NFL Draft 2017 Preview: Schedule, Streaming Options, Pick Predictions, And More

The first round of the 2017 NFL Draft begins Thursday at 8 pm EST in Philadelphia. Here is everything you need to know.

NFL Draft 2017 Preview and Predictions

The draft can be both watched and streamed on ESPN and NFL Network. Trey Wingo will replace Chris Berman as ESPN’s main host after Berman’s 37 year-tenure.

Rounds 2 and 3 are Friday at 7 pm, and Rounds 4, 5, 6 and 7 are Saturday at noon.

This is the first time since 1961 that the draft will be held in Philadelphia. The draft coincides with the Penn Relays, another giant local event.

Myles Garrett, a defensive end from Texas A&M, is projected by most mock drafts to be the No. 1 overall pick. Garrett is expected to be selected by the Cleveland Browns.

Some experts and former NFL players are dubious of Garrett’s prospects, however. “I see a lazy kid that makes four plays a game,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp told ESPN. “This is the No. 1 guy? No, no, no. This ain’t even close.”

There is no agreement on the No. 2 selection, held by the San Francisco 49ers, although the top prospects, according to The New York Times, include Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas, Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette.

Among the top quarterback candidates is Deshaun Watson from the national championship-winning Clemson Tigers. Wastson is projected to be a late first-round pick. Other passers who could be taken early (perhaps in the top 10) include Mitchell Trubisky, who has played incredibly well for North Carolina despite being the starter for just one season.

Temple linebacker Haasan Reddick is also expected to be a first-round selection. Reddick delivered great performances at this year’s Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. The 22-year-old boasts 149 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks in 42 games throughout his college career.

This year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Louisville’s junior quarterback Lamar Jackson, is not eligible for this year’s draft. The 20-year-old will be a contender next year.

However, Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen, the defensive player of the year, is projected to be picked in the first round.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Garrett as his top overall pick and Allen as his No. 2 in the final 2017 Big Board for his mock draft. Also on Kiper’s Top 300 draft prospects list for the first round are Stanford running back Christian McAffrey at No. 6, LSU safety Jamal Adams at No. 3, and Alabama tight end O.J. Howard at No. 5. Closing out Kiper’s top 10 predictions for the first round are Thomas at No. 4, Fournette at No. 7, Alabama inside linebacker Reuben Foster at No. 8, Lattimore as ninth and Reddick as tenth.

According to Kevin Seifert of NFL Nation, Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon won’t be taken in the first round, and neither will former Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley, as both players are entrenched in scandals. Mixon, who was No. 18 overall prospect up until a few days ago, was caught on video punching a woman and pled guilty to assault. Conley, meanwhile, is being investigated after he was accused of rape, though he has denied the allegations, calling them “completely false.”

The Browns, the New Orleans Saints and the Tennessee Titans hold the most first-round picks with two apiece, and Cleveland will especially benefit from this after a 1-15 season.

The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will be the last team to take the podium, selecting for the first time at No. 72 in the third round.

Article by Pablo Mena