NFL Draft – the greatest show on earth !

“The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock” will be the words announced to start the 2013 NFL Draft. This is the hyped tradition where college stars take their first steps into the opportunity to be a fully blown professional football player.  Also one of the most important horse racing’s event next month, stay tuned to bet on Kentucky Derby.”

The draft is analysed as soon as the NFL regular season ends, with the team that has the worst overall record from the season before, getting the first pick of the crop. Mock drafts, where experts predict the first 32 players and the teams they will go to based on needs, have been blogged and written since the start of the year. Each team has 15 minutes to select their player following the selection of the previous team. Players are seen either in the draft hall itself or via live camera’s in their home getting the life changing call from the coach, or owner of a team, giving them their break. The higher in the mix a player is selected the higher the salary they receive. It’s no wonder the extended family of a number of these players are close by their side during the draft

Last year’s draft was rich in the prime quarterback position with three selected in the first 10 picks, and all being the cornerstone of their relevant team’s last season. Three quarterbacks in their first pro season made the playoffs – a NFL record.

The selection process consists of 7 rounds, lasting 3 days. Total players selected – 254. Later rounds are not televised.

This year’s order and most widely predicted selection is an follows based on many mock drafts

1. Chiefs: OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M..
2. Jacksonville: DE Dion Jordan, Oregon
3. Oakland: DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida.
4. Philadelphia: OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan.
5. Detroit: DE Ezekiel Ansah, BYU.
6. Cleveland: QB Geno Smith, West Virginia.
7. Arizona: OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma.
8. Buffalo: G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina.
9. N.Y. Jets: CB Dee Milliner, Alabama.
10. Tennessee: DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri.
11. San Diego: OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama.
12. Miami: TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame.
13. N.Y. Jets: TBD based on recent trade
14. Carolina: WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia.
15. New Orleans: LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia.
16. St. Louis: S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas.
17. Pittsburgh: CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State.
18. Dallas: DT Star Lotulelei, Utah.
19. N.Y. Giants: G Chance Warmack, Alabama.
20. Chicago: WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee.
21. Cincinnati: S Matt Elam, Florida.
22. St. Louis: LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame.
23. Minnesota: WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee.
24. Indianapolis: DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina.
25. Minnesota: CB D.J. Hayden, Houston.
26. Green Bay: RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama.
27. Houston: WR Keenan Allen, California.
28. Denver: DE Tank Carradine, Florida State.
29. New England: CB Desmond Trufant, Washington.
30. Atlanta: CB Jamar Taylor, Boise State.
31. San Francisco: DE Margus Hunt, Southern Methodist.
32. Baltimore: S Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International.

Back to the lucky Kansas City Chiefs franchise. By having the worst record in the NFL last season they get the first choice of the college stars. Pressurising as a wrong move can prove a disaster both from a team and monetary viewpoint. It was traditionally the quarterbacks or offensive game players that took the limelight in terms of high draft picks, however recently defensive players have become the most sought after. It all unfolds this Friday NZ time on ESPN. For the absolute analyst of the game it compulsive viewing – for many others its more overhype in the sporting world that is the USA.

Follow columnist Hamish Girvan on Twitter @girvana