NFL Draft Start Time 2016: Full Day-by-Day TV Schedule and Live-Stream Coverage
The biggest weekend of the offseason is upon us with the 2016 NFL draft becoming a must-see event for fans around the league.
Every team in the NFL will try to improve its roster for next year and beyond through three days and seven rounds' worth of draft picks. While some squads have bigger needs than others, no organization is perfect. What the front offices do during this stretch could have a major impact in what happens during the upcoming season.
If you can't be at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre to watch in person, here is a look at a few ways to keep track of the event wherever you are.
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| Thursday, April 28 | 1 | 8 p.m. | NFL Network, ESPN |
| Friday, April 29 | 2-3 | 7 p.m. | NFL Network, ESPN (7-8 p.m.), ESPN2 (8-11:30 p.m.) |
| Saturday, April 30 | 4-7 | 12 p.m. | NFL Network, ESPN |
Coverage also available online courtesy of NFL Online and WatchESPN.
What to Watch
Quarterbacks Going Early
In the last 15 years, the first overall pick has been a quarterback 11 times. Teams are always looking for the new face of the franchise and someone to lead them to a Super Bowl, and they will pay any price to get it.
That is especially true this season with a pair of teams mortgaging their futures in order to trade up to the top of the first round.
The Los Angeles Rams moved all the way from No. 15 to No. 1 in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. The Philadelphia Eagles later followed suit with a deal with the Cleveland Browns that moved them from No. 8 to No. 2.
Unless something drastic happens, both of these teams are expected to take quarterbacks—and specifically California's Jared Goff and North Dakota State's Carson Wentz. While some have questioned the aggressive moves, Mike Mayock of NFL Network likes the potential from the two prospects (via College Football 24/7):
Meanwhile, a ripple effect from these deals could cause a team to draft Memphis' Paxton Lynch earlier than expected—possibly in the top 10. Even a player like Michigan State's Connor Cook could move into the first round as a desperate team looks to upgrade at the position.
It remains to be seen which teams will pull the trigger on the remaining quarterback options, but this will be one of the bigger storylines to follow early in the draft.
Year of the Defensive Linemen
Every draft seems to have one position of strength, and it appears to be on the defensive line this year.
The debate at the top features defensive ends Joey Bosa of Ohio State and Oregon's DeForest Buckner. Both players excel against both the run and the pass, although one thing that might make Buckner a better option for more teams is his versatility.
"I’ve got film to back it up," Buckner said, per Kenny Jacoby of the Daily Emerald. "Wherever the coaches need—outside, inside—I can fit."
Instead of worrying about whether he can succeed in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense, a staff can just draft Buckner and figure it out later.
Beyond these two, the draft features a long list of quality defensive tackles, such as Sheldon Rankins, A'Shawn Robinson, Robert Nkemdiche and more. Add these to quality pass-rushers such as Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, and teams will have plenty of options to improve the defensive line early.
Injury-Based Slides
Jaylon Smith was considered one of the best players in the entire class, but the Notre Dame linebacker is now a mystery after suffering a knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl. Not only did he tear an ACL, but he is also dealing with nerve issues and could sit out his entire rookie season, per USA Today's Tom Pelissero.
All of a sudden, a first-round pick based on talent could end up falling to Day 2 or even Day 3.
Although Myles Jack won't have the same type of fall, the UCLA linebacker is also a question mark because of his own knee injury. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com broke down the possibilities for the versatile player:
"Former UCLA linebacker Myles Jack, once thought to be a lock to go inside the top five picks of the 2016 NFL Draft, is vulnerable to a draft-day fall thanks to medical reports on his surgically repaired right knee. ...
Accordingly, teams that draft in the teens are now playing out scenarios where Jack falls to them and they're considering the difficult question of "What will we do?"
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Jack will likely be ready to play well before Smith, but he is still far from a sure thing when it comes to being the player he was before the injury. This will make it difficult for some teams to take him within the first few picks despite his obvious talent.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.
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