Now that we’re in the middle of the NFL off-season, news about COVID-19 spread in the league has slowed a bit. However, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was diagnosed with COVID-19 on February 22. Several other member of Tomlin’s coaching staff and other team personnel (but no players) were sent home from the facility after several tests came back positive. During the 2020 season, the Steelers had three positive tests come back for players (tailback James Conner, cornerback Joe Haden and tight end Vance McDonald) and at least one staff member. In the aftermath of the Super Bowl, though, Tomlin’s case was the first.
As we move toward the NFL draft, let’s take a look at the impact that COVID-19 had on the NFL this season as you consider your online betting choices for pro football in the fall.
NFL News: COVID-19 Updates for March 4
One concern for players who had tested positive for COVID-19 had to do with the possibility of inflammatory heart disease. Scientific studies have found a connection between developing COVID-19 and then later suffering from inflammatory heart disease, a combination that could prove extremely risky. However, on March 4, JAMA Cardiology released a peer-reviewed study that combines research from medical experts from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS and MLB indicating that there were “very few cases of inflammatory heart disease” within athletes who had come back previously with positive COVID-19 tests. Overall, the study looked at 789 COVID-19 positive athletes from the six leagues, and the analysis turned up inflammatory heart disease in 0.6% of athletes. Among those 789 athletes, none reported adverse cardiac events. This is good news for the athletes going forward — and for the health of the league.
The COVID-19 pandemic also has removed workouts from the NFL Scouting Combine. That means that players looking to amp up their worth ahead of the draft have to take part in pro days, hosted by colleges wanting to show off their players. College players who opted out of the 2020 season will rely heavily on these prodays in order to remind teams of what they can do. Let’s take a look at a few players who could benefit from this sort of exposure.
Milton Williams (DT, Louisiana Tech) put up a 4.63 40-yard dash, 32 reps on the bench and a 35-inch vertical leap at the pro day hosted by his EXOS (training facility). He is a three-technique who is a bit undersized but who also shows unique strength right on the point of attack, especially for a player his size. If he can show that those numbers were not a fluke (along with his swift change of direction testing) when it’s time to have NFL scouts on campus, he will shoot up the draft boards.
Rondale Moore (WR, Purdue) had a monster freshman season with Purdue, but he went down after just four games into his sophomore season with a season-ending injury. He opted back in for this year’s Big Ten season, but he only averaged 7.7 yards per catch over three games. He has slid way down the draft boards, but at his pro day, if he can nail the 40 as well as his quickness testing, that could change.
Jayson Oweh (EDGE, Penn State)
Oweh played seven games for the Nittany Lions and failed to pick up one sack. In movement drills, though, Oweh looks terrific, with long limbs and plenty of definition. Having a pro day to show off his physical abilities could remind teams about how they want an edge rusher who can explode off the ball.
Nico Collins (WR, Michigan)
Collins opted out of the 2020 college football season, and his Senior Bowl practice week was not all that impressive. He does have quality tape from 2019, but he needs more, such as a great 40 time. He excels with his size and the ability to get up on throws down the field, due to his size. Drills to help him show those traits will help him get back into the memories of general managers.
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