The Sportsletter - The Jags Are On The Clock ⏱️

BY JEFF YODER

APR. 28, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

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Happy Draft Day 🙌

It's the day when NFL teams select the futures of their franchise. Welcome to boom-or-bust weekend where the next three days could determine your team's success in the years to come. The draft opens tonight at the Las Vegas strip. Let's roll the dice...

Letter Rip!

NFL DRAFT

The Jags Are on the Clock ⏱️

Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images

Things to Know as the 2022 NFL Draft Kicks Off Tonight in Las Vegas (8:00 pm ET)

It’s finally time! After three months of an offseason filled with trades, free agency, combine takeovers and roster rollovers, the NFL Draft is here. Tonight’s opening round takes center stage on the Las Vegas strip with the Draft Theater located behind the High Roller ferris wheel. The three-day event kicks off with the first-round tonight (8:00 pm ET) before a 36-hour, non-stop pick-palooza on Friday and Saturday. Here are some notes to prep you for the biggest three days of the NFL offseason.

NFL Draft Schedule

Tonight: Round 1 (8:00 pm ET)

Friday: Rounds 2-3 (7:00 pm ET)

Saturday: Rounds 4-7 (Noon ET)

Teams With Multiple Picks 1st-Round Picks (8)

Tonight’s selection show puts the Jaguars on the clock, but eight teams have two 1st-round picks — Lions, Texans, Jets, Giants, Eagles, Saints, Packers and Chiefs. Expect the Jets and Giants to have the most firepower at the top of the board with two top-10 picks each.

Teams With No 1st-Round Picks (8)

If your team is on this list, tonight’s pick party might be disheartening unless they can move back into Round 1. There are eight teams with zero 1st-rounders — Bears, Browns, Colts, 49ers, Raiders, Broncos, Dolphins and Rams.

What to Expect Tonight

The 2022 class should feature a run of big bodied linemen in the first 4-5 picks. Expect two or three quarterbacks later in the first round and a run of cornerbacks and receivers in the teens. As many as eight wideouts could go in Round 1 due to a deep receiver class rich with potential. 

2022 NFL Draft Order

1. Jaguars

2. Lions

3. Texans

4. Jets

5. Giants

6. Panthers

7. Giants

8. Falcons

9. Seahawks

10. Jets

Picks 11-20: 11. Commanders, 12. Vikings, 13. Texans, 14. Ravens, 15. Eagles, 16. Saints, 17. Chargers, 18. Eagles, 19. Saints, 20. Steelers

Picks 21-32: 21. Steelers, 22. Packers, 23. Cardinals, 24. Cowboys, 25. Bills, 26. Titans, 27. Buccaneers, 28. Packers, 29. Chiefs, 30. Chiefs, 31. Bengals, 32. Lions

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock…

Additional Storylines

B/R: The Final 2022 NFL Draft Big Board

The Ringer: 3 Questions Heading Into the 2022 NFL Draft

SI: 2022 NFL Draft: Latest Player Grades, Trades & Projections

ESPN: NFL Draft 2022 Cheat Sheet: Draft Order, Mock Drafts, Team Needs, Rankings & More

NBA

Bucks & Dubs Move On

Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images

Warriors KO Nuggets (102-98), Bucks Bury Bulls (116-100) as Both Teams Advance to Round 2

Another night of NBA playoffs saw the 3-seeds from each conference close out their opening-round series in Game 5s at home. Former MVPs Steph Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo punched their tickets to Round 2 while reigning MVP Nikola Jokic gets a first-round exit. Half of the first-round matchups are still going, and all three could get closed out tonight. Let’s run it back:

NBA Playoff Highlights

Gm 5: Bucks def. Bulls (116-100)

The defending champs are moving on. The Bucks buried the short-handed Bulls in Game 5 with a first-quarter runaway before Chicago clawed back. The Bulls were without Zach LaVine due to COVID-19 protocols, and DeMar DeRozan was held to just 11 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo (33 points, 9 rebounds) had his way with Chicago in the paint. Bobby Portis (14 points, 17 rebounds) and Pat Connaughton (20 points, 6-for-9 3-pt) stepped up in the absence of Khris Middleton. The Bucks get the Celtics in Round 2. MIL Wins Series (4-1)

