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Thanks to the pandemic, actual playing ability might reign supreme at the NFL Draft

There’s nothing good about the coronavirus outbreak in itself, nothing about the disease that makes it readily obvious why it has been visited upon us. But we look for silver linings – an increase in human kindness, a newfound appreciation for silence, etc. – anything that will raise our spirits. And I do mean anything.

So forgive my flippancy while I glom onto a strange byproduct of COVID-19: NFL teams will not be able to interview prospects privately in person before the draft begins April 23. That means no sumptuous, get-to-know-you dinners. It means that grown men – general managers and coaches – won’t be able to find deep meaning in the way a college player holds his fork.