James Carpenter Volunteers For Alabama Tornado Relief

2011 NFL Draft: Complete List Of Third Round Picks

The third round featured the end to the biggest slide in the 2011 NFL Draft as Ryan Mallett was finally taken by the New England Patriots. With Bill Belichick at the helm and Tom Brady manning the quarterback spot, the Patriots provide Mallett, whose character concerns are well-documented, a soft landing spot and good chances for success. We also saw the Seattle Seahawks make their second choice and a local product was taken in the third round.

Mason Foster, the tackling machine from Washington, was chosen by Tampa Bay with the 20th pick in the third round. Foster's stock had been rising, with many believe he may end up in the mid-second round ahead of the draft. But even with a third round selection, Foster should be happy with where he was picked, and has a good chance to contribute with the Buccaneers.

Here is the full list of picks, including the Seattle Seahawks selection of John Moffitt.

We'll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

2011 NFL Draft Order: Updated Picks For The Final Four Rounds

With all the trades, it's been difficult to keep up with the 2011 NFL Draft order over the past two days. And on Saturday, the order gets more confusing as conditional picks come into play, throwing off the typical worst record first order we've been following thus far. In total, we'll watch as 157 more players are taken in what should be another wild day at the NFL Draft.

The Seahawks get started nice and early with the second pick in the fourth round. Seattle will be back on the clock a short time later, thanks to a trade with the Detroit Lions that saw the two teams swap almost all of their late-round picks. Seattle is back-loaded, and the third day is expected to be a big one for the Seahawks.

Here is the full draft order, courtesy of SB Nation Minnesota

Fourth Round

98) Carolina
99) Seattle (from New England via Denver)
100) Buffalo
101) Cincinnati
102) Cleveland
103) Arizona
104) Philadelphia (from Washington)
105) Houston
106) Minnesota
107) Seattle (from Detroit)
108) Denver (from San Francisco)
109) Tennessee
110) Dallas
111) Miami
112) St. Louis
113) Oakland
114) Jacksonville
115) San Francisco (from San Diego)
116) Tampa bay
117) New York Giants
118) Kansas City
119) Indianapolis
120) Philadelphia
121) Jacksonville (from New Orleans)
122) Buffalo (from Seattle)
123) Baltimore
124) Cleveland (from Atlanta)
125) Oakland (from New England)
126) New York Jets
127) Washington (from Chicago)
128) Pittsburgh
129) Green Bay
130) Tennessee (compensatory)
131) Green Bay (compensatory)

Fifth Round

132) Carolina
133) Buffalo
134) Cincinnati
135) Kansas City (from Tampa Bay via Denver)
136) Arizona
137) Cleveland
138) New England (from Houston)
139) Minnesota
140) Kansas City (from Detroit)
141) Denver (from San Francisco)
142) Tennessee
143) Dallas
144) Washington
145) St. Louis
146) Washington (from Miami)
147) Jacksonville
148) Oakland
149) Philadelphia (from San Diego)
150) Minnesota (from New York Giants)
151) Tampa Bay
152) Washington (from Indianapolis)
153) Philadelphia
154) Seattle (from Kansas city via Detroit)
155) Washington (from new Orleans)
156) Seattle
157) Detroit (from Baltimore via Seattle)
158) Atlanta
159) new England
160) Chicago
161) New York Jets
162) Pittsburgh
163) Green Bay
164) Baltimore (compensatory)
165) Baltimore (compensatory)

Sixth Round

166) Carolina
167) Cincinnati
168) Cleveland (from Denver)
169) Buffalo
170) Cleveland
171) Arizona
172) Minnesota
173) Seattle (from Detroit)
174) San Francisco
175) Tennessee
176) Dallas
177) Washington
178) Houston
179) Miami
180) Baltimore
181) Oakland
182) San Francisco (from Jacksonville)
183) San Diego
184) Arizona (from Philadelphia via Tampa Bay)
185) New York Giants
186) Denver (from Philadelphia via Detroit)
187) Tampa Bay (from Kansas City)
188) Indianapolis
189) Denver (from New England via New Orleans)
190) San Francisco (from Seattle)
191) Philadelphia (from Baltimore)
192) Atlanta
193) New England
194) New York jets
195) Chicago
196) Pittsburgh
197) Green Bay
198) New York Giants (compensatory)
199) Kansas City (compensatory)
200) Minnesota (compensatory)
201) San Diego (compensatory)
202) New York Giants (compensatory)
203) Carolina (compensatory)

