The National Football League takes center stage tonight with a party that has become almost as huge as Super Bowl Weekend: The NFL Draft, live from Nashville.
The draft will be televised on multiple networks, including ABC, starting with the first round Thursday night. The Draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network, as well as online outlets.
The Arizona Cardinals will have the top pick, unless they jump at a last-minute trade. The Cardinals news head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who's offensive-minded, could go after 2018 Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, the ballyhooed Oklahoma quarterback who went undefeated as a Texas high school quarterback and directed the Sooners offense just one year after Baker Mayfield's departure to the NFL.
Other top prospects include former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa, Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, University of Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, LSU linebacker Devin White, Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen, Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins and Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Teams have a chance to address immediate and long-term needs with the draft. Questions like:
Will the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots draft an eventual replacement for quarterback Tom Brady, and will the Patriots fill the void left by tight end Rob Gronkowski's recent retirement?
Will the Green Bay Packers go after a future replacement for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was drafted by the team and then prepped while sitting behind Brett Favre?
Other teams that could be looking for future quarterbacks are the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants. The Kansas City Chiefs showed tons of offensive firepower in 2018, so will they try to bolster their defense after letting several key players go in the offseason?
First Round Draft Picks:
1). Kyler Murray, QB (University of Oklahoma) — Arizona Cardinals
Murray, the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner, will join the Arizona Cardinals organization. Murray was widely predicted to be the overall pick by national media outlets after the two-sport athlete dominated in his senior season at Oklahoma. Many Sooners fans had feared Murray would depart the school after he became the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics. However, the A's wrote a contract that allowed Murray to continue his collegiate football career for one year.
Murray still has a contract, including a $4.66 million signing bonus, with the Athletics and could pursue a baseball career so long as his contract with the Cardinals does not prohibit it.
Murray gives Oklahoma the second back-to-back No. 1 overall pick and the second back-to-back Heisman Trophy winner. Former Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield, who Murray replaced last season, was the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft.
2). Nick Bosa, DE (Ohio State) — San Fransisco 49ers
Nick Bosa becomes the third member of his family to be drafted in the NFL. The Ohio State defensive end joins his father, John Bosa, the 1987 No. 16 Overall Pick, and his brother Joey Bosa, a 2015 NFL Draft pick, in joining the professional ranks. The Bosa's are the second family to accomplish such a feat, the Manning family (Archie, Peyton and Eli) were the first.
Bosa chose to forgo his senior season with the Buckeyes to enter the Draft. He finishes his career with 47 solo tackles, 20 assists and 17.5 sacks.
3). Quinnen Williams, DT (University of Alabama) — New York Jets
The Alabama defensive tackle finished his two seasons with the Crimson Tide with 56 solo tackles, 35 assists and 10 sacks.
Williams was a relative unknown prior to the 2018 season, but an impressive 71 total tackles (56 solo) put the lineman on the radar of many NFL teams. Williams is an Alabama native who was raised by his grandmother after his mother died of cancer when he was 12 years old. Williams' jersey number at Alabama, 92, is worn in tribute to his mother.
4). Clelin Ferrell, DE (Clemson) — Oakland Raiders
A member of the 2019 national champion team, Ferrell is a surprise for many fans and media members. Some predictions had Ferrell being picked in the second round.
In his four seasons at Clemson, Ferell posted 166 tackles (84 solo, 82 assists) and 27 sacks.
5). Devin White, LB (Louisiana State University) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Defensive players continue to be picked as the Buccaneers select LSU's Devin White. White, a 6'1, 240-pound linebacker, played three seasons for the Tigers.
White's best season came in 2018 when he posted 68 solo tackles, 61 assists and three sacks.
6) Daniel Jones, QB (Duke) — New York Giants
As questions surround the future of current Giants quarterback Eli Manning, the Giants selected a QB that could be the future of the franchise in Duke leader Daniel Janes.
Jones completed 60 percent of his passes in the 2018 season, leading his team to an 8-5 record. In his 2018 season, Jones posted 2,764 yards through the air and threw for 22 touchdowns.
For three years, Jones played for Duke head coach David Cutcliffe who coached both Peyton Manning at Tennessee and Eli Manning at Ole Miss and is widely considered to be a mentor for both Mannings.
7). Josh Allen, DE (University of Kentucky) — Jacksonville Jaguars
Allen was a key in leading Kentucky's Wildcats to one of their best seasons in program history. Over his four year career with Kentucky, Allen posted 121 solo tackles, 99 assists and 31.5 sacks.
