The time for speculation and mock drafts is over: The 2022 N.F.L. draft gets underway in Las Vegas on Thursday at 8 p.m., Eastern time. It will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network and streamed across N.F.L. and ESPN mobile apps.
The second and third rounds will be held Friday, starting at 7 p.m., and Rounds 4 to 7 will be held Saturday, beginning at noon.
For the second consecutive year, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the No. 1 overall pick and need help at just about every position. But they are likely to focus on the offensive and defensive lines and maybe look for a wide receiver.
Mock drafts are split on which player will go first overall, but it is likely to be a defensive lineman. Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, and Travon Walker, a defensive lineman from Georgia, are the top two candidates.
There are eight teams with multiple picks in the first round. The Jets enter Thursday with five picks in the first three rounds, including Nos. 4 and 10. The Giants have the fifth and seventh picks. Both teams could be interested in trading some of their draft stock to acquire a veteran player. (With teams reportedly shopping receiver Deebo Samuel and quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo, there are options.)