NFL Draft 2016 Live Stream: Start Time, Schedule and More for 1st Round

Thanks to the NFL draft's format, fans of 31 teams will enjoy one day of feeling superior to the New England Patriots. 

Forced to forfeit their first-round pick as punishment for Deflategate, the Patriots will watch every other team make a selection Thursday night, barring a trade. While everyone else will leave the first of three days with a bright young prospect, the Patriots will count on Bill Belichick's sorcery to transform someone else's outcast or special teamer into a star. 

Most fans haven't had the fortune of watching an all-time great quarterback annually lead his team into the postseason. For many supporters, they'll never feel as hopeful as they do on Thursday night when every team is 0-0. But at least the inferior teams have snagged a prominent pick as consolation for their failures.

Just remember this fuzzy optimism when a handful of the players called on Thursday night don't stick in the NFL.

NFL Draft: First-Round Info

Date: Thursday

Start Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: NFL Network, ESPN

Live Stream: NFL.com, WatchESPN

Draft Order

Who Goes First: Goff or Wentz?

There's something especially thrilling about not even knowing who will get selected with the No. 1 overall pick. When an Andrew Luck headlines a class, the first announcement merely confirms something everyone figured out months ago.

This Thursday night, there isn't a single guarantee. According to the Los Angeles Times' Sam Farmer, the league has made efforts to secure such uncertainty regardless of whether the Los Angeles Rams know who they're taking with the first pick. 

"Multiple people with knowledge of the situation say the NFL has asked the Rams to keep their quarterback choice quiet until the draft, thereby sustaining the drama," Farmer wrote.

The puzzle looked tougher to solve before a pair of trades reframed the mystery. Would the Tennessee Titans, previous owners of the No. 1 pick, have snagged offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to address their biggest need? Or would they have identified someone else as the best player available? Would the Cleveland Browns have taken a quarterback despite signing Robert Griffin III?

Perhaps neither organization landed on an answer. They instead traded down for assets, with the Rams moving to No. 1 and the Philadelphia Eagles to No. 2. It's safe to assume both franchises desire a long-term fixture under center. Why would either pay a king's ransom to take Tunsil, Jalen Ramsey or Joey Bosa?

Now, the only question is if the Rams will welcome Cal's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz. On Tuesday, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported a front-runner is gaining ground as the opening round approaches: "This may seem a formality, but I'm told by a source in the Rams' front office that they are taking Jared Goff at No. 1 overall."

Sports Illustrated's Michael Silver also sees the first two picks as foregone conclusions:

While he doesn't match Wentz's arm strength or hand size, Goff amassed 43 passing touchdowns and 8.9 yards attempt during his junior season. His competitor, meanwhile, played in the inferior FCS, where he accrued 7.9 yards per pass in only seven games.

In his latest mock draft for Pro Football Focus, Cris Collinsworth paired the Rams with Goff, whom he called the "more impressive quarterback on tape." He also cited Los Angeles' need to build immediate buzz in a new city.

"He’s the guy most ready to play in his first year, which is important for the Rams’ organization given their relocation—they’re selling tickets, luxury boxes, energy," Collinsworth wrote. "They’re not going to be able to go 1-15 while they develop a quarterback, they’re going to need to win games now, and Goff lets them do that."

The Eagles moved up the board after the Rams leaped to No. 1, so they better feel comfortable choosing whichever quarterback is there. Even though Sam Bradford is unhappy with the situation and wants to be traded, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, he still has a path to opening 2016 as Philadelphia's starter while preparing Wentz.

Per NJ.com's Matt Lombardo, Wentz took a more diplomatic approach than his potential teammate when asked about sitting his rookie season.

"As a competitor, you want to get on the field as soon as you can," Wentz said. "But you want to do best for your team, your career and everything. That's not up me to decide. I'm just going there to compete, do the best I can, earn the respect of my teammates and everything. The coaches will decide when I'm ready." 

While a learning period would behoove Wentz, Goff can help the Rams earn their first winning record since 2003. Perhaps the uncertainty at the top is actually fairly clear, and draftniks will have to wait 30 minutes for the real suspense to start.