NFL Draft: Sky Sports News' Richard Graves predicts the first round of selections

The NFL Draft will begin at Radio City Music Hall in New York City next Thursday, with the cream of America’s college players ready to make the move into the professional ranks.

The event is one of the most anticipated and talked-about on the US sporting calendar and the choices made over the three days have huge implications for the franchises involved.

As the team with the worst record last season, the Houston Texans have the first pick in this year’s draft while Super Bowl winners Seattle pick last.

Although NFL history is littered with draft ‘steals’ – players picked in the lower rounds who went on to become superstars – the first round is usually where the NFL’s top players emerge from. Here, Sky Sports News reporter Richard Graves gives his view on how the first 32 selections will play out:

Live NFL Draft

Despite all the talk of teams looking to trade down, I think everyone in the top 10 remains unmoved, such is the quality available. I see Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones unable to resist trading up two spots if Aaron Donald is still on the board at No 14 and with Baltimore in need of offensive weapons, I think they'll happily trade down, with Green Bay only too happy to move up and strengthen a defence in need of improvement.

1.  Houston Texans - DE Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina)

2.  St. Louis Rams - OT Greg Robinson (Auburn)

3.  Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M)

4.  Cleveland Browns - QB Blake Bortles (Central Florida)

5.  Oakland Raiders - WR Sammy Watkins (Clemson)

6.  Atlanta Falcons - OT Jake Matthews (Texas A&M)

7.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers - OLB Khalil Mack (Buffalo)

8.  Minnesota Vikings - DE Anthony Barr (UCLA)

9.  Buffalo Bills - OT Zach Martin (Notre Dame)

10. Detroit Lions - CB Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State)

11. Tennessee Titans - S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Alabama)
12  New York Giants - OT Taylor Lewan (Michigan)
13. St. Louis Rams - WR Mike Evans (Texas A&M)
14. Dallas Cowboys (trade with Chicago Bears) - DT Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Darqueze Dennard (Michigan State)
16. Chicago Bears (trade from Dallas Cowboys) - DT Timmy Jernigan (Florida State)
17. Green Bay Packers (trade with Baltimore Ravens) - LB CJ Mosley (Alabama)
18. New York Jets - TE Eric Ebron (North Carolina)
19. Miami Dolphins - DT Louis Nix III (Notre Dame)
20. Arizona Cardinals - DE Kony Ealy (Missouri)

21. Baltimore Ravens (trade from Green Bay Packers) - WR Odell Beckham Jnr (LSU)
22. Philadelphia Eagles - DE/OLB Dee Ford (Auburn)
23. Kansas City Chiefs - CB Jason Verrett (TCU)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - S Calvin Pryor (Louisville)
25. San Diego Chargers - LB Ryan Shazier (Ohio State)
26. Cleveland Browns - WR Marqise Lee (USC)
27. New Orleans Saints - CB Kyle Fuller (Virginia Tech)
28. Carolina Panthers - WR Brandin Cooks (Oregon State)
29. New England Patriots - G Xavier Su'a-Filo (UCLA)
30 San Francisco 49ers - WR Kelvin Benjamin (Florida State)
31. Denver Broncos - DT Ra'Shede Hageman (Minnesota)
32. Seattle Seahawks - T Cyrus Kouandjio (Alabama)

If this pans out it would mean Tampa get an outstanding defensive player in Khalil Mack at No 7 and we'll see ‘Johnny Football’ at Wembley in November!