Here's everything you need to know about the 2018 NFL Draft:
Where and when is the draft being held?
The draft is being conducted this Thursday through Saturday in "Jerry World," otherwise known as AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones.
What time does the draft start each day?
The first round will begin Thursday at 7 p.m. (CT). The second and third rounds will take place Friday starting at 6 p.m. And Rounds 4-7 will be conducted Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.
How long do teams have to make their picks?
The time limit is 10 minutes for Round 1, seven minutes for Round 2, five minutes for Rounds 3-6 and four minutes for Round 7.
How many picks do the Bears have?
The Bears have seven picks in the draft; their own selections in Rounds 1 (No. 8 overall), 2 (No. 39), 4 (No. 105), 5 (No. 145), 6 (No. 181) and 7 (No. 224) and an additional fourth-rounder (No. 115) they acquired from the Cardinals last year when they traded down in the second round. The Bears dealt their 2018 third-round choice to the 49ers last year to move up one spot to select quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick.
Why do the Bears pick last in the first round among the teams that finished 5-11 last year?
Draft order for teams that finish with the same record is determined by strength of schedule, with the clubs who face the weakest opponents getting the higher pick. The Bears choose last among the four teams that finished with 5-11 records (at No. 8) because their opponents had the best winning percentage at .559. The Broncos (.492), Jets (.520) and Buccaneers (.555) have the No. 5, 6 and 7 selections, respectively. But the order of teams with the same record rotates every round, so the Bears will pick seventh in the second round, fifth in the fourth round, eighth again in the fifth round, seventh in the sixth round and sixth in the seventh round.
How many years in a row have the Bears had a top-10 pick?
Barring a trade, the Bears will pick in the top 10 for the fourth straight year, their longest stretch since they were in the top 10 for five consecutive seasons from 1972-76. The Bears chose West Virginia receiver Kevin White at No. 7 in 2015, Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd at No. 9 in 2016 after trading up with the Buccaneers from No. 11 and Trubisky at No. 2 last year.
How many trades has Ryan Pace made in his first three drafts as Bears general manager?
Pace has made seven trades, four in 2016 and three last year after not making any deals in 2015. In 2016, he moved up to pick Floyd in the first round, down twice in the second round before taking offensive lineman Cody Whitehair and up in the fourth round to pick linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. Last year the Bears traded up to pick Trubisky in the first round, down in the second round before picking tight end Adam Shaheen and up in the fourth round to choose safety Eddie Jackson.
How many times have the Bears had the No. 8 pick in the draft?
The Bears have chosen five players with the eighth pick in the draft, but only one in the last 41 years. That individual was receiver David Terrell in 2001. Terrell appeared in 53 games with 29 starts over four seasons and caught 128 passes for 1,602 yards and nine touchdowns. The other players the Bears have taken with the eighth pick in the draft are end Les McDonald in 1937, receiver Jim Dooley in 1952, defensive tackle Wally Chambers in 1973 and tackle Dennis Lick in 1976. Chambers was clearly the best of that bunch, earning three Pro Bowl invitations in five seasons in Chicago. The Bears are slated to pick eighth this year behind the 1) Browns; 2) Giants; 3) Colts; 4) Browns (via Texans); 5) Broncos; 6) Jets and 7) Buccaneers.
Who will announce the Bears' picks this year?
The team's picks will be announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in the first round, Hall of Fame middle linebacker Mike Singletary in the second round, members of the USA Football Regional development camp from Rich South High School in Rounds 4-6 and Bears season ticket holder Dave Evans, a police detective and Iraq war veteran, in the seventh round. Former cornerback Charles Tillman is also scheduled to attend the draft and will announce a third-round pick if the Bears acquire a selection in that round.
Where can I follow the draft?
The 2018 draft will be televised nationally by NFL Network, ESPN/ESPN 2, FOX and ABC and can be heard nationwide on Westwood One Radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio and TuneIN Radio. If you're a Bears fan, the best place to follow the draft, of course, is ChicagoBears.com.
