With the continuing of COVID and a busy job, I have been off my normal deep analysis game. However, it’s never too late to get excited for the NFL Draft which is almost upon us. This post will be the first of 3 I will do. This one is a simple overview of the Draft, Schedule, and First Round Draft Order. The second will focus on the Team Needs and Potential Draft strategy. The last post will be a summary of Top Player Prospects, Mock Drafts and players I especially like in this year’s Draft Class.
Draft Night – A Life Changing Experience
The NFL Draft is the event when aspiring college players get selected to play for an NFL Franchise. It is probably the biggest moment in any player’s life to this point, as it means they can become millionaires in seconds. Besides the money, I think everyone dreams of putting on that hat of their favorite team, and there really is nothing like seeing these young men celebrate this moment with their families. In most years without COVID, the players take special care to get suited and booted in incredible outfits making a lasting impression. It is part of the pageantry of the Draft.
Opening Draft Night is a piece of entertainment. Each station’s coverage has a multitude of analysts who will review video highlights, spew statistics, and of course show player interviews. So, it is extremely unique. Plus, there are always dramatic situations that arise as teams are “On the Clock” for their pick. One of the more memorable moments in recent memory was when moment’s before Laremy Tunsil was going to be selected in the Top 5 a Twitter video was released of him smoking pot inside a gas mask contraption. He fell from the Top 5 to the teens costing him dollars and the draft coverage was crazy. Beyond that drama, there is always the possibility of Draft Day trades that can change the fortunes of 2 franchises – See Chicago Bears, Mitch Trubisky…..
Draft Basics
The NFL Draft will be held over 3 Days: Thursday, April 29th through Saturday, May 1st. This year the physical draft will be held in Cleveland, OH, which follows the NFL’s efforts to rotate the draft to different cities each year. I’m sure there will be restrictions with COVID, however I can speak from experience that the excitement coming to your town has made the Draft an even more fan friendly experience versus the old Radio City Music Hall experience from back in the day.
If you can attend, here is the link to event information and protocols:
https://www.nfl.com/draft/event-info/event-overview
The NFL Draft is a total of 7 Rounds, which will have 224 players selected, plus compensatory picks from free agency transactions that this year means 259 players total selected. Compensatory picks begin in Round 3 of the draft.
The Schedule
Thursday, April 29th at 7 PM Central – 1st Round Picks – the Top 32.
Friday, April 30th at 6 PM Central – 2nd Round Picks – Picks 33-105 (including 9 compensatory picks).
Saturday, May 1st at 11 AM Central – Rounds 4-7 – Picks 106-259.
NFL Draft Coverage can be followed on the NFL Network, ABC, ESPN or ESPN Deportes, however, if you want to be the first to know who is picked, then you should follow one of the NFL insiders on Twitter like Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter – ESPN) or Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet – NFL Network). Most sports apps like CBS, ESPN or the NFL do a live tracking of picks as well. I typically like to watch the first 2 nights of the Draft on either NFL Network or ESPN, but I’ll simply track the 3rd day since it is by far the longest and much quicker on a pick by pick basis.
2021 Draft Order
The Draft Order is determined by the order the NFL teams finish in the previous season, but can change if trades have taken place from past years, prior to the Draft or even on the clock on Draft Night, which makes it exciting. Here is the Draft Order in Round 1 as of the time of this article:
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- San Francisco 49ers
- Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Chicago Bears
- Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cleveland Browns
- Baltimore Ravens
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The order in subsequent rounds will change slightly, as you can see some teams already have 2 picks in the first round, so depending on the trades executed that may have influenced the order later. Plus, as the Draft goes on there will be several trades affecting the order in the first round and all throughout the 3 days.
Part 2 will be posted this weekend looking at each team’s “Draft Needs” this year, which is what positions and potential strategy each team will likely employ in this Draft. Some teams have already shown their hand, as they have executed trades to get in the Top 5 to take Quarterbacks.
The NFL never sleeps, and so it’s time to get pumped for the NFL Draft in just a week.
Wegs