How Pro-Day Cancellations Can Affect Players Draft Odds

• Joe Burrow has -10000 odds to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
• Iowa Hawkeyes defensive end AJ Epenesa is favored to be picked in the first round.
• The 2020 NFL Draft will take place on April 23-25.

LAS VEGAS - The coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe has caused cancellations and postponements throughout the sports world with many more events still to be canceled. NFL Pro days are just another example of this, but certain players needed those days to improve their draft stock.

Although the NFL’s regular season doesn’t start until September, the league has felt the impact of Covid-19 during the offseason as the NFL Draft was closed to the public and some teams may even draft virtually.

The NFL has already had to change other parts of the draft process as college pro days have been canceled, in-person interviews/workouts have been banned, and franchises facilities are for draft visits.

College pro days are an important part of the NFL Draft process and these workouts being canceled affect players draft stock, especially small school prospects who might not have as much film readily available for pro scouts to see. For example, LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow won’t see his draft odds affected as he’s listed at -10000 odds to be the first player selected in this year’s NFL Draft.

Other players won’t be as lucky as Burrow or many other top prospects in the Draft. This year’s draft process has certainly been different from most years but the Draft will still go on and sportsbooks have released odds on a variety of draft props.

There are three players that could see their draft stock affected by the cancellation of their college pro days and their O/U odds to be selected could see movement.

Winner: Over 32.5. Epenesa will be one of the players who could see his draft stock affected by this year’s draft process. He was already a fringe first round pick coming into the draft, and while a strong finish to the season helped his value, he’ll likely be selected in the early second round.

Epenesa is also a junior which means there is no Senior Bowl tape on him so teams would have trust their scouts eye since they can’t bring him in for a workout. Take the +185 odds on Epenesa to be drafted in the second round.

Winner: Over 32.5. The Clemson Tigers were one of the most talented teams in all of college football last season and their defense was always among the elite performing units in the nation. AJ Terrell was a big part of that and his ability to play press-man coverage showed every week.

Terrell did attend the NFL Combine and posted a 4.42 40 yard dash time which, for a 6 foot 1-inch cornerback, isn’t bad. His draft stock took a hit during the national championship game and he could’ve used a Pro Day to get back into being considered a first-round draft pick. However, with no Pro Day and other corners having a better combine and most recent season than Terrell, take the -125 odds on him be selected after the first round.

Winner: Over 32.5. Brandon Aiyuk was one of the best wide receivers for the Arizona Sun Devils a season ago and was projected to be a first round pick towards the end of his senior year in which he caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns.

However, an injury kept him from participating in the Senior Bowl. His one year breakout as a senior means he has limited tape, and with teams not able to bring him in for a workout, his odds to be a first round pick are slim especially in a talented class of wide receivers. Take the -190 odds on Aiyuk to be drafted outside of the first round.

The seven-round NFL Draft will be from April 23-25 in Las Vegas. While no fans will be in attendance, the league will allow family members of the drafted players to be there.