NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans are scheduled to have nine total picks in the 81st Annual National Football League Player Selection Meeting, which commences on April 28 in Chicago, Ill.
The NFL will conduct the seven-round draft from Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago, while Titans personnel will be headquartered at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville.
The opening Thursday night of the draft (7 p.m. CT) will consist entirely of the 31 picks in the first round. Rounds 2 and 3 are set for Friday, April 29, beginning at 6 p.m. CT, and the draft concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 30, at 11 a.m. CT. The current three-day format was unveiled for the first time in 2010.
On April 14, two weeks before the start of the draft, the Titans and new general manager Jon Robinson engineered one of the biggest trades in franchise history. Originally the owners of the No. 1 pick, the Titans dealt the selection to the Los Angeles Rams along with a fourth-round pick (113th overall) and a sixth-rounder (177th overall). In exchange, the Titans received the 15th overall pick in the first round, two second-rounders (43rd and 45th overall), a third-rounder (76th overall) and the Rams' first- and third-round picks in 2017.
The Titans hold an additional pick in each of Rounds 2 (33rd overall), 3 (64th overall), 5 (140th overall), 6 (193rd overall) and 7 (222nd overall). They picked up their current sixth-rounder by trading guard Andy Levitre in September 2015.
The Titans' deal with the Rams was Robinson's second trade in his brief tenure as general manager. The first involved a high-profile player and draft choices. In March, the Titans agreed with the Philadelphia Eagles to swap fourth-rounders (Titans' 100th overall pick for the Eagles' 113th pick) in order for Tennessee to obtain veteran running back DeMarco Murray. Subsequently, the fourth-round pick from the Eagles was used in the Titans' trade with the Rams.
ON THE AIR AND THE WEB
Fans can watch the draft in its entirety on NFL Network and ESPN/ESPN 2. Radio listeners can tune to the Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone. Titans Radio will feature special draft programming throughout the weekend, including gavel-to-gavel coverage of the first round.
TitansOnline.com, the official website of the Tennessee Titans, will provide up-to-the-minute information on the team's selections and live draft coverage, including press conferences with Robinson, head coach Mike Mularkey and other members of the organization.
Additionally, fans can follow the team through its social media platforms, including Facebook (facebook.com/Titans), Twitter (@Titans), Instagram (@Titans) and Snapchat (nfltitans). Social media users also are encouraged to use the hashtag #TitansDraft.
ROBINSON TO DIRECT FIRST DRAFT
Robinson was hired on January 14 after spending the last two seasons as director of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Union City, Tenn., native also spent a total of 12 years with the New England Patriots.
During his five years (2009–2013) as director of college scouting for the Patriots, Roblinebacker Brian Cushing (2009, Houston Texans), defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (2010, New York Giants), center Mike Pouncey (2011, Miami Dolphins), defensive end Bruce Irvin (2012, Seattle Seahawks), safety Kenny Vaccaro (2013, New Orleans Saints) and linebacker Ryan Shazier (2014, Pittsburgh Steelers). Last year, the San Diego Chargers chose running back Melvin Gordon with the 15th selection.
FREE DRAFT PARTY APRIL 28
On Thursday evening, April 28, the Titans are opening Nissan Stadium to all fans for a free draft party. Beginning at 6 p.m. CT, fans can watch draft coverage on the stadium video boards; meet Titans greats, cheerleaders and T-Rac; and take part in a variety of other activities, including the following:
• Live Draft coverage with 104.5 The Zone and Mike Keith
• Kids Zone
• Face painting
• Balloon and caricature artists
• Inflatables and games
• Fan photo booths
• Self-guided locker room tours
• NFL equipment display
• Titans trivia and prizes
• Other on-field activities
There will be additional exclusive access for Titans Season Ticket Members, including autographs from current Titans players. More information is available at TitansOnline.com.
DAY 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS
On Saturday, April 30, the team's fifth-round selection will be announced at the 118th Wing, Tennessee National Guard headquarters in Nashville. The Titans are throwing a private draft party for the military personnel at the base, and select personnel there will announce the team's pick. In the event that the team re-acquires one or more fourth-round picks, those selections also will be announced at the 118th Wing. Titans players and cheerleaders will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures with personnel attending the private party.
The event with the 118th Wing also will kick off the 2016 Titans Caravan. From April 30–May 7, Titans Caravan will make a total of 20 stops across the Mid-South, allowing fans a free opportunity to meet members of the team. Titans Caravan information will be available at TitansOnline.com.
Selection Meeting
WHERE
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, Chicago, Ill.
WHEN
7 p.m. CT, Thursday, April 28 (Round 1)
6 p.m. CT, Friday, April 29 (Rounds 2-3)
11 a.m. CT, Saturday, April 30 (Rounds 4-7)
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? The first round will conclude on Thursday by approximately 10:15 PM CT. In 2015, the first round consumed three hours and nine minutes. The second and third rounds will conclude on Friday by approximately 10:00 PM CT. The second and third rounds took four hours and 10 minutes in 2015. The draft will conclude by approximately 5:30 PM CT on Saturday with the final four rounds. Rounds 4 through 7 took six hours and 26 minutes in 2015.
DRAFTING: Representatives of the 32 NFL clubs in Chicago communicating by telephone with their general managers, coaches and scouts.
ROUNDS: Seven Rounds – Round 1 on Thursday, April 28; Rounds 2 through 3 on Friday, April 29; and Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday, April 30.
There will be 253 total selections, including 33 compensatory choices that have been awarded to 13 teams that suffered a net loss of certain quality unrestricted free agents in 2014. Tennessee was not awarded a compensatory selection this year.
Compensatory picks may not be traded this year. A rule change approved by clubs in 2015 will permit compensatory draft picks to be traded beginning in 2017.
New England does not have a first-round pick. All other teams have one first-round selection.
TIME LIMITS: Round 1: 10 minutes per selection. Round 2: Seven minutes per selection. Rounds 3 through 6: Five minutes per selection. Round 7 and All Compensatory Picks: Four minutes per selection.
TELEVISION: Titans fans can watch all seven rounds of the NFL Draft on NFL Network and ESPN/ESPN 2.
TITANS RADIO: Titans Radio Network will carry draft programming throughout the week with Mike Keith, Frank Wycheck, Jonathan Hutton and Rhett Bryan. The Titans Radio flagship station is 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.
Thursday, April 28: 6-9 p.m. CT - First-Round Coverage
Friday, April 29: 5:30-9 p.m. CT - Second & Third-Round Coverage
Monday, May 2: 6-7 p.m. CT - Titans Draft Wrap-up Show
Additionally, national radio coverage will be provided by Westwood One
Radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio and TuneIn Radio.
ONLINE AND MOBILE: TitansOnline.com, the official website of the Titans, will provide wall-to-wall draft content from Jim Wyatt, Amie Wells and Mike Keith. The site will have exclusive coverage from the draft in Chicago and at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, taking Titans fans behind the scenes and offering a complete look at each and every pick the team makes. Titans Online content also can be viewed on the official app of the Titans, which fans can get at www.TitansOnline.com/app.
Starting at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 28, NFL Now Live Presented by Courtyard (www.nfl.com/now) provides comprehensive online coverage of the first round of the NFL Draft. NFL Now Live continues Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m. CT.
Fans can also follow the 2016 NFL Draft on YouTube. Youtube.com/NFL will feature interviews, highlights, and behind-the-scenes videos of the 2016 draft class throughout the week and during the event.
Live smartphone streaming of NFL Network's 2016 NFL Draft Coverage is available on NFL Mobile, which is available exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers.
