At midnight on Thursday evening, the 2016 draft gets underway. Despite a glorified picking first in the school playground style, the draft has become a showpiece event for the sport, and rightly so.You can watch the first round live on Sky Sports 1 from midnight on Thursday. Here’s a beginner’s guide on what to look out for...Quarterback crucialThis is one to ease you in to proceedings, as we know that quarterbacks will be selected with the first two picks of the draft. Los Angeles Rams made the bold move of trading up from the 15th pick in the first round to number one, followed by Philadelphia Eagles moving from eighth to second.They each gave up a multitude of picks in this years and next years draft to Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns respectively for the privilege of picking the top two quarterbacks in this years class, Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. Jared Goff, quarterback for the California Golden Bears, is the other top prospect in the draft A franchise quarterback is always seen as the quickest way to turn a team’s fortunes around and both the Rams and Eagles are besotted by the top two signal callers this year, hence the trades to ensure they land one.Goff is seen as the most pro-ready, but Wentz supposedly has greater potential, so it will be fascinating to see in which order theyre selected.And if, by some incredible shock, only one or none of those quarterbacks are picked, well that will be fun to watch too!First RoundThursdays draft covers just the first in a total of seven rounds. For 2016, only 31 of the 32 teams in the NFL gets a pick in the first round, rather than the usual 32.This anomaly is due to New England Patriots selection being forfeited as punishment for their participation in the Deflategate scandal, where they supposedly deflated footballs to gain an advantage over Indianapolis Colts in a playoff win on their way to success in Superbowl XLIX. Tom Brady (L), pictured during the controversial 2015 AFC Championship Game As a result - barring a trade - the Patriots first pick will be in the second round, 60th overall.As for the other teams, what number they pick at is based on their performance in the previous season, from worst to first. So as Super Bowl winners, Denver Broncos are last to pick at 31, while Tennessee - holders of the worst record in the 2015 season - were due to pick first overall before their blockbuster trade with Los Angeles. Speaking of which...Blockbuster tradesJust because there has already been some jostling for premium positions with those trades made by the Rams and Eagles, it does not mean weve seen the last of them either in the hours before Draft Day, or as it is unfolding. Colin Kaepernick struggled in 2015 for the San Francisco 49ers and is supposedly seeking a trade Trades will almost certainly take place as teams look to guarantee that the player they want is available by the time they pick, and the surest way to do that is to leapfrog up the order by offering lower round picks, or even players in exchange for the privilege to pick higher.Big names such as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick have all been touted as possible trade bait, and any such moves will cause quite the stir in Chicago.Chicago making noiseChicago hosts the draft again. It’s the second time straight for the Windy City, rewarded for doing a sterling job last year when staging the first NFL Draft outside of New York since 1963. Graphics show the Chicago Bears pick is coming in during the 2015 Draft Look out for local Bears fans to stamp their own unique imprint on proceedings. Some of the best moments of Draft days past have been the ‘colourful’ reactions by the New York fans to picks by their beloved Giants and Jets, so Chicago’s selection with the 11th pick will be worth watching.Tears on the telephoneSomeone will cry. In fact, almost all of them cry. Keep your eyes peeled when the camera cuts to a tearful giant in the green room hugging their family and agent as it should give you a headstart on who the selection with the next pick will be.Things don’t always go to plan, though, as some are left sitting anxiously, waiting for the phone to ring with the cameras circling and the room emptying. Alex Smith (far left) was selected first, ahead of Aaron Rodgers (third left) in 2005 Even Green Bay Packers’ great Aaron Rodgers wasn’t selected until the 24th pick in the 2005 Draft.For those who choose not to attend, the entertainment is provided when the camera cuts to them with their friends and family assembled in their living room, who realising they’re on TV, bundle on the player picked like they are trying to sack a quarterback.Character issues versus the unknownA player’s talent is always the main pull towards them being a top pick. But sometimes their questionable character can see them drop down the pecking order, and similarly some unknown players or ones with bags of potential but have yet to produce consistently, can go higher than expected. Where would Riyad Mahrez be drafted now in comparison to before the Premier League season? Consider if you will, Eden Hazard versus Riyad Mahrez in a Draft-style scenario before this years Premier League. Who would have been picked higher at the start of the season, and who would you pick now?Follow the 2016 NFL Draft on Sky Sports 1 from midnight on Thursday and via our live blog here at www.skysports.com/nfl Also See: Making sense of the Combine Ram-Titans: A good deal? 2015 Draft: Non first round surprises 2015 Draft: Hits and misses Air Max 95 Sale . