What to know about the 2024 NFL Draft schedule as the Bears prepare for the No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks

What to know about the 2024 NFL Draft schedule as the Bears prepare for the No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago

All signs point to the Bears selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick when the 2024 NFL Draft finally starts on April 25th. But even though the entire world apparently knows what will happen at the top of the board, the pick may not be official at 7 p.m. when the draft begins. This is because the Bears have a certain period of time “on the clock” to deliver their draft card and make the choice official.

Here’s what you need to know about the timing of the NFL draft.

HOW MUCH TIME DOES EACH NFL TEAM HAVE TO PICK UP IN THE NFL DRAFT?

The amount of time NFL teams have to decide their picks varies by round. In the first round, each team has 10 minutes per choice. From then on, the league accelerated. Teams have seven minutes per pick in round two, then five minutes per pick in rounds three through six. In the seventh round, teams will only have four minutes to make their choices. As soon as a team hands its draft pick card to an NFL running back, the clock resets for the next pick.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A TEAM RUN OUT OF TIME BEFORE MAKING THE DRAFT PICK?

If a team allows the clock to expire without making a pick, the next team in line will have the opportunity to turn in their card for the next pick. However, the team that ran out of time does not completely lose the choice. They can still make their choice later whenever they hand over their card.

HOW LONG IS THE NFL Draft?

The draft lasts three days, starting on Thursday, April 25th and ending on Saturday, April 27th. The first round takes place on Thursday night. The second and third rounds will be on Friday. The draft ends with a marathon on Saturday as NFL teams advance from rounds four through seven.

HOW MANY PICKS DO THE BEARS HAVE IN THE 2024 NFL DRAFT?

As things stand, the Bears have four selections this year: the No. 1, 9, 75 and 122 picks.

The Poles got this year’s No. 1 overall pick in the deal that sent last year’s No. 1 overall pick to Carolina. He acquired the No. 122 overall pick from Philadelphia when they traded places with the Bears last year to draft Jalen Carter. The Bears ended up with Darnell Wright after that move.

The Bears’ second-round pick belongs to the Commanders thanks to the move that brought Montez Sweat to Chicago. The Chargers have their fourth-round pick due to the Keenan Allen trade. The Bears sent their fifth-round pick to Buffalo for versatile interior lineman Ryan Bates and their sixth-round pick to Miami for fellow interior lineman Dan Feeney. In 2022, the Bears traded their seventh-round pick to the Dolphins for wide receiver N’Keal Harry.

The Poles are no strangers to trading draft picks, so their list of selections could change at any time between now and the end of the draft.

WHAT IS THE 2024 NFL DRAFT PICKING ORDER?

Here is the exact order of the first round of this year’s draft. As mentioned above, this order can change at any time during a trade.

1. Bears (via CAR)

2. Commanders

3. Patriots

4. Cardinals

5. Chargers

6. Giants

7. Titans

8. Falcons

9. Bears

10. Jets

11. Vikings

12. Broncos

13. Invaders

14. Santos

15. Colts

16. Seahawks

17. Jaguars

18. Walking sticks

19. Rams

20. thieves

21. Dolphins

22. Eagles

23. Vikings (via CLE)

24. Cowboys

25. Packers

26. Buccaneers

27. Cardinals (via HOU)

28. Accounts

29. Lions

30. Crows

31. 49ers

32. Bosses

Click here to follow the Under Center Podcast.