The Chicago Bears are in the same boat as every other team right now. They’re trying to figure out how this 2020 NFL draft will function. Everything they’ve known about the draft process for years now is out the window. The coronavirus has turned their world upside down, forcing the league to adapt to this new reality. Unable to gather in groups like normal, the Bears front office will have to handle this draft from their homes, which could create logistical problems.
What nobody is entirely clear on is how this entire process will function. It seems he NFL is still hammering out the details. According to Peter King of NBC Sports, here is how things could look for GM Ryan Pace when the action begins 10 days from now.
“Each team’s designated drafter will be connected to the league’s official Microsoft Teams private and encrypted draft channel, and will make the pick through that channel. There are two fail-safes: A GM can call Fiore or a member of his team directly by landline or cell with the pick.
Also, there will be a conference call for the length of the draft with club officials muted; the club official designated to make the pick can unmute his/her line and announce the pick. If the pick is made through Microsoft Teams, Fiore or his representative will announce on the conference call that a pick has been made and the next team is on the clock.”
Chicago Bears will need a clear communication process
There are still plenty of concerns about how this draft will unfold. Several teams aren’t sold on this process being foolproof. For one thing, conducting trades will be a challenge since it could involve multiple teams, which complicates the process. Then there is undrafted free agency. Since constant communication between the GM and his scouts is vital when making phone calls to undrafted players to recruit them, one can imagine how not having everybody in the same room will be a big issue.
It’s why some are urging the NFL to add three more rounds to the draft, making things easier for all. Odds are that won’t happen. So if things move forward as detailed, then it’s going to fall on Pace’s shoulder to be prepared for the anarchy that is likely to come. He’s a GM who prides himself on covering for any eventuality and stated during his recent phone call with the media that he and Bears’ tech experts are working hard to make sure they’re ready.
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