The NFL Draft is fast approaching with only three weeks until the 2023 edition kicks off.
Slated for an 8pm Eastern Standard Time start on Thursday, April 27 the Draft will run for three days with 259 selections made across seven rounds in total. College players declare for the Draft with the NCAA's top stars set to begin their professional careers if they are picked by an NFL team.
Teams are given a draft pick based on their record in the previous campaign, the NFL's annual attempt to level the playing field and avoid repetitive seasons with the same teams winning. NFL franchises do not have to use their draft picks, though, as they can trade with other teams for players to make their teams better.
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Draft picks are valuable to teams looking to bring in top college stars but they can also be useful for bargaining with other teams for established NFL players. The Carolina Panthers have the number one pick having traded from the Chicago Bears while the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions have traded up for the fifth and sixth picks from the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams respectively.
The Draft itself is being held in a plaza outside Kansas City's historic Union Station and National WWI Museum and Memorial, coincidentally the city of the reigning Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs. "The NFL Draft Experience will take place on the south side of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, featuring interactive exhibits, autograph sessions, photo opportunities with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and more," a press release on the Union Station website reads.
"All three days of the NFL Draft are free to attend! Download the NFL’s OnePass app for entry to the Draft. As the 2023 Draft approaches, OnePass will be updated with additional information."
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