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Air Max 97 Off White Cheap . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. http://www.wholesale95airmax.com/air-max-97-womens-cheap.html . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Nike Air Max 95 White Sale Mens .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Air Max 97 Womens Clearance . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Trevor Siemian took a big step Thursday -- whether thats forward or back depends on how his sprained left heel responds to his first practice since getting hurt against Kansas City on Nov. 27.It was a positive day, so well see where were at tomorrow, coach Gary Kubiak said after splitting snaps between Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch at his first full practice of the week.Kubiak characterized Siemians practice as very encouraging.We are where we thought we were going to be today, Kubiak said. We didnt do much yesterday. Our expectations today were for him to take half of what was going on. He was able to do that.Siemian moved around well during the 20-minute media access period and teammates later said he was sharp and mobile throughout the workout a day after he participated in a walkthrough.In the locker room he walked with only the slightest hint of a limp.Hes progressing the right way. It was a big test today. He had his orthotic in. So, well see how he comes in here tomorrow morning, Kubiak said. Hopefully well keep moving forward.The Broncos (8-4) visit the Tennessee Titans (6-6) this weekend.Siemian sat out last weeks 20-10 win at Jacksonville when Lynch completed 12 of 24 passes for 104 yards, but didnt turn the ball over in recording his first NFL win .On Monday, Kubiak said his faith in his first-round draft pick out of Memphis hadnt been shaken, declaring Lynch has a brilliant career ahead of him.For now, hes a raw rookie learning a dense playbook, one who wasnt asked in college to make calls in the huddle, line up under center or go through progressions as he does now.Asked for his impressions of Lynchs second career start, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said the troubles started in the second half when the Broncos went deeper into the call sheet.That became something that he needs to work at a little bit more and he will. To me, the night before the game he was awesome. He went through every call and he knew his progressions very well. He knew what the problems were in each of our pass plays and where to geet the ball on the run.dddddddddddd He studied at it, Dennison said.Thats my biggest takeaway is that he has really studied and was really working hard at it. He has made some strides; he just has some more strides to make.Comparing quarterbacks first three NFL games, Paxtons 79.2 passer rating is actually higher than a dozen active QBs who have made the Pro Bowl, including Tom Brady and Eli Manning. Its also better than Siemians 74.4 rating in his first three games.The Broncos have little room for error as they try to return to the playoffs to defend their Super Bowl title.After this weekend, their remaining opponents are New England and Oakland at home sandwiched around a trip to Kansas City.Siemian, even at somewhat less than 100 percent, gives them many more options and versatility on offense.But the Broncos wont risk it if hes not able to move around in the pocket to escape the kinds of hits that have sidelined him for 2+ games this season.If youre going to send a guy out there, he has to be able to move around, Kubiak said. He moved today in the things he did. Hopefully thats going to improve between now and game time. A good day today.The addition of running back Justin Forsett this week should help keep the quarterback clean.The ninth-year running back is adept in Kubiaks West Coast offense and one of his strengths is blitz pickup.The Broncos lost Kapri Bibbs to a high ankle sprain last weekend and put in a claim for Forsett , who was waived by Detroit.He looks good, Kubiak said. Its great to have him. Hes a great kid. He knows exactly whats going on. I think hell be able to help us this weekend. My expectations for him this weekend are to spell (Devontae Booker) and play. Its just really nice to get somebody whos up to the beat on what were doing.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '
