The Carolina Panthers and the rest of the NFL are prepping for the 2020 NFL Draft in a completely new way.
For the first time in league history, coaches, scouts, general managers and team personnel won't be together for the draft.
There will be no live crowd, no war room and no players walking across the stage to hug Commissioner Roger Goodell.
It'll all be virtual.
The draft will still be broadcasted from April 23-25, but all the planning and selections will take place outside of team facilities in separate locations via teleconferences and video calls to social distance.
"We have to get ready for the different scenarios, which probably the one that will take the most time is if we're in our own house is how will that communication work?” Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said.
Carolina currently holds the seventh overall pick in the draft, along with seven other picks.
The team was supposed to have begun early voluntary workouts last week with new head coach Matt Rhule in place, but instead have had to settle for video calls.
"It's really hard for me to evaluate the team without having even met them," Rhule said. "I was really looking forward to the voluntary minicamp before the draft and we've lost that."
Rhule not only won't be able to physically meet the team, but he won't be able to evaluate a lot of the team's remaining weaknesses in person after the Panthers made a plethora of free agency moves.
"There are a lot of positions we wanted to look at and see where they were at," Rhule added. "It's kind of hard to ask the coach to go draft and not even know what the guys look like and how they fit into their systems, but that's where we are."
Communication and studying has been the biggest key to managing a virtual pre-draft process.
Hurney has been relying on the Pro Days and players he did meet before the coronavirus shut the country down.
Now, he has a chance to get to know them on a personal level through video calls.
"I think it all helps. I think you just get a feel for the player's personality. You can ask them football questions," Hurney said. "It's no different. It's just another piece of the puzzle like the combine is or meeting them at the Senior Bowl. Even though it's a little different through videoconferencing, I think it accomplishes the same thing."
If anything, the opportunity to study players more on tape and traveling less can be a benefit.
"Being in our houses, there really isn't much more to do than to evaluate film," Rhule said. "We're able to go back on prospects two years in some cases and maybe you wouldn't have time to do that. If anything, we should be more prepared in terms of film and evaluations of the draft prospects."
A lot of uncertainty still remains about how the virtual draft will ultimately play out and reports have said that the league might even hold a "mock draft" the day before.
For the Panthers, the unique situation still has them planning to see how things play out in front of them and take the best available player.
"The whole key to the draft is to keep open minded and consider every scenario," Hurney said. "Once we get closer and to a couple of days before, I'll start making calls and try to get an idea about how we think the first six picks will go and talk to teams before and after us. We'll explore all options, either way."
Hurney added that the defensive side of the ball is more of a priority to fill right now with the team going all-in with moves on offense this offseason. But Rhule said if the right guy is still there, he believes that will be the pick.
"At the end of the day, if a guy drops in our lap at any position that you believe can change your team, don't let need overtake what's the best thing long term," he said. "You're not drafting for the next 12 months, you’re drafting for the next four-to-five months and on."
Carolina won't be the only team dealing with a new scenario, though they feel prepared.
“I think we’re going to be fine,” Hurney said. “The good thing about us is that we’re an organization that communicates very well. I think now it’s just you have to find the different ways and adjust to the situation is how you’re going to do it and I think we have plans in place for every scenario.”