NFL Draft At Top Of Thursday Sports Schedule

There was a time when the NFL’s yearly draft of top college players was a relatively low key affair. Fans of specific teams would follow the draft based on their rooting interest. The mainstream and sports media would report on the news though it would seldom be their primary focus. That has all changed–the NFL draft is now a live prime time television event. The sports media devotes extensive airtime prior to the draft for player and team evaluations and prognostication. In recent years, the NFL draft has started to draw a considerable amount of betting interest as well.

The NFL draft dates back to 1936 and like many elements of pro football at the time it was a decidedly less significant event. In the early days, teams would select players based on media reports or in some cases out and out hearsay. In the 1940’s, teams began to employ full time scouts to evaluate prospects and when this proved a winning formula the rest the league soon followed suit. Initially, the draft moved around to a number of NFL cities until it settled down in New York City beginning in 1965. It would remain there until 2015. The 2015 and 2016 drafts were in Chicago, the 2017 in Philadelphia, the 2018 draft in Dallas. The 2019 draft will take place in Nashville. The NFL now holds a ‘bid process’ for the host city for the draft. 2019 finalists were Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Cleveland/Canton along with eventual winner Nashville.

The Arizona Cardinals have the first pick in the 2019 NFL draft and are expected to select University of Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray has been compared to Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson though he’s said to have superior athleticism. Like Wilson, is a decent pocket passer but due to his speed and explosiveness running is always a viable option. The primary concern about Murray is his height–at 5’10” he’s shorter than the NFL quarterback ‘prototype’. It’s unlikely that will prevent him from going with the first overall pick. The current NFL draft betting odds have Murray as a -375 favorite to be the first player selected.

The San Francisco 49ers will draft second overall and are expected to take Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa. Bosa is a versatile defender who is expected to be effective rushing the passer as well as stopping the run. No matter what team he ends up with most experts see him stepping right into the starting lineup and making an instant impact. After the first two picks, however, the consensus breaks down with a variety of scenarios possible. Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, Houston DL Ed Oliver, LSU linebacker Devin White and Kentucky defensive end Josh Allen should all go in the first half dozen or so picks of the 2019 NFL draft.

If you want to watch the 2019 NFL draft you have plenty of options. For the first time ever, ABC will broadcast all three days of the draft including two nights of primetime coverage. The production is a simulcast with the NFL Network and ESPN. Online coverage will also be available at the NFL’s website. Round 1 will be held on Thursday, April 25 starting at 8:00 PM Eastern. Rounds 2 and 3 are set for Friday night, April 26 starting at 7:00 PM Eastern. Rounds 4 through 7 will take place on Saturday, April 27 beginning at 12 Noon Eastern.

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