Allen is the first First Round pick for Kentucky Bud Dupree was the No. 22 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015. He is also the third-highest pick from the Wildcats program since quarterback Tim Couch was the No. 1 pick in 1999 and defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson was picked as the overall No. 4 in 2003.
8). T.J. Hockenson, TE (University of Iowa) — Detroit Lions
A two-year player for the Hawkeyes, Hockenson had 760 yards, 6 touchdowns and 49 receptions last season. Hockenson is the ninth tight end to be drafted in the first round since 2000.
9). Ed Oliver, DT (Houston) — Buffalo Bills
After the 2017 season, many projected that Oliver could be the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver was dominate in his three seasons with Houston, posting 122 solo tackles, 70 assists, 53 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks.
Oliver chose to attend the University of Houston in order to play with his older brother, Marcus Oliver.
10). Devin Bush, LB (University of Michigan) — Pittsburgh Steelers
Though the 10th pick was meant for the Denver Broncos, the Broncos traded to the Steelers who picked Devin Bush.
Bush, the son of Devin Bush, Sr. who was drafted during the First Round in 1995, played for three seasons at Michigan, posting 91 solo tackles, 81 assists and 10 sacks.
11). Jonah Williams, OT (University of Alabama) — Cinncinatti Bengals
12). Rashan Gary, DE (University of Michigan) — Green Bay Packers
13). Christian Wilkins, DT (Clemson University) — Miami Dolphins
14). Chris Lindstrom, G (Boston College) — Atlanta Falcons
15). Dwayne Haskins, QB (Ohio State) — Washington Redskins
16). Brian Burns, DE (Florida State University) — Carolina Panthers
17). Dexter Lawrence, DT (Clemson)— New York Giants
18). Garrett Bradbury, C (North Carolina State) — Minnesota Vikings
19). Jeffery Simmons, DT (Mississippi State University) — Tennessee Titans
20). Noah Fant, TE (University of Iowa) — Denver Broncos
21). Darnell Savage Jr., S (Maryland) — Green Bay Packers
22). Andre Dillard, OT (Washington State) — Philadelphia Eagles
23). Tytus Howard, OT (Alabama State) — Houston Texans
24). Josh Jacobs, RB (Alabama) — Oakland Raiders
25). Marquise Brown, WR (Oklahoma) — Baltimore Ravens
26). Montez Sweat, DE (Mississippi State) — Washington Redskins
27). Johnathan Abram, S (Mississippi State) — Oakland Raiders
28). Jerry Tillery, DT (Notre Dame) — Los Angeles Chargers
29). L.J. Collier, DE (Texas Christian University) — Seattle Seahawks
30). Deanre Baker, CB (Georgia) — New York Giants
31). Kaleb McGary, OT (Washington) — Atlanta Falcons
32). N'Keal Harry, WR (Arizona State) — New England Patriots
The Draft will be held in Nashville for the first time, as the NFL has begun rotating to different NFL cities for the annual event that had historically been held in New York City. Round one will be Thursday night, rounds two and three will take place Friday and rounds 4-7 will be Saturday, all with different starting times.
Here's the information you need to know heading into the NFL 2019 Draft.
TV and Online schedule
Round 1, Thursday, April 25
8 p.m. ET — ABC, NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL.com
Round 2-3, Friday, April 26
7 p.m. ET — ABC, NFL Network, ESPN/ESPN 2, ESPN Deportes, NFL.com
Round 4-7, Saturday, April 27
12 p.m. ET — ABC, NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL.com
What is the draft order Thursday night?
The Arizona Cardinals have the top pick, the San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to pick second and the New York Jets will go third. Draft order is determined by last season's record, with the team finishing last place getting the top pick, all the way down to the Super Bowl champion going last in each round. However, trades could affect draft order, so don't be surprised if you see a team get multiple picks in one round.
Here's the draft order for Thursday night, prior to any prospective draft-night trades.
1. Arizona Cardinals
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. New York Jets
4. Oakland Raiders
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. New York Giants
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
8. Detroit Lions
9. Buffalo Bills
10. Denver Broncos
11. Cincinnati Bengals
12. Green Bay Packers
13. Miami Dolphins
14. Atlanta Falcons
15. Washington Redskins
16. Carolina Panthers
17. New York Giants (from Cleveland Browns)
18. Minnesota Vikings
19. Tennessee Titans
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
21. Seattle Seahawks
22. Baltimore Ravens
23. Houston Texans
24. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago Bears)
25. Philadelphia Eagles
26. Indianapolis Colts
27. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas Cowboys)
28. Los Angeles Chargers
29. Seattle Seahawks (from Kansas City Chiefs)
30. Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans Saints)
31. Los Angeles Rams
32. New England Patriots
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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