Tom Pelissero

USA TODAY Sports

It just got easier for NFL teams to get face time with draft prospects.

After a competition committee presentation at the league meetings this week raised no objections, the NFL adopted a position that will allow teams and prospects to “video chat” without counting each session towards the 30 player visits each team is permitted at its facility before the draft, a person with knowledge of the plan told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL had not informed clubs of the change and still is considering some potential rules around it.

Previously, the league's position was that such communication through FaceTime, Skype and other mechanisms would count as an official visit, though policing it was difficult.

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Discussion about changing the league's position had been ongoing for a couple years as technology evolved, the person said. The general managers advisory committee unanimously supported the new position, which could save resources for teams, replacing some trips by coaches and scouts to campus or even allowing teams to use fewer than their 30 allotted visits if the video chats suffice.

That also could make things easier on players who log a lot of miles in March and April. The concern is whether some teams might overuse it, doing the video chats in addition to their normal visits and workouts and further taxing top players who are already traveling a ton in the spring. So, the matter figures to be monitored closely and the position tweaked further as necessary.

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