ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The NFL Draft used to be held over a two-day period in New York City hotels. It has since emerged into an annual spectacle, moving from Radio City Music Hall to amazing backdrops in host cities nationwide.
That said, the basics of the draft — picks, rounds, trades, time limits and such — remain the same. Here's what you need to know about this year's draft.
WHEN: The draft will run from 8 p.m. Thursday and last through roughly 7 p.m. Saturday. The league expanded the draft from two days to three in 2010.
WHERE: Downtown Detroit, where the Lions play at Ford Field, will serve as this year's host. The NFL moved the draft away from its longtime home, New York City, starting in 2015.
THURSDAY: The first round stands alone with a made-for-TV event starting at 8 p.m. Each team has 10 minutes to make a selection or make a trade. It's still a 10-minute limit, even if the pick if dealt elsewhere. The first round is expected to end around 11:30 p.m.
FRIDAY: Rounds 2 and 3 are held on the second day, starting at 7 p.m. Teams have seven minutes to work with during the second round, and a five-minute time limit in the third round, which is expected to end around 11 p.m.
SATURDAY: Rounds 4 through 7 are held on the third day, beginning at noon. Teams have five minutes to work with during Rounds 3 through 6, then four minutes each during the seventh round, which is expected to end around 7 p.m.
BY THE NUMBERS
257 — That's the overall number of selections in this draft. The last pick, of course, is better known as Mr. Irrelevant.
88 — That's the number of drafts that have been held to date. This one will be No. 89.
34 — That's the number of compensatory choices in this year's draft.
14 — That's the number of teams that will make compensatory choices.
10 — That's the number of picks the Bills have entering the draft.
2 — That's the number of picks the Bills have in the first three rounds, at Nos. 28 and 60.
3 hours, 40 minutes — That's how long Day 1 took in last year's draft.
3 hours, 59 minutes — That's how long Day 2 took in last year's draft.
6 hours, 51 minutes — That's how long Day 3 took in last year's draft.
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