Report: NFL on verge of pushing draft back into May

NFL and NFLPA are on verge of pushing back draft to May and moving up start of league year to before combine, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2013

NFL and NFLPA are close to enacting these calendar changes for the next three years.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2013

Talks of this move had been rumored for a few months now, but I don't think anybody saw this coming this quickly.

If it comes to fruition, you can expect an extended free agency period -- one that may even begin in February, meaning the annual scouting combine wouldn't play a factor (though it only ever really played one among quarterback-needy teams).

The pre-draft period would be extended into May, though it's not clear by how much (it may be a week or as many as five). It would give some college players extra time to get healthy and perform in their pro days, and it would also give some drafted and undrafted players with late graduation dates an opportunity to participate in a team's rookie mini-camp they otherwise wouldn't have been able to.

While many people think the draft season is long enough as it is, admit it -- the months of May and June are just too long. I'd rather extend the craze that has become the NFL Draft season, and deal with another few weeks of mock drafts, if it means this dreadful period in the early summer would be shortened.

UPDATE 1:45 PM --

Schefter reports the moves would be effective starting in 2014 and 2015.

Proposed new league year would start before combine in 2015 and 2016. Change of draft to May effective in 2014.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 20, 2013