Seventh Round

204) Green Bay (from Carolina)
205) Seattle (from Denver via Seattle)
206) Buffalo
207) Cincinnati
208) New York Jets (from Arizona)
209) Detroit (from Cleveland via Seattle)
210) Atlanta (from Detroit)
211) San Francisco
212) Tennessee
213) Washington
214) Houston
215) Minnesota
216) St. Louis
217) Washington (from Miami)
218) Miami (from Jacksonville)
219) New England (from Oakland)
220) Dallas (from San Diego)
221) New York Giants
222) Tampa Bay
223) Kansas City
224) Washington (from Indianapolis)
225) Baltimore (from Philadelphia)
226) New Orleans
227) Philadelphia (from Seattle)
228) St. Louis (from Baltimore)
229) Atlanta
230) Atlanta (from New England)
231) San Francisco (from New York Jets via Detroit)
232) Pittsburgh
233) Green Bay
234) San Diego
235) Miami
236) Minnesota
237) Philadelphia
238) Tampa Bay
239) San Francisco
240) Philadelphia
241) Oakland
242) Seattle
243) New Orleans
244) Carolina
245) Buffalo
246) Cincinnati
247) Denver
248) Cleveland
249) Arizona
250) San Francisco
251) Tennessee
252) Dallas
253) Washington
254) Houston

We'll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

2011 NFL Draft Results: Complete Second Round Pick List And Wrapup

Many of the first round leftovers and left out came off the board in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and a few players that had been sliding way down the board were, mercifully, scooped up. Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick were all taken in the second round as Ryan Mallett continued his skid. Trades were still aplenty, including a deal that netted the Seattle Seahawks an extra pick while dropping them out of the second round.

Da'Quan Bowers was also finally snatched up in one of the more stunning draft-day falls. Bowers was thought to be a top-10, or even top-5, player at one point, only to see his draft stock take a major hit during the workout process over concerns about his knee. If he can stay healthy, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a steal with the 20th pick in the second round.

Here's the full second round draft board.

1	New England	Ras-I Dowling (CB) Virginia
2	Buffalo	Aaron Williams (CB) Texas
3	Cincinnati	Andy Dalton (QB) TCU
4	San Francisco	Colin Kaepernick (QB) Nevada
5	Cleveland	Jabaal Sheard (DE) Pittsburgh
6	Arizona	Ryan Williams (RB) Va Tech
7	Tennessee	Akeem Ayers (OLB) UCLA
8	Dallas	Bruce Carter (OLB) UNC
9	Washington	Jarvis Jenkins (DT) Clemson
10	Houston	Brooks Reed (DE) Arizona
11	Minnesota	Kyle Rudolph (TE) Notre Dame
12	Detroit	Titus Young (WR) Boise St
13	Denver	Rahim Moore (S) UCLA
14	Denver	Orlando Franklin (OG) Miami
15	St. Louis	Lance Kendricks (TE) Wisconsin
16	Oakland	Stefen Wisniewski (C) Penn State
17	Indianapolis	Benjamin Ijalana (OT) Villanova
18	San Diego	Marcus Gilchrist (CB) Clemson
19	Tampa Bay	Da'Quan Bowers (DE) Clemson
20	NY Giants	Marvin Austin (DT) UNC
21	Chicago	Stephen Paea (DT) Oregon St
22	Philadelphia	Jaiquawn Jarrett (S) Temple
23	Kansas City	Rodney Hudson (C) Florida St
24	New England	Shane Vereen (RB) California
25	Detroit	Mikel Leshoure (RB) Illinois
26	Baltimore	Torrey Smith (WR) Maryland
27	Cleveland	Greg Little (WR) UNC
28	Houston	Brandon Harris (CB) Miami
29	San Diego	Jonas Mouton (OLB) Michigan
30	Miami	Daniel Thomas (RB) Kansas St
31	Pittsburgh	Marcus Gilbert (OT) Florida
32	Green Bay	Randall Cobb (WR) Kentucky

We'll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

2011 NFL Draft Results: John Moffitt Picked By Seattle Seahawks

After trading out of the second round to pick up a third round pick -- something GM John Schneider had indicated he wanted to do -- the Seattle Seahawks used the pick acquired from the Detroit Lions to select offensive guard John Moffitt from Wisconsin with the 11th pick in the third round, 75th overall.