Gm 5: Warriors def. Nuggets (102-98)

The Dubs are back! After a tumultuous few seasons riddle by injuries, the Warriors shined bright in their opening-round matchup against the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. Jokic (30-19-8) didn’t have enough to force Game 6 as Steph Curry (30-5-5) knocked in five triples. Young Glove — Gary Payton II — was big off the bench for the Warriors with 15 points. It’s hard to believe Wednesday night marked Golden State’s first playoff series win since 2019. They’ll get the winner of the Grizzlies-Timberwolves series. GSW Wins Series (4-1)

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 6: 76ers at Raptors (7:00 pm ET) | PHI Leads 3-2

Gm 6: Suns at Pelicans (7:30 pm ET) | PHX Leads 3-2

Gm 6: Mavericks at Jazz (10:00 pm ET) | DAL Leads 3-2

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Steph Curry & Warriors Rally to Close Out Series With Nuggets

B/R: Devin Booker May Return From Hamstring Injury for Suns-Pelicans Game 6

The Ringer: The Grizzlies & Wolves are Flawed, But Damn Are They Entertaining

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THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚽️ UCL: Liverpool Blanks Villarreal in Leg 1

The stage is set for a potential all-English Champions League finale. Liverpool shut out Villarreal (2-0) in Wednesday’s match to take a commanding lead into Leg 2. The pair of goals came within minutes of the second-half start, including an own goal in the 53rd from a Jordan Henderson cross before a Sadio Mane tap-in. The Reds roll into Leg 2 with a major advantage.

🏒 NHL: Stars Clinch Final NHL Playoff Bid

The Dallas Stars entered Wednesday needing a point to secure the 8th and final spot in the NHL’s Western Conference, and they got it. Dallas carried a 3-0 lead into the third against the Coyotes, but Arizona rallied to force overtime before winning the game (4-3, OT). The Stars clinched and the Golden Knights were eliminated.

⚾️ MLB: Benches Clear in Mets-Cards Melee

Nolan Arenado was hit by a pitch in the 8th inning of Wednesday’s Mets-Cards matchup — the sixth player hit by a pitch in the series — and tempers boiled over. The benches cleared and Arenado was ejected, as well as St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol.

THE STORYLINES

⚾️ The Pitch That’s Taking Over Baseball

Baseball's newest craze is the "sweeper," which is essentially a slider with a ton of lateral movement. The pitch is not new — the best recent example of the sweeper is Corey Kluber's breaking ball — but teams have figured out how to teach it. (CBS Sports)

🏀 Proof Stars Can’t Run Franchises

The Lakers went from winning the title in 2019-20 to not even qualifying for the play-in two seasons later. Meanwhile, the Nets went off the rails with Kyrie Irving’s refusal to get vaccinated. Here’s proof that superstars shouldn’t call the shots… (Bleacher Report)

⚽️ MLS Power Rankings

Another week, another LAFC victory, another edition of MLS Power Rankings topped for Steve Cherundolo & Co. Behind the Black and Gold, though, their closest rivals are steadily sneaking up the order. Week 8 is in the books. (ESPN)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Jaguars Sign OT Cam Robinson to 3-Year, $54 Million Extension Ahead of NFL Draft (B/R)
• Cardinals Pick Up 5th-Year Option ($30 Million) for QB Kyler Murray (USA Today)
• Chattanooga’s Malachi Smith, SoCon’s Top Player, Enters Transfer Portal (ESPN)
• NWSL’s Houston Dash Suspend Coach James Clarkson Amid Misconduct Investigation (SI)
• ESPN to Exclusively Air ‘Athletes Unlimited’ Softball, Lacrosse Leagues in Media Deal (Yahoo! Sports)

Support The Sportsletter Team 

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