After a hectic free agency period, thousands of NFL hopefuls will finally see their dreams come true this weekend at the NFL draft. This year’s draft will take place in Green Bay, home to the Packers, at Lambeau Field and the adjacent Titletown District. Thousands of fans will travel to Green Bay to hear their favorite teams’ names called out Thursday, Friday and Saturday as 257 players are added to the league’s rosters.
The draft is a two-day event with the first round taking place on Thursday, followed by rounds two through three on Friday and rounds four through seven on Saturday. The draft order is based on the reverse of each team’s record in the previous season. If multiple teams have the same record, tiebreakers are applied based on strength of schedule and division or conference playoff finishes. Teams can trade picks before and during the draft, as well.
This year, there isn’t a clear consensus on who will be the top pick in the first round, but a few names stand out. One is Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward, who many believe will be the No. 1 overall selection, given the need for a difference-maker at the position. Another is Colorado Buffaloes defensive end Abdul Carter, who has the potential to become a full-time two-way player at the next level after his Heisman Trophy-winning season. Lastly, there’s Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who has been praised for his versatility and toughness.