It has been a little over two months since the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals to be named the 2022 SuperBowl Champions, but attention is already turning towards the 2023 season.
The NFL Draft will take place later this week, with the biggest and best young prospects in football hoping to be picked up by one of the 32 NFL franchises that will be in attendance.
Here is everything that you need to know about the 2022 NFL Draft.
Latest - One day to go!
The wait is almost over, the 2022 NFL Draft will take place TOMORROW!
But who is in line to join the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford in being named the No.1 pick? And who will be the unlucky recipient of the 'Mr Irrelevant' tag for 2022?
2022 NFL Draft Date & Location
The 2022 NFL Draft will take place in Las Vegas. The Nevada-based city was due to host the 2020 NFL Draft prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such has been given the honour of hosting the first in-person NFL Draft since the pandemic began.
The draft will begin on Thursday, April 28th at 8pm ET / 12am GMT and will run through until Saturday, April 30th. The full draft schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, April 28th - Round 1 Picks
- Friday, April 29th - Rounds 2-3 Picks
- Saturday, April 30th - Rounds 4-7 Picks
Who will be the No.1 Pick?
For the second successive year, it is the Jacksonville Jaguars who will have the honour of selecting first in the NFL Draft.
The AFC South franchise used its position at the top of the selection sheet to acquire the services of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 2021, but are they likely to select this year?
Here are the favourites to be the No.1 Pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Travon Walker (DL - Georgia)
The bookmaker's favourite to be the No.1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is Georgia's defensive end, Travon Walker.
It is understood that the Jags prefer the Georgia man to Aidan Hutchinson, who has been the overwhelming favourite to go first for the majority of the season.
Walker has put up some impressive numbers for Georgia this season, registering 37 total tackles (19 solo and 18 assisted) as well as six sacks.
His odds have fallen dramatically in recent days. It would be a huge shock to see anyone else selected first when the Jags make their pick tomorrow.
Aidan Hutchinson (EDGE - Michigan)
As we've already alluded to, it is Aidan Hutchinson who was widely expected to be the No.1 pick for the majority of the year, and that could still be the case.
The Detroit Lions will have the second overall pick, and, being desperately in need of an elite edge rusher, they will be hoping that Hutchinson isn't snatched by the Jaguars.
Ikem Ekwonu (OT - NC State)
The third pick will fall the way of the Houston Texans, and they could well utilise their high-ranking to acquire the services of NC State Wolfpack's offensive tackle, Ikem Ekwonu.
The All-American has appeared at both guard and tackle for the Wolfpack this year, and has allowed just two packs in over 800 snaps.
It is unlikely that Ekwonu will be the first pick of the year, with both Hutchinson and Walker deemed to be much more valuable assets. However, he should be a top-five pick without fail.
How to watch the 2022 NFL Draft (UK/USA)
The 2022 NFL Draft will be shown live on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network over in the United States. It will also be streamed live via the ESPN and the NFL apps.
You can follow the coverage of the NFL Draft in the UK via the Sky Sports NFL channel. UK-based NFL fans can also follow the draft live on the NFL app.
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