Tonight is the first-ever virtual NFL Draft due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But some concerns are looming over the draft as teams worked on technical glitches that occurred during the virtual walk-through.
On Monday, the NFL Draft's online test did not go smoothly, as teams like the Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals suffered glitches right off the bat.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the glitch caused a 2 1/2 minute delay for the Bengals.
More on today’s mock draft technical glitch: The Bengals didn’t do anything wrong; wasn’t their fault. But the glitch resulted in a two-and-a-half minute delay, per source. https://t.co/q70MLZ14D4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 20, 2020
According to ESPN's Dianna Russini, there were also a few mishaps, which led to several general managers voicing their concerns.
Text from a GM during this mock draft “there are early communication issues because 32 of us GMs are on conference call and we didn’t hit mute. Sounds awful”
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) April 20, 2020
"There are early communication issues because 32 of us [general managers] are on a conference call, and we didn't hit mute. Sounds awful," one GM reportedly told Russini.
Eventually, the problems were solved, and the event lasted about two hours, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Earlier today, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave a tour of his basement, where he will be announcing the team's picks.
Happy Draft Day, NFL fans. Good luck to every team. A quick tour of my basement where I’ll be announcing picks for the 2020 #NFLDraft.
See you tonight! pic.twitter.com/ZtepCqPYz5
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) April 23, 2020
To make sure everything runs smoothly tonight, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league anticipates there will be glitches but will work to minimize issues.
"We have 200 broadcast feeds coming in from around the country from prospects, coaches, general managers, celebrities, ESPN and NFL Network reporters," NFL Spokesman Brian McCarthy said. "We have spoken individually to each of the clubs about their set up. The clubs are ultimately responsible for their communication systems among their staff. We have provided best practices. At the league level, we are working closely with our tech partners in an attempt to have a smooth operation throughout the three days."
The first round of the NFL Draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will air on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. It will also be streamed on Sling.
