NFL Draft: How to watch, dates, draft order and potential top picks

Miami standout Cam Ward is widely considered the top quarterback prospect of this year’s NFL draft and the favorite to be selected by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 1 overall selection.

Not bad for a guy who was largely overlooked by colleges five years ago.

Ward joins Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and his two-way college teammate Travis Hunter as some of the other top prospects expected to come off the board early in the first round on April 24. Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty are also in the mix for one of the top selections.

Ward has tried to solidify his status as the top pick over the last few months, working out for all 32 NFL teams at Miami’s on-campus pro day.

“They finally got to see me throw in person. That should be all they need to see,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, if they want to give me the pick or not, I’m going to be happy with whatever team I go to. I just want to play football.”

The three-day draft will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which is the home of the Green Bay Packers.

Here are a few things to know about the upcoming draft:

When is the NFL draft?

The first round of the draft will be on Thursday, April 24, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The second and third rounds are on Friday, April 25, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

The fourth through seventh rounds are on Saturday, April 26, beginning at noon ET.

How do I watch the NFL draft?

All three days will be televised on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network.

Who will be the top picks in the NFL draft?

Ward and Sanders are the top quarterback prospects, though they won’t necessarily be the first two picks like Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels in 2024 and Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud in 2023.

Carter and Hunter are also highly rated prospects, meaning that a non-QB could be the No. 1 overall selection for the first time since defensive end Travon Walker was the top pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022.

For more information on the top picks, here is the mock draft by AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.

What is the NFL draft order?

These were the selections in the first round of the 2024 draft. Here are the teams that currently possess the top 10 picks of the upcoming draft.

1. Tennessee Titans

2. Cleveland Browns

3. New York Giants

4. New England Patriots

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

6. Las Vegas Raiders

7. New York Jets

8. Carolina Panthers

9. New Orleans Saints

10. Chicago Bears

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL