The NFL has officially put a stop to pre-draft visits for the league's 32 teams after Friday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The news isn't a shock. It was reported on Thursday that the league had informed player agents that it was ceasing the scheduled visits, but an NFL spokesman later clarified that it was leaving that decision up to each team.
The San Francisco 49ers announced on Thursday that the team is closing its facilities and neighboring Levi's Stadium until further notice. Coaches and staff will be working remotely while team scouts were told to return home.
All of this, of course, is over health concerns surrounding the continuing spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), which has, at least temporarily, shut down the seasons of the NBA, MLB, MLB, NCAA basketball, MLS, and XFL.
Garafolo noted on-air that NFL teams could look into the option of holding online interviews with draft prospects, replacing face-to-face visits. While nothing on that front is official yet, it is an idea that player agents have thrown out there. Although, teams wouldn't be able to give players physicals during such a process.