CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night in Cleveland where the Browns will enjoy serving as the host and not the headline act.
Here’s all you need to know for the three-day event taking place on the shores of Lake Erie downtown.
NFL Draft Experience – Up to 50,000 fans will be allowed to attend the NFL Draft Experience which incudes displays of Super Bowl Rings, photo opportunities with the Vince Lombardi Trophy as well as other interactive exhibits.
Fans can kick field goals, run 40-yard dashes, take a stab at the vertical jump and other activities inside and outside of FirstEnergy Stadium.
To maintain safety, admission has been broken up into sessions: Thursday, April 29: (1) 12 PM – 4 PM, (2) 4 PM-7 PM, (3) 7 PM-10 PM (or end of Round 1); Friday, April 30: (1) 12 PM – 4 PM, (2) 4 PM-7 PM, (3) 7 PM-10 PM (or end of Round 3); Saturday, May 1: (1) 9 AM – 12 PM, (2) 12 PM – 3 PM, (3) 3 PM-6 PM (of end of Round 7).
Free tickets are available through the NFL’s OnePass app.
The main stage – The NFL built the largest staging for the NFL Draft in Cleveland since the league began taking the event on the road.
The draft theater, located across from FirstEnergy Stadium next to the William G. Mather, is 95 feet tall, 220 feet wide and 225 feet deep and hosts nearly 400 LED fixtures and the multiple LED boards that will display 22 million pixels of data.
The red carpet – Prior to the draft, prospects will walk the red carpet set up inside a tent directly in front of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The green room – A green room has been built next to the draft theater and includes distanced pods for each prospect and their family and friends to gather and relax while they wait for their name to be called. Special air filtration equipment has also been installed for added safety.
Vaccinated fan zone – 4,000 or so lucky fully vaccinated fans will be able to stand outside the draft theater and take in the draft each day. Another 1,000 fans and VIP guests from the league will be inside the theater.
The Draft – Round 1 takes place Thursday night starting at 8 p.m. Rounds 2 and 3 follow Friday night starting at 7 and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday beginning at noon.
Concert series – Kings of Leon will kick off the Draft with a set starting around 7:40 Thursday evening. Black Pumas take the stage after Friday night’s picks are made and Machine Gun Kelly will perform after the draft concludes Saturday.
The picks – The Browns enter the 2021 Draft with nine selections – Round 1: pick 26; Round 2: pick 27, No. 59 overall; Round 3: pick 26, No. 89 overall; Round 3: pick 28, No. 91 overall (from New Orleans Saints); Round 4: pick 5, No. 110 overall (from Philadelphia Eagles); Round 4: pick 27, No. 132 overall; Round 5: pick 25, No. 169 overall (from Los Angeles Rams); Round 6: pick 27, No. 211 overall; Round 7: pick 30, No. 257 (from Buffalo Bills)
