THE BASICS
- The NFL Draft gives teams the opportunity to improve their roster by adding the most talented college football players
- Each franchise has one pick per round over seven rounds
- The team's overall records from the previous season determine the draft order – the team with the worst record picks first and the Super Bowl winners pick last
- Teams with the same record are slotted in consideration to the strength of their schedule
- Teams have 10 minutes to pick in the first round, then seven minutes in the second round and five minutes in rounds 3-7
- If a franchise fails to beat the clock they can still make their pick but only after the next team
- Teams can trade players and high picks for more draft selections
- Up to 32 compensatory picks are also handed out by the NFL to teams who have lost more players than they have gained or the ones that have signed are considered of a poorer quality
- If fewer than 32 are handed out then the rest will be used to begin an eighth round
THE PLAYERS
- Players are only eligible once out of high school for at least three years
- Players are analysed through games and the NFL Combine where they take tests including the 40-yard sprint, bench press and an intelligence test called the 'Wonderlic test'
- However some players considered guaranteed picks may opt out of certain drills
- This is because they get another chance in front of coaches at their school's Pro Day
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THE DRAFT WEEKEND
- The first pick is the most important as the perceived best player
- Teams will either draft the best player available or the best player available in their position of need in the team
- The franchise will be based in a 'War Room' where they make their selections and inform officials present at the draft
- Where you are selected is no measure of success
- JaMarcus Russell was the very first pick of the 2007 draft but lasted just three seasons as a pro after struggling in the NFL
- Tom Brady was selected 199th overall and has gone on to become one of the very best quarterbacks in NFL history
- Players expecting to be first-round selections will attend the draft while the rest are more likely to wait for the phone call at home
- The last player picked is titled 'Mr Irrelevant' and invited to 'Irrelevant Week' – a party in their honour in Newport Beach, California where they receive the Lowsman Trophy
- Drafted players can turn down a contract but they must wait another year for the next draft to play in the NFL
- Once complete, the aim of the draft is to have improved the weaker teams and help restore some parity to the league Â