NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed on Tuesday that the annual NFL draft will move next year to May, ESPN reports. Goodell, who spoke with reporters at the NFL's spring meetings in Boston, said the draft would fall sometime between the 8th and 17th of the month.
Goodell said the change was necessary because the Radio City Music Hall, the New York City venue that hosts the draft, is booked next April for an Easter event.
"At this late stage, for us to do it the right way, we don't see having any choice but to move the date," Goodell said.
The change, which is expected to be permanent, is one of several anticipated adjustments to the NFL calendar. Goodell and the team owners are considering pushing back the NFL combine and moving up the start of the league year.
While the current collective bargaining agreement allows the commissioner to determine the draft date, he will need the NFLPA's approval for the other changes.
"We are negotiating that with the union," he said. "We have a discussion with them sometime in the next couple of weeks, and I am sure that will come up. We think that is a good change for fans and for football."
Adjusting the offseason dates would stretch out the league calendar and "maximize attention" on the NFL, according to ESPN analyst Adam Schefter. It'd also allow free agents more time to find new teams.
Still, Goodell is adamant about maintaining harmony with the NFLPA and securing their blessing.
"This is not secretive. We share what the overall strategy is and what we are trying to accomplish with the players," he said. "We went to them initially to do that, to get their feedback. We want to make sure we do it right, and that includes getting player input."
