With college football in a state of confusion amid Power 5 conference-wide strangers ahead of the 2020 season, the NFL is moving forward with no plans for game breaks this fall. Several projected first-round selections in the 2021 draft have already announced opt-out decisions, including Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Virginia Tech star cornerback Caleb Farley.
Combined with the onslaught of game-outs and university presidents deciding to move forward with games this fall, the NFL is scheduled to use timelots of football – on Thursdays and Saturdays – if those spots are available this season.
“The NFL is just sitting back, watching events and observing how they turn out,” said ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter on Monday. “If college football is canceled … there would be a window of opportunity for the NFL to adjust its schedule. It could move games to Saturday nights. There may be networks that want to program on Friday night due to the lack of content that they currently have.
“Everything would be wide open. The sports world would essentially stop in October.”
Next year’s draft board is jam-packed with elite-level players and is particularly heavy on top-flight quarterbacks, both offensive and defensive linemen and standout wide receivers. Like most years, many of the early chatter centers around the quarterbacks, Heisman frontrunners Trevor Lawrence en Justin Fields. Scouts are fighting over these two as prospects, potential franchise savers on the next level.
Here’s a look at the updated pro mock of three rounds of Pro Football Network and where some of the best football from the university could play next season:
