As of Saturday afternoon, the 2020 league year remains scheduled to start March 18. The legal tampering window opening at 10:59am CT is still the plan as well. But the COVID-19 pandemic has already altered the league’s pre-draft process and will force the NFL and NFLPA to discuss a delay to the league year.
The league and the union will discuss postponing free agency on Sunday, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter). This has been the expectation, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noting the league does not want to announce any delays before the players’ CBA vote. The deadline for said vote remains 10:59pm Saturday.
While the NFL and NFLPA will discuss delaying the league year, Maske adds that the expectation remains for the NFL to conduct business as usual. Although select team officials have expressed skepticism the league would still start free agency on time, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com also notes (via Twitter) a postponement is unlikely. The NFL cannot unilaterally make a decision to postpone the league year, however, as Maske notes the NFLPA must also sign off on a delay (Twitter link).
Coronavirus caused the NBA and NHL to suspend their seasons and Major League Baseball to pause spring training and delay its regular-season start date. Boxing matches have been canceled as well. The NFL does not have to make a decision on this level, but logistical issues will crop up if the 2020 league year begins on time.
Most of the top free agents do not take visits but do show up at team facilities for physicals and press conferences. Workouts and facility visits are also part of the free agency process for certain free agents, so it is uncertain how such processes would unfold. The league has canceled visits and workouts for draft-eligible players and is pondering changes to the draft.
The NFL has also delayed its league year in the not-so-distant past. The 2011 lockout caused free agency to be postponed by more than four months, preceding a late-summer frenzy of player movement.