ESPN's Todd McShay recovering from COVID-19, will miss 2020 NFL Draft

There are few names as synonymous with the NFL Draft as Todd McShay, but the draft expert will miss this year's broadcast, as he announced that he is recovering from the coronavirus.

The 43-year-old has been working as a football analyst for ESPN since 2006. In 2009, he joined the draft telecast and has remained a foundational part of the broadcast ever since. ESPN is not expected to replace McShay for Thursday's broadcast.

McShay has reportedly not been at ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn., since March 3. Instead, he has been working from home, where he has been providing his usual expertise. He even posted his final ranking for the top-300 players Wednesday. In the tweet in which he announced that he has the coronavirus, McShay took the time to note his sadness in regards to missing the draft.

“I’m so sorry to tell you I won’t be working the NFL Draft this year,” McShay wrote on Twitter. “I’m home recovering from coronavirus. For now, I just want to say I miss you all — my teammates at ESPN who have been incredibly supportive, my friends in the league, and the fans who have made the Draft what it is today. I also want to assure you I’ll be back, thanks to the tireless work of healthcare workers and first responders. You are truly our nation’s heroes.”

McShay also managed to work in a dig at his longtime friend and draft rival Mel Kiper in the tweet, writing that "I also hope [Trey] Wingo and crew will help me out and do their part to keep Kiper in line!"