NFL.com says Moffitt "looks the part of an NFL guard with a great frame and a thick lower half. He displays very good football intelligence and understands blocking schemes."

This continues what looks to be a concerted effort to rebuild the offensive line, which was a notable weakness for the team last year, as the team also used its first round pick on an offensive lineman, tackle James Carpenter of Alabama.

We'll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections. Check in with local product Mason Foster and see where he's projected to go, as well.

2011 NFL Draft Results: Lions Trade For Seahawks Second Round Pick

The Seattle Seahawks were unable to trade down in the first round, but found more success in the second. By the time the Seahawks name came up at No. 57, they were able to pawn the pick off and trade down, handing the pick over to the Detroit Lions. The Seahawks were without a third round pick and had one shot at making a pick on the second day with pick No. 57 before trading it away to the Lions to move backwards.

The trade was more complicated than just the Seahawks moving back and picking up another pick, it appears, and, apparently, encompasses multiple rounds. Here's what we know, courtesy of Danny O'Neil.

Seattle traded its 2nd-round pick, 5th-round and 7th-rd pick for Detroit's 3rd (75), 4th (107), 5th (No. 154) and 7th (205)

So the Seahawks are back into the second round, but lost their third-round pick. Picking up a fourth-round pick is an added bonus, as well, and should make Seahawks fans happy. With more room to work with, we'll see what Pete Carroll can do here.

Many of the picks we’d seen bandied about and connected to the Seahawks were off the board and the late-second round was less than appetizing. At the quarterback spot, Ryan Mallett was still on the board, but many expect him to continue his slide. With the pick, the Lions took Mikel Leshoure, a running back out of Illinois who had been connected to Seattle at one point.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections. Check in with local product Mason Foster and see where he’s projected to go, as well.

NFL Draft 2011: Live Coverage, Broadcast And Online Information

The second round of the 2011 NFL Draft is underway and your coverage options are aplenty. Once again, ESPN and NFL Network have the coverage. But the coverage differs significantly as ESPN spends its time running commercials and missing picks while NFL Network has opted for large blocks of uninterrupted coverage. Choose wisely if you’re taking in the draft.

Here is the information for coverage of Friday’s second and third rounds.

TV information: Coverage is underway on ESPN and NFL Network. You can find ESPN on any basic cable carrier while NFL Network is a bit harder to find and may only be on premium packages in your area.

Online streams: We do have good news for those without NFL Network on TV. You can find a live-stream at the NFL website here. ESPN also has coverage online, though it’s a bit more difficult to come by.

Supplemental coverage: In addition to the coverage on TV, we’ll be covering the draft in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. SB Nation will also be covering every single pick over on the 2011 NFL Draft hub.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections. Check in with local product Mason Foster and see where he's projected to go, as well.

Watch NFL Draft Online: Friday's Live Coverage Available On NFL Network

If you don't have the NFL Network, you can still catch the alternative coverage to ESPN live and online on Friday. Just like Thursday, free and legal online streams are available at NFL.com and ESPN. There is a difference, however, as we found out on Thursday. ESPN requires users to have subscriptions to certain cable carriers and isn't televising the draft on ESPN3.

Here is the live-stream information for Friday's third round.

Schedule: The second round is currently underway, live on ESPN and NFL Network. The second and third rounds will be broadcast on Friday. A full schedule and the draft order can be found here.

Live streams: The NFL Network coverage can be found here, at NFL.com. It's free and open to anyone. The ESPN coverage can be found here, at ESPNNetworks.com. You must subscribe to the list of carriers ESPN partners with to use this feed.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections. Check in with local product Mason Foster and see where he's projected to go, as well.

NFL Draft 2011: Start Time, Schedule And Order For Friday's Second Round

The first day of the 2011 NFL Draft is in the books and we're on to second and third rounds on Friday. The picks will be coming quicker as teams have just seven minutes in the second round and five minutes in the third round to make a choice. Trades are still in play and plenty of good prospects are available, but we'll begin to see some of the under-rated players snatched up as the draft wears on.

Here is the vital information for Friday's second and third round.

Start time: The second round gets started at 3 p.m., live from Radio City Music Hall. It's an earlier start on Friday as the NFL tries to clear two rounds during the lengthy broadcast. The pomp and pageantry of the first round is gone, and we're on to the nitty-gritty of the draft.

