NFL draft 2018: TV channels, schedule, draft order, Eagles projections and a parrot

The nuts and bolts for this year's NFL draft, which is taking place at AT&T Stadium – home of the Dallas Cowboys. It includes the television schedule, draft order, a picture of a macaw and a link to a fine piece about the very first draft, which was held in Center City.

Round 1: Thursday, 8 p.m. ET

TV: NFL Network/Fox, ESPN

Time per pick: 10 minutes

Rounds 2 and 3: Friday, 7 p.m. ET

TV: NFL Network/Fox, ESPN (7-8 p.m.), ESPN2 (8 p.m.-conclusion)

Time per pick in Round 2: 7 minutes

Time per pick in Round 3: 5 minutes

Rounds 4-7: Saturday, Noon ET

TV: NFL Network, ESPN/ABC

Time per pick in Rounds 4-6: 5 minutes

Time per pick in Round 7: 4 minutes

Note: Fox will simulcast the NFL Network's coverage the first two days. ABC will simulcast ESPN's coverage on the final day.

[Relive the Eagles' Super Bowl championship season with our limited edition commemorative book]

[ Jeff McLane: are the Eagles looking at RB? ]

[ Who are the most likely candidates from the Eagles' roster to be traded during the draft? ]

As of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday

*Eagles' 2018 opponent (L.A. Rams, Houston do not have first-round picks)

[ Full draft order, team-by-team picks and prospects by school ]

Projections via various mock drafts as of Tuesday

[ Paul Domowitch's 50 best prospects in this year's draft ]

A look at where the experts think Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey (Penn Charter) and Maryland wide receiver D.J. Moore (Imhotep) will be taken:

[ Juliano: Saquon Barkley is ready to fulfill his dream ]

[Fitzy's corner archives: Saquon Barkley's journey to stardom]

[Zach Berman: McGlinchey would definitely welcome getting drafted by his hometown Eagles]

[Archives: Midseason feature story on Maryland's D.J. Moore, "the next best thing out of Philly']

• The NFL Network will feature Penn State's record-setting wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton and his relationship with his autistic older brother. Fox will simulcast the first two days of NFLN's coverage.

• Zsa Zsa, an 8-year-old Catalina Macaw, will announce the Buccaneers fourth-round pick. Being a parrot, bet she picks a player from Cal-State Polly (groan).

• Sean Chandler, Temple's only participant at February's NFL Combine, is a local kid who just needs a chance.

• The first NFL draft, in 1936, was held in a swanky Philadelphia hotel at Broad & Walnut – where the Wawa now is. Deep in our archives is Frank Fitzpatrick's wonderful report which notes that, while the original draft was groundbreaking, there was plenty of liquor and even more flaws. Bear Bryant was among those selected that year … and among those who declined to sign an NFL contract.

• The website SportsBettingDime.com notes the consensus line for number of Penn State players drafted is 7.5. Only Alabama (10.5), Georgia (8.5) and Ohio State (8.5) have higher lines.

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Home teams in caps

[ Our beat writers pick the Eagles' 2018 wins and losses ]

Flex scheduling

• "Flexible scheduling" will be used in Weeks 11-17. During Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used, but in no more than two weeks.

In Weeks 5-16, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to the evening, in which case the tentatively scheduled night game would be moved to the afternoon. A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game.

• Flexibility for Saturday games in Weeks 15 and 16 is also part of the schedule. In Week 15, there will be two games played on Saturday on NFL Network, with the game times of 4:30 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. to be determined. In Week 16, two of four possible matchups will be scheduled for Saturday. Start times and Saturday games for Weeks 15 and 16 will be announced no later than following Week 8, with the non-Saturday games to be played on Sunday.

• For Week 17, the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to December 30. The schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives "surprise" teams a chance to play their way into primetime.

• Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday or Monday nights.