2012 NFL Draft Start Time: Complete Round-by-Round Schedule

Aside from the opening weekend of the regular season, there are few events that football fans anticipate more than the NFL draft. The time has nearly come for your favorite team to select its stars of the future and you don't have to miss a second of the action.

Both ESPN and NFL Network will air all three days of the draft as the first round will take place during prime time on Thursday, the second and third rounds will commence on Friday during prime time and the draft will finish up on Saturday, starting at noon.

Although some consider the entire process to be complete overkill, the draft being shown in prime time has been embraced over the past couple years and it appears as though it is more popular than ever. Not everyone understands it, but the draft is something that fans of the NFL wait for all year long, so the NFL would be crazy not to televise every second of it.

Here is everything you need to know about when and where to catch all seven rounds of this year's draft, beginning on Thursday and ending on Saturday.

Where: Radio City Music Hall in New York, N.Y.

When: Thursday-Saturday, April 26, 27 and 28

Television Schedule

Round 1 - Thursday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN and NFL Network)

Rounds 2 and 3 - Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN and NFL Network)

Rounds 4 through 7 - Saturday, April 28 at 12 p.m. ET (ESPN and NFL Network)

Day 1 Prospect to Watch: QB Ryan Tannehill

He certainly doesn't have the name recognition of guys like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, but there is a lot more mystery when it comes to Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Just a couple months ago, Tannehill was considered a second-round prospect, but the hype machine has been on full blast, so at this point it would be shocking if he lasted past the first round.

There are a lot of possible scenarios when it comes to Tannehill and that makes him the first round's most intriguing prospect. There has been talk that teams could trade up to No. 3 to select him, the Cleveland Browns could take him at No. 4 or the Miami Dolphins might strike at No. 8.

If he isn't off the board by that point, then it's anyone's guess where he'll end up. Tannehill may never live up to his advanced billing, but somebody is going to take a chance on him.

Day 2 Prospect to Watch: WR Alshon Jeffery

After a sophomore season in which he racked 1,500 receiving yards, it appeared as though South Carolina wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was an elite prospect. Jeffery took a big step back during his junior season, however, as his production was cut in half and he tumbled down draft board. Jeffery was once considered a top-10 prospect and one of the top receivers in the class, but that is no longer the case.

At least four or five receivers have surpassed him in terms of value, so Jeffery is going to be a second-round pick in all likelihood. He has shown the ability to produce in a big way in the past and has fantastic size, but there are questions about his work ethic and overall speed.

In terms of talent he may have one of the highest ceilings in the draft, and that certainly makes him a name worth watching on the second day of the draft.

Day 3 Prospect to Watch: CB Alfonzo Dennard

Every year there is a player or two who slip through the cracks for whatever reason and end up being taken on the draft's final day. This year, that player may be Nebraska cornerback Alfonzo Dennard.

Following this past college football season, Dennard was consider a late first-round prospect by most. After testing poorly, however, that was no longer the case. To make matters worse, he is now facing charges of assaulting a police officer, so his value seems to have taken a major hit.

With such huge accusations hanging over his head, it's tough to imagine a team taking a chance on Dennard early in the draft. With that said, he has plenty of talent and can be a productive player in the NFL, so there is a team out there that will roll the dice and take him. It may not be until the fifth or sixth round, but by that point it's usually about taking chances.