Schedule: With the second set for 3 p.m., the third round should get underway sometime around 6 p.m. here on the West Coast. It's a long broadcast

Draft Order: The Seattle Seahawks have just one pick as of now, the 57th overall pick. The full draft order for the second and third round can be found here.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections. Check in with local product Mason Foster and see where he's projected to go, as well.

2011 NFL Draft Order: Complete Second And Third Round Schedule

If the first round is any indication, we should expect the unexpected when it comes to the 2011 NFL Draft. We saw trades, reaches and steals throughout the first round as teams scrambled to secure the top players on their boards. Thanks to all the movement, the 2011 NFL Draft order was hard to peg down, though we do have an idea of where it stands heading into the second round.

It's the norm at this point, but Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have their picks stockpiled again as they traded backwards until dropping all the way out of the first round. The Patriots received a haul, including the Carolina Panthers' and New Orleans Saints' second round picks. It's unlikely the Patriots are done, and we should see plenty of movement in the second round.

Here's an updated look at the draft order. Keep in mind, it's subject to change at any moment. The draft order is courtesy of SB Nation, where you can find all seven rounds and plenty of coverage of all the happenings.

Second Round

1. New England - from Carolina (2-14)
2. Buffalo (4-12)
3. Cincinnati (4-12)
4. Denver (4-12)
5. Cleveland (5-11)
6. Arizona (5-11)
7. Tennessee (6-10)
8. Dallas (6-10)
9. Washington (6-10)
10. Houston (6-10)
11. Minnesota (6-10)
12. Detroit (6-10)
13. San Francisco (6-10)
14. Denver - from Miami (7-9)
15. St. Louis (7-9)
16. Oakland (8-8)
17. Washington - from Jacksonville (8-8)
18. San Diego (9-7)
19. Tampa Bay (10-6)
20. New York Giants (10-6)
21. Indianapolis* (10-6)
22. Philadelphia* (10-6)
23. Kansas City* (10-6)
24. New England - from New Orleans* (11-5)
25. Seattle* (7-9)
26. Baltimore* (12-4)
27. Cleveland - from Atlanta* (13-3)
28. New England* (14-2)
29. San Diego - from New York Jets* (11-5)
30. Chicago* (11-5)
31. Pittsburgh* (12-4)
32. Green Bay* (10-6)

Third Round

1. Carolina (2-14)
2. Cincinnati (4-12)
3. Denver (4-12)
4. Buffalo (4-12)
5. Arizona (5-11)
6. Kansas City - from Cleveland (5-11)
7. Dallas (6-10)
8. New Orleans - from Washington (6-10)
9. Houston (6-10)
10. New England - from Minnesota (6-10)
11. Detroit (6-10)
12. San Francisco (6-10)
13. Tennessee (6-10)
14. St. Louis (7-9)
15. Miami (7-9)
16. Jacksonville (8-8)
17. Oakland (8-8)
18. San Diego (9-7)
19. New York Giants (10-6)
20. Tampa Bay (10-6)
21. Philadelphia* (10-6)
22. Kansas City* (10-6)
23. Indianapolis* (10-6)
24. New Orleans* (11-5)
25. San Diego - from Seattle* (7-9)
26. Baltimore* (12-4)
27. Atlanta* (13-3)
28. New England* (14-2)
29. Chicago* (11-5)
30. New York Jets* (11-5)
31. Pittsburgh* (12-4)
32. Green Bay* (10-6)
33. Carolina (compensatory)

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream for even more predictions and projections. Check in with local product Mason Foster and see where he's projected to go, as well.

VIDEO: Nick Saban Shocked James Carpenter Picked In First Round Of 2011 NFL Draft

NFL Draft 2011: Full First Round Pick List And Recap

Mercifully, the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft came to a close on Monday night after a frantic four hours of action. It started inconspicuously enough: Cam Newton, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus and A.J. Green came off the board in the first four picks, as expected. But as the No. 6 pick rolled around, the dominoes began to fall and the draft turn a turn for the wild.

The Atlanta Falcons fired the first shot of the 2011 NFL Draft, swooping in and making a big trade to grab Julio Jones. At No. 8, the Tennessee Titans surprised everyone, brushing aside Blaine Gabbert to draft Washington quarterback Jake Locker. Jacksonville made the second trade of the day, swapping with the Washington Redskins to jump up to No. 10 and grab Gabbert as quarterbacks were suddenly at a premium.

