NFL Must Consider Delaying League Year and Draft Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

The world of sport has been dealt a handful of bombshells across the last 48 hours, as various leagues across the globe have announced postponements, suspensions, and even cancellations. The MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA Tournament and Players Championship joined that growing list on Thursday.

Then came the crown jewel of them all, The Masters, on Friday morning.

In regards to the NFL, all we've heard is that it was mulling postponing free agency, which begins on March 18, once the voting period for the new collective bargaining agreement closes.

At this rate, the only way forward for the NFL is to consider delaying the league year and its Draft, even if reports suggest otherwise.

For starters, it will be almost impossible for free agent visits to be conducted. More than 10 teams have indefinitely closed facilities and cancelled travel for the foreseeable future. For some reason, that doesn't appear to matter to commissioner Roger Goodell and league owners.

Free agency is scheduled to open in five days. Based on every piece of information that's been provided regarding the rapidly-spreading pandemic, COVID-19 isn't going to be contained by then. It's scary to think, but it may not even peter out by the Draft, which is scheduled for April 23. Many watch parties and local gatherings are already being axed.

The cancellation of The Masters, running April 9 through 12, should give the league further pause.

The trajectory this pandemic is following suggests that the NFL might be forced into a last-minute delay of free agency and its draft. We sincerely hope it doesn't come to that. Almost every other league, including the XFL, has rightfully already taken action to avoid such predicaments.