects

Effective as of the end of business on Friday, March 13, 2020, the NFL has banned all in-person visits between teams and draft prospects because of concerns over COVID-19 coronavirus.

The league sent a memo to all 32 NFL teams on Friday afternoon saying the ban would go into effect until further notice. Teams may hold telephone and/or video calls with prospects through the day before the draft. All telephone and video interviews with prospects must be reported to the NFL. Each team may make no more than three telephone or video calls with an individual player per week. Each telephone or video call is limited to one hour or less. Any team that violates the restrictions will be subject to discipline.

The NFL made this decision with the guidance of experts at the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The ban on in-person visits is another measure taken in the effort to contain the rapidly escalating coronavirus outbreak. As things evolve further measures may be taken, possibly including delaying the start of free agency and/or conducting the NFL draft, currently scheduled for late April, without a live audience.