Christian Ponder became the fourth quarterback taken in the top-12 as the Minnesota Vikings grabbed him at No. 12 as the heir-apparent to Brett Favre. With the quarterbacks out of the way, a game of reaches and runs took place as teams snapped up offensive and defensive linemen at an astounding rate. In total, 20 linemen were taken, including a record 12 on the defensive side of the ball.

Here is the full list of picks from Thursday's first round.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

James Carpenter Expected To Be Taken In The Second Round Of The NFL Draft

Not only were Seahawks fans surprised to hear James Carpenter’s name announced as the No. 25 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft; Capenter himself was surprised. Seen as a second- or third-round pick, Carpenter was suddenly called upon as the Seahawks stepped to the podium, and the choice was almost universally panned. His name hadn’t been bandied about by any NFL Draft experts, leaving fans at home asking “who?” when his name was called.

Here’s what Carpenter had to say about the pick and where he expected to be drafted (via John Boyle).

New #Seahawks draft pick James Carpenter said he thought he’d be a second-round pick. “I’m glad somebody had faith in me.”

Nevertheless, he is the newest Seahawks and we’ll wait to pass judgment. Carpenter fills a need and will step-in at right tackle opposite Russell Okung on the offensive line. It may be a reach, but it’s who the Seahawks wanted, and they got their man, for whatever that’s worth.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors throughout the entire process in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

2011 NFL Draft Results: James Carpenter Selected By Seattle Seahawks

With the 25th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected James Carpenter, an offensive tackle from Alabama. The pick comes out of nowhere, and Carpenter had been on anyone’s radar, as far as we can tell. He hadn’t been connected to the Seahawks at all in the various mock drafts around, nor did he seem to have a first round grade.

When the prevailing reaction is “who?” it’s not a good sign. According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Carpenter had a late second round grade and may be a project with upside. To be clear, it’s a reach, but he does fill a need along the offensive line. But with so many players with mid- to late-first round grades still around, one has to wonder what the Seahawks were thinking here.

We’ll be back with more on the pick as it becomes available and as soon as we figure out more about Carpenter.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

Jake Locker's NFL Draft Day Takes Surprising Turn With Tennesse Titans Pick

Jake Locker finds himself in a position to immediately contribute for the Tennessee Titans, who have no clear-cut answer at quarterback. Vince Young is on the outs, leaving the Titans without a franchise quarterback and a face of the team. Enter Jake Locker. While the conventional wisdom is Locker will need time to develop, he may not get in Tennessee and could be called upon to take the helm from day one.

The Titans are looking for a fresh start with a new head coach, a new attitude and, now, a new quarterback. Locker brings impeccable character and a work ethic that’s highly thought of, making him an ideal candidate to take the reigns going forward. But he does come with some questions.

While he’s nearly flawless off the field, he does have plenty of issues on the field. His accuracy has always been a problem and his mechanics, specifically his footwork, have been an issue during the draft process. While he can make plays with his feet and throw on the run, he struggles in the pocket and has not quite grasped a pro-style system. Given time, though, he may succeed.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

2011 NFL Draft Results: Jake Locker Goes To Tennessee Titans In Shocking Development

The second quarterback off the board was not Blaine Gabbert, in one of the bigger draft-day surprises. Washington quarterback Jake Locker was taken with the No. 8 pick as the Tennessee Titans scooped him up early in the first round. Locker leaped over Blaine Gabbert, who is still on the board, and was the second quarterback taken after Cam Newton, who went No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers.

The Titans had been connected to Locker during the draft process, but with Gabbert on the board, few expected Tennessee to snag him. But Locker, who had seen his draft stock fall during his senior year, was vindicated in the 2011 NFL Draft, going in the top-10 after falling from many draft boards.

We’ll be back with more on Locker, including reaction from Tennessee and the Washington quarterback himself.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

NFL Draft Expected To Feature A Plethora Of Quarterback Picks In First Round

The 2011 NFL Draft class doesn’t feature top-end quarterbacks, so it comes as a surprise to see so many in the first round of nearly NFL mock draft out there. While Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert appear to be sure-fire top-10 picks, the talent-level falls dramatically after those two. Jake Locker, Andy Dalton, Ryan Mallett and Christian Ponder are all lying in wait, and it appears most, if not all, of them could be picked in the first round.

How fast will quarterbacks come off the board on Thursday night. If New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is right, the run on quarterbacks is expected to be fast and furious.

