2019 NFL Draft: How to watch, what to look for

The 2019 NFL Draft is coming to dominate the sports landscape for three days this week.

Here are the basics you need to know to follow the action:

1. There are three ways to watch.

For the 14th year, the NFL Network will broadcast the draft while it will air on ESPN for the 40th year.

Fans without a cable subscription can catch the whole thing on ABC, which will simulcast ESPN's coverage of rounds 4-7 on Saturday after having a separate production on the first two days featuring Centerville native Kirk Herbstreit and other college football analysts.

Round one starts at 8 p.m. Thursday night with rounds 2-3 beginning at 8 p.m. Friday night.

2. The Cincinnati Bengals pick 11th.

Will the first draft since Zac Taylor replaced Marvin Lewis as coach also bring a new potential franchise quarterback?

Multiple draft analysts think so, but Taylor and the organization remain committed to Andy Dalton, at least publicly.

After three consecutive losing seasons, there is no shortage of needs, a list that has offensive tackle and linebacker at the top.

3. The Cleveland Browns don’t pick until night two (probably).

Cleveland traded its first round pick to the New York Giants for star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., so the team will have to engineer a trade to get involved before the 49th pick in the second round.

Don’t rule out that happening, of course, as the team might see someone as a vital piece toward reaching high expectations that are building for the season.

4. More than a half-dozen Ohio State players are likely to be drafted.

Defensive end Nick Bosa is likely to be taken No. 2, if not No. 1 overall.

Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has been slotted as the Bengals’ pick on many mock drafts, but he might already be gone by that point.

Receivers Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell, defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones and offensive lineman Michael Jordan are all potential night two picks while a handful of other Buckeyes could hear their names called Saturday.

5. Several players from local high schools hope to hear their names called, too.

Kentucky offensive lineman George Asafo-Adjei (Lakota West), Tiffin’s Tyler Denton (Hamilton), Northern Illinois’ Andrew Gantz (Centerville), Akron’s Jordan George (Alter), Miami’s Jordan Rigg (Springboro) and Dayton’s Matt Tunnacliffe (Fenwick) were among those invited to a local draft workout for the Bengals earlier this month.

Wayne's Tyree Kinnel, a two-year starter in the Michigan secondary, Milton-Union's Wes Martin, a multi-year starter on the offensive line at Indiana, Alter's Nick Coleman, a Notre Dame defensive back, Centerville's Jared Weyler, a Minnesota offensive lineman, and Covington's A.J. Ouellete, a running back from Ohio, are also among those on the NFL radar who could sign as free agents over the weekend even if they are not drafted.

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