Andy Reid address Chiefs pre-draft activities and coronavirus concerns
By Matt Conner
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media on Thursday and gave updates on the team’s pre-draft activities.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid conducted a conference call on Thursday with reporters that spoke to various concerns around the team this time of year, including the shift in pre-draft activities and preparation and larger concerns about the coronavirus.
Due to the concerns being taken on a local and national (and global) level to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the NFL has forced teams to shut down their facilities. Which means personnel like general manager Brett Veach and Andy Reid are forced to work from home in the days and weeks before the 2020 NFL Draft.
Reid stated during the conference call that the Chiefs were conducting pre-draft interviews using programs like Zoom to at least get some time with a prospect, even if league rules limit all face-to-face communications at this point.
Andy Reid credits Pat Brazil (Director of Video Operations) and the #Chiefs' IT department for going "above and beyond" in getting all of the coaches set up from their homes to get their work done.
— Chiefs Reporter (@ChiefsReporter) April 2, 2020
As of right now, the team is still looking at the best approach for coordinating operations during the actual draft. Communication will be important in terms of ease and reliability, and Reid said everyone might remain at home or it’s possible they find a site like a hotel from which they can conduct their draft.
Andy Reid on the draft providing a distraction during the coronavirus pandemic: "It could help in a positive way. But again, I know it's a sensitive area because there's 2 sides of it. People are dying. But there's positives where it could give a little life to the country."
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 2, 2020
Reid also mentioned that the Chiefs have fortunately remained healthy as an entire team. Not a single player on the roster or coach or staff member have been known to have COVID-19. “My heart goes out to everybody who’s suffered through this son of a gun,” said Reid.
The NFL Draft is set to go on as scheduled from April 23-25, although it will not be held live in front of fans in Las Vegas as originally anticipated.
In terms of player news, Reid mentioned that Veach remains in contact with both Chris Jones and Sammy Watkins but that’s as much as he’d say.
Paraphrasing here, but Andy Reid asked about Sammy Watkins' contract: "I try to stay as far away from that stuff as possible. You saw how well that went for me in Philadelphia."
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) April 2, 2020
Reid wouldn't commit one way or the other about whether Sammy Watkins would be able to remain with Chiefs under current contract. He added, "We sure like Sammy. He's done a great job for us.''
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) April 2, 2020
Watkins remains on the payroll despite the single biggest cap hit for any wide receiver in football. Meanwhile Jones is on the franchise tag at well over $16 million this coming season with expectations of landing a long-term contract extension likely in the realm of $20 million or more. Those are hefty deals that have the Chiefs within dollars of the current salary cap.