Just chatted briefly with #Saints GM Mickey Loomis. He thinks 5 QBs will be gone before Saints pick at No. 24.

It would be surprising to see five gone by the No. 24 pick. But with the ongoing labor struggle and the value placed on the quarterback position, teams are reaching in an effort to find that franchise quarterback of the future. In the 2011 draft class, though, seeing five or six quarterbacks taken in the first round screams desperation and could come back to bite more than a few teams down the line.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

Watch NFL Draft Online With ESPN And NFL Networks

If you’re unable to get to a TV for the NFL Draft or if you’re looking to watch multiple draft shows at once, you’re in luck. The 2011 NFL Draft will be broadcast online for free in two different places: On the NFL website and on ESPN Networks. Both streams are free, though there are terms for the ESPN broadcast, and legal. With the incredible amount of coverage going on throughout the 2011 NFL Draft,

To watch the NFL broadcast of the draft, just head over to NFL.com. A direct link to the coverage can be found here. Though it’s unclear if the stream will mirror the NFL Network broadcast, there will be full coverage from Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The ESPN broadcast is a little different and a bit more complicated. The live-stream will not be shown on ESPN3, but will instead be on ESPNNetworks.com. In order to view the stream, you must have cable service from one of three carries: Time Warner, Bright House or Verizon. That stream will mirror the ESPN broadcast, it appears.

Your best bet is to fire up the NFL Network coverage on the computer and the ESPN coverage on TV to get maximum exposure. However you decide to take-in the NFL Draft, be sure to check out our own coverage here and at SB Nation’s 2011 NFL Draft hub.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

NFL Mock Draft 2011: Mason Foster In Second Round, Taiwan Jones In Third, According To Todd McShay

Much of the attention has been focused on the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and rightfully so. With the draft broken-up into three days, the focus is on the first 32 picks on Thursday, with the rest to come on Friday and Saturday. But we do have some local prospects to keep an eye on and if Todd McShay’s final 2011 NFL mock draft is correct, both could hear their names called on Friday.

Washington linebacker Mason Foster has been nothing but solid throughout his collegiate career and opened many scouts’ eyes during the workouts leading up to the draft. Foster was solid at the Senior Bowl, where he faced some of the top NFL Draft prospects. His measurable numbers may not be eye-popping, but his production is undeniable.

Foster had been seen as a late-second or early-third round prospect, but McShay went with the former projection. McShay has Foster going to the New Orleans Saints with the 24th pick in the second round

Taiwan Jones, on the other hand, has been a bit of an enigma. His speed and explosiveness generated a buzz and his performance on tape is outstanding. But injuries have plagued him during his time at Eastern Washington, leaving many teams concerned. As a mid-round pick, Jones could be the sleeper of the draft and if he stays healthy, he could make an immediate impact in the NFL.

McShay has Jones going to the Green Bay Packers with the 31st pick in the third round. The Packers need an immediate boost to their run game and Jones could be an excellent change-of-pace back. With Aaron Rodgers at the helm, Jones would be in the best-possible position, in addition to joining the reigning Super Bowl champions.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

NFL Draft 2011: First Round Start Time, TV Schedule And Live Coverage

With the 2011 NFL Draft just hours away, it’s time to figure out just how to watch and track the draft. In addition to two network television broadcasts, both on cable, there will be plenty of online coverage and analysis at the click of a button. With a ton of information to process, we’ll be working to parse all the latest news while doling out analysis throughout the first round.

Here is the schedule and TV information for Thursday’s first round.

Start time and schedule: It’s going to be a long night in New York as the draft coverage begins at 5 p.m. PDT. Each team is allotted 10 minutes to make their pick, and those 10 minutes will be exhausted if the past is any indication. We’re looking at five hours of coverage on Thursday alone, with two more days of wall-to-wall coverage to come. More on the schedule can be found here.

TV information: The two primary broadcasts can be found on ESPN and NFL Network. You can see the picks come in as they’re announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, as well as quick analysis of the players on each broadcast. Watch one or both at the same time to get a fill of draft coverage.

