On Day 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft, we can reflect on what’s been a bizarre #DraftSZN (and year) thanks to COVID-19.
There was no Scouting Combine. The East-West Shrine Game and NFLPA Bowl were scrubbed, or at least stripped down to a shell of their normal exhibitions with no in-person evaluation taking place. The Reese’s Senior Bowl went on as scheduled, but even its festivities were reduced thanks to pandemic protocols.
Instead, the emphasis was put on individual pro days over televised/streaming showcases, and the onus will be on scouts and front office folk to dig deeper into film and measurables to inform their decisions come draft night.