NFL Draft Start Time 2018: Round 1 TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

It's hard seeing any NFL draft topping the 1983 version in terms of drama (highlighted by John Elway refusing to go to the Baltimore Colts, who picked him first) and talent (six first-rounders made the Hall of Fame, while nine others in the top 28 made the Pro Bowl), but the 2018 draft could come close.

We'll find out about the drama part on Thursday with the draft kicking off at 8 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but until then, here's a look at the first-round television and live-stream schedule in addition to some NFL draft buzz.

NFL Draft First-Round Television and Live-Stream Schedule

The draft will begin on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. NFL Network and FOX will simulcast the event. ESPN will continue to provide coverage, and fans can tune into ESPN2 for a more college-themed broadcast. ESPN Deportes will be the home of a Spanish-language telecast.

Fans can also watch the draft on the WatchESPN app, NFL Mobile app, ESPN.com, NFL.com and Fox Sports Go.

Teams are allowed 10 minutes to pick players. Judging off past years, the draft should be in the neighborhood of three-and-a-half hours, meaning an approximate end time of 11:30 p.m. ET.

NFL Draft Tracker

NFL Draft Buzz

Mayfield or Allen for Browns?

Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported that a source told her the Cleveland Browns are picking between former Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen and ex-Oklahoma signal-caller Baker Mayfield for the No. 1 overall pick.

Adam Schefter of ESPN confirmed that Mayfield is in play for No. 1 overall:

It's clear the Browns are going quarterback first. Former USC quarterback Sam Darnold is also in play here, and Mike Mayock of the NFL Network even mocked him to the Browns. The only signal-caller projected to go top 10 that hasn't gotten a lot of buzz to Cleveland is Josh Rosen, the former UCLA Bruin.

The quarterback eventually drafted won't have the weight of the team on his shoulders to start, as ex-Buffalo Bill Tyrod Taylor is the main man in 2018. That will help ease the transition for any of these players.

Browns on the Move Down from No. 4?

According to Schefter, the Browns are interested in trading the No. 4 overall pick:

On one hand, the Browns could get a top-notch defensive player with the pick, like edge-rusher Bradley Chubb or defensive backs Derwin James or Minkah Fitzpatrick. On the other hand, the Browns are coming off an 0-16 season and have to fill out the depth chart.

A trade down for extra picks could be the sharp move for general manager John Dorsey after he selects the team's quarterback of the future. In a predraft age where there's a big rumor dropping on Twitter seemingly every hour (some legitimate, some not), the guess here is that this one may come to fruition.

Broncos Love Denzel Ward?

Per The Ringer's Michael Lombardi on his GM Street podcast (h/t Rotoworld), the Denver Broncos are big fans of Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward.

Ward would be a great fit for the Broncos, who traded Aqib Tailb to the Los Angeles Rams in March. The Denver defense had a down year last season, allowing 23.9 points per game. They also finished 14th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per attempt (6.9).

Adding Ward would help rejuvenate the secondary and bring it back to its 2015 and 2016 levels when they finished fourth in scoring defense.

Packers Interested in Going Up?

Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Green Bay Packers may be on the move:

If the Schefter report from above is true, a trade into the top 10 could yield an elite prospect. Obviously, the Packers don't need a quarterback with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, but the team could use some more help for a defense that ranked just 20th in efficiency last year, per Football Outsiders.

The Packers could also stay put and hope one of those players falls to them, such as defensive lineman Vita Vea, who is being mocked right outside the top 10. But chances are that Vea and others will be gone before they pick, so a trade up for a top defensive talent might be the best decision.

Josh Rosen to the Jets?

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer (h/t Chris Wesseling of NFL.com) said the following on NFL Total Access: Draft Preview Wednesday: "I think Josh Rosen is the guy that [the Jets are] going to zero in on."

That would counter other reports that Rosen could be falling down the first round, like this one from Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

Given how valued the quarterback position is in today's game, coupled with the fact that numerous teams drafting in the top 15 are looking for a future star at the position, it's hard to see Rosen falling too much, especially considering teams at the back end of the top 15 (e.g. the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals) may have to trade up to land their coveted player.

In New York, Rosen would grab a clipboard and learn behind veterans Josh McCown or Teddy Bridgewater. He's also used to the spotlight, having played in Los Angeles for three seasons. That could help ease the transition to New York, and Rosen and the Jets could be a great fit.