NFL Notes: Draft, Regular Season, Jedrick Wills

Draft

• According to Adam Schefter, several “high-level officials from multiple NFL teams” are preparing to conduct the 2020 NFL Draft virtually from home on April 23-25 due to the social-distancing standards currently in place. 
• Josina Anderson, citing a front office source, reports that the NFL is considering limiting personnel into facilities for the draft process.
• Anderson‘s sources indicated that his staff is concerned about spreading COVID-19 into their homes if the NFL determines that they should conduct the draft from team facilities. 
• Earlier this week, Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said it’s possible he could participate in the draft process from his home in Minnesota. (Nate Ulrich) 

Regular Season

Regarding President Donald Trump telling NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that the season should start on time in September with fans attending games, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he does not anticipate sports leagues starting by that time with full stadiums.

“I’m not anticipating that happening in this state,” Newsom said, via Eric Ting of SFGate.com. “We’ve all seen the headlines over the last couple days in Asia where they’re opening up certain businesses and now they’re starting to roll back those openings because they’re starting seeing some spread and there’s a boomerang. One has to be very cautious here, one has to be careful not to overpromise.”

Newsom feels it is best to move “very cautiously” with any expectations and that California will continue to rely on advice given by medical experts.

“I would move very cautiously in that expectation,” Newsom said. “Our decision on that basis here in the State of California will be determined by the facts, will be determined by the health experts, will be determined by our ability to meet this moment and bend the curve … Right now I’m just focusing on the immediate, but that’s not something I anticipate happening in the next few months.”

In reference to sports returning, Trump reiterated that professional teams “want to get back.”

“They want to get back. They’ve got to get back… We want to get back soon, very soon,” said Trump, per Mark Maske. 

Trump could not provide an exact date on when they can recommend sports to continue, but that it will happen “sooner rather than later.” 

“I can’t tell you a date but I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later. We are not going to have separation for the rest of our time on this planet,” said Trump, via Ryan Dunleavy. 

As for fans being back in stadiums by August or September, Trump said that will depend on the data going forward. 

“I’m not committing to it. We’re going to see where we are. But that would be great if we could.” via Ralph Vacchiano. 

Jedrick Wills

Regarding Alabama OT Jedrick Wills converting to left tackle, his former HC Nick Saban pointed out that Wills protected Tua Tagovailoa‘s blindside as a left-handed quarterback. 

“I think that what people don’t realize is he played right tackle for us because we had a left-handed quarterback,” Saban said, via Scott Petrack of BrownsZone.com. “So that was the left tackle for us. But he’s athletic enough to do it. He’s really smart, he’s got power, he can move, he’s got good range. He’s really a good player.”

Saban added that they never considered trying him at left tackle given they were “satisfied with him” on the right. 

“We never, ever tried him there. But we were kinda satisfied with him playing the right side because he was a good pass blocker and that was the backside of our quarterback, at least in that timeframe.”

Saban called Wills is “all the way around” one of the best offensive lineman he’s had. 

“Look, he’s one of the better guys that we’ve had here all the way around,” Saban said. “The guy can get moving in the run game, he’s smart, he’s got really good athletic ability, lateral quickness, open his hips in pass pro, he’s got good hands. And the guy’s really smart. He takes it to the field, too. So he’s got a little toughness about him, too. I think he’s a really good player.”