Live coverage: As a supplement to the broadcasts, there’s plenty of online coverage to be found. Here at SB Nation Seattle, we’ll be covering the Seattle Seahawks and the local prospects in the draft, namely Jake Locker during Thursday’s first round. For a national look, check out SB Nation’s 2011 NFL Draft hub.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

NFL Draft 2011: Positional Needs For Seattle Seahawks

There are two schools of thought when it comes to draft: Pick the best-available player or draft for need. At its most basic level, this is the primary decision a team must make. And with the structure of the NFL Draft, teams err on the side of drafting the best available player at the position of most needs when it comes to the early portion of the draft. To understand how a team may draft, one must understand where it needs help, and which positions are strengths and weaknesses.

With that in mind, let's take one last look at the Seahawks positional needs.

Defensive line: Brandon Mebane is a restricted free agent this offseason and the Seahawks defensive line needs serious help, especially against the run. Chris Clemons was solid on the outside and Red Bryant has a chance to be a solid contributor, but the interior line is a mess right now. Colin Cole and Kentwan Balmer can play the position, but are far from a strength for Seattle. Outside of those two, it's a scrap-heap and Seattle needs to fill the void through the draft to at least get a start of patching up a line that was consistently gashed in 2010.

Linebacker: Seattle has a need here, but I'm not seeing a clear-cut prospect that may be around and is worth the value near the end of the first round. Lofa Tatupu has fallen off a cliff recently, thanks in part to injuries. Aaron Curry has been perplexing, to say the least, but still has youth on his side. Still, one has to wonder if he'll ever completely figure it out and live-up to the expectations that came with where he was drafted. David Hawthorne is also in the mix, but the position is thin and leaves much to be desired.

Offensive line: The Seahawks rushing "attack" struck fear in the heart of nobody in 2010 and it all starts up-front. Russell Okung appears to be the left tackle of the future, barring any more health setbacks, but the rest of the line is thin. Seattle could use another bookend -- the space currently occupied by Sean Locklear -- and could also use interior help. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Seahawks draft a guard or center with the No. 25 pick with hopes of boosting a run-game that's been nothing short of anemic.

Quarterback: Matt Hasselbeck's contract status is still in limbo, leaving the Seahawks with Charlie Whitehurst and little else on the roster. With Hasselbeck near the end of his career and Whitehurst looking like no more than a backup, the Seahawks need a quarterback of the future and, perhaps, the present. The NFL lockout has squashed any chance of Seattle making a trade or acquiring a more proven signal-caller this offseason, and the draft may be the Seahawks only chance at finding a capable quarterback -- even with the slim-pickings in this draft class.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

2011 NFL Draft Order: Complete First Round Schedule

With the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft set to get started on Thursday evening, it's time for one last look at the NFL Draft order. Consider this the calm before the storm, and the order is subject to change at any moment. Every year, we see a flurry of trades as teams try to move up, down and all around the draft in an effort to secure the best players possible.

As a reminder, the 2011 NFL Draft is under a unique set of rules. With no collective bargaining agreement in place, trades may only involve draft picks. Where last year the Seahawks traded for Leon Washington and others, this year teams will only be swapping positions in this draft and future drafts.

Here is the order, determined by regular season record. Teams that made the playoffs move to the back of the line, then were ordered by playoff exit and regular season records.

1 (1) Carolina Panthers
2 (2) Denver Broncos
3 (3) Buffalo Bills
4 (4) Cincinnati Bengals
5 (5) Arizona Cardinals
6 (6) Cleveland Browns
7 (7) San Francisco 49ers
8 (8) Tennessee Titans
9 (9) Dallas Cowboys
10 (10) Washington Redskins
11 (11) Houston Texans
12 (12) Minnesota Vikings
13 (13) Detroit Lions
14 (14) St. Louis Rams
15 (15) Miami Dolphins
16 (16) Jacksonville Jaguars
17 (17) New England Patriots (via Oakland Raiders)
18 (18) San Diego Chargers
19 (19) New York Giants
20 (20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
21 (21) Kansas City Chiefs
22 (22) Indianapolis Colts
23 (23) Philadelphia Eagles
24 (24) New Orleans Saints
25 (25) Seattle Seahawks
26 (26) Baltimore Ravens
27 (27) Atlanta Falcons
28 (28) New England Patriots
29 (29) Chicago Bears
30 (30) New York Jets
31 (31) Pittsburgh Steelers
32 (32) Green Bay Packers

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

NFL Draft Rumors: Seattle Seahawks Looking To Trade, Perhaps With New England Patriots

The Seattle Seahawks are in a tough spot with the 25th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and may be looking to unload it. But the Seahawks do not want to trade up and are, instead, exploring options to move down to near the end of the first round or out of the round entirely. As it stands, the players expected to be available at No. 25 don’t provide a ton of value and Seattle could flip the pick in the scramble that is the end of the first round.

