Notes: NFL expecting in-person offseason activities in 2021

Last week, it was revealed that NFL offseason activities would be pushed back a little from the normal schedule. Teams that would normally get a head start because they employed a new head coach will, instead, start offseason activities at the same time as everyone else: currently scheduled to be April 19.

But Wednesday came with some good news. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the league is expecting offseason activities to return with some actual in-person drills.

“While negotiations are ongoing between the NFL & NFLPA regarding this offseason, the expectation is that there will be some on-field work – passing camps and OTAs – this spring, sources say,” Rapoport tweeted on Wednesday. “Health and safety protocols will be paramount, but the plan is for some in-person work.”

Last year, basically all in-person events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as teams were forced to meet virtually, and no football activities—even including workouts—were allowed at the team facility until training camp.

However, it appears we’re going to have at least some sense of normalcy this offseason, even though many COVID protocols are expected to stay in place.

• DetroitLions.com has had an ongoing series breaking down of the the best prospects for the 2021 NFL Draft. Here are links to the Gregory Rousseau, Zach Wilson, DeVonta Smith, and Rashawn Slater.

• Our own Erik Schlitt joined the X’s and Bro’s podcast on Wednesday morning to talk about the Lions’ offseason and the draft ahead:

(If you don’t see it above, click here.)

• Probably the best piece of draft content in existence: Dane Brugler’s 267-page 2021 NFL Draft Guide—which covers 636 total prospects—dropped on Wednesday. If you have a subscription to The Athletic, it’s free.

• If the contestant trolling Aaron Rodgers wasn’t enough Jeopardy content for you in a week, here’s a hilarious headline from The Onion:

• Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire suggests that the Falcons’ interest in trading out of Pick 4 is good for the Detroit Lions.

• Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com slated Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields to the Lions with the seventh overall pick in his latest mock draft. Here’s the “Good Morning Football” panel discussing that scenario: