NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell closed the draft on Saturday evening by saying, "What a unique and special three days. It’s been an amazing and different experience for all of us." Goodell: “With this draft, we set out to celebrate football and provide an escape. We are proud to have shared this experience with a record number of fans.” He added, “We wanted to make a difference by honoring and supporting those impacted by this pandemic, especially those on the front lines. ... More than $100 million dollars has been raised for COVID-19 relief. That is fantastic." Saints coach Sean Payton said the draft went "better than most of us would have expected" (“NFL Draft,” ESPN, 4/25).
The L.A. TIMES' Sam Farmer writes because the virtual-draft format is "better than the old way," the league now has to "figure out how to incorporate this authentic, not-too-perfect style into the glitzy extravaganza typical drafts have become" (L.A. TIMES, 4/26). The BOSTON GLOBE's Chad Finn writes it is a "minor miracle that ESPN, the NFL Network, and ABC pulled all of this off with nary a hitch" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/26). NEWSDAY's Neil Best wrote the draft was a "technical marvel" (NEWSDAY, 4/25).