On Thursday, word leaked indicating the New England Patriots may be looking to move up in the draft. As of now, the Patriots hold the No. 28 pick, but are reportedly trying to leap-frog the Baltimore Ravens, who hold the No. 26 pick. And which team sits right in front of the Ravens? None other than the Seattle Seahawks

SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit lays out the options for the Patriots and what the smoke signals indicating a trade may mean. Either New England is serious about moving up, or Bill Belichick is doing his due-diligence and exploring all options.

I think option 2 is the more likely scenario, but because the report is from Schefter, I have to give it some weight. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots trade up three or four spots from 28 overall (like up to the Seahawks at #25, a team Schefter says is looking to trade down), but also don’t be surprised if the Patriots trade down again.

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if this was Belichick playing head games, but there could be an ounce of truth to this. Belichick is known for his tricks and is especially shrewd when it comes to the draft. But, for the Seahawks sake, let’s hope this one is true. A trade with the Patriots would keep Seattle in the first round — bumping the Seahawks from No. 25 to No. 28 — and would give the ’Hawks the added benefit of a late-round pick.

We’ll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday’s first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

NFL Draft 2011: Pete Carroll's Clues Keep Getting Stranger

NFL Draft 2011: Start Time And Schedule For Thursday's First Round

The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday evening, the beginning of a three-day draft extravaganza. It's an exciting, but draining, event for those who plan to follow the action all weekend long, with plenty of analysis to go along with the picks themselves. Before it gets started, we have the schedule and TV information for Thursday's first round, which comes to you live and in prime-time.

Here's a quick guide to Thursday's first round coverage.

Start time: The broadcast gets underway at 5 p.m. PDT on ESPN. NFL Network will also have coverage of the event. But there is a bit of a lag between the start of the broadcast and the first pick. The Carolina Panthers will be put on the clock at 5:04 p.m. and the first pick should come in just moments before 5:15 p.m.

Schedule: Each team will have 10 minutes to make their pick during the first round. Why 10 minutes? It's simple, and has little to do with a team making up its mind. On one hand, teams can use those 10 minutes to shop their picks and try to work a trade. But, in reality, the time is set aside for analysts to breakdown the picks and spend time scrutinizing every pick in the draft.

TV information: ESPN and NFL Network will have the broadcast again. NFL Network typically has the edge on ESPN, both in on-air talent and quality. But it's up to you to decide which to watch. Or flip back and forth between the two!

We'll be covering the latest news and rumors ahead of Thursday's first round in our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream. Stay with us throughout the day for more on the draft as it becomes available. Check out our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream and our Jake Locker StoryStream for even more predictions and projections.

NFL Draft 2011: Live First Round Coverage Begins At 5 P.M. On ESPN

The 2011 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday in prime-time from Radio City Music Hall in New York. The NFL Draft will be a three-day event again this year, with the first round set to take place Thursday, the second and third rounds set for Friday and the final four rounds scheduled for Saturday. For NFL fans, it's Christmas in April as all the buildup and speculation comes to an end and teams announce their selections to the world.

The Seattle Seahawks pick 25th on Thursday by virtue of their second-round NFL playoff exit. But with the draft just hours away, we still don't have a clue what Pete Carroll and John Schneider will do with pick No. 25. There have been reports the Seahawks are trying to trade down and the team has also been linked to just about every prospect projected to go in the mid- to late-first round.

Throughout the day, we'll be tracking the latest news and rumors as they relate to the Seahawks draft day moves, be it trade speculation, firm player projections or any other draft-related notes. The beginning of the NFL Draft is a hectic time, so we'll be here to parse the information and get it out as quickly as possible. But we're not alone.

For the Seahawks' side of things, Danny Kelly has been doing phenomenal work at Field Gulls. Kelly has been tracking the Seahawks ahead of the draft and is all caught-up to speed on where the team stands ahead of Thursday's first round. SB Nation's Mocking the Draft has also gone to great lengths to give readers a solid foundation to work with for the draft. Finally, SB Nation will be tracking all the action on the 2011 NFL Draft hub.

We'll be back with more draft day news as the day progresses. Stay with our 2011 NFL Draft StoryStream for up-to-the-minute news as the Seahawks prepare to make their pick.