NFL still plans on holding its draft in April

The NFL is not considering postponing next month's draft despite a push by some general managers for such a delay, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Keeping the draft April 23-25 will present obstacles for teams as they try to plan around limitations because of the novel coronavirus outbreak — including being unable to meet with draft-eligible players.

The NFL did move to address what it viewed as a competitive imbalance when it informed teams in a memo Tuesday that all teams' facilities will be closed beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m. That policy is to be reassessed April 8, according to the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.

“To ensure that all clubs operate on a level playing field, and that the NFL continues to conduct itself in a responsible way at this time, it is appropriate to outline certain principles that will apply during the current period,” the NFL's memo to teams said. “These principles have been reviewed with and endorsed by the Competition Committee and will remain in effect until further notice.”

The league's decision to close all team facilities did not come solely in response to the recommendation of a seven-member committee of general managers that the draft be postponed. The NFL already had planned to study the issue this week, with some teams having closed their facilities and others keeping them open.

But those competitive imbalances were a concern of the GM committee, which advises the league on a variety of football operational issues.

The GMs also were concerned about other issues affecting draft preparations, according to a person familiar with the deliberations.