Philadelphia picked to host 2017 NFL Draft

Philadelphia has been named host of the 2017 NFL Draft.

It will mark the first time that the City of Brotherly Love will be the headquarters for the popular draft since 1961. The draft is slated to be held April 27-29.

“Philadelphia is a passionate football town and will serve as a tremendous backdrop for the draft and provide a great atmosphere for our fans and incoming players,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “(Philadelphia Eagles owner) Jeffrey Lurie has been a strong advocate and supporter of the draft on behalf of the City of Philadelphia throughout the entire selection process.”

While there will be plenty of pomp and excitement for the return of the draft after a 56-year absence, one thing that will apparently be missing is the Eagles drafting in the first round. Philadelphia currently doesn’t possess a first-round selection after dealing it to the Cleveland Browns in order to select quarterback Carson Wentz second overall in the 2016 draft.

The draft will be set up along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which is home to numerous famed city landmarks, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Philadelphia has a long draft history. The city hosted the first NFL draft in 1936 and also served as the draft site in 1949-50, 1953-54, 1956 (rounds 1-3) and 1957-61.

Chicago hosted the draft the past two years following a 50-year run in New York.

The first round of the 2017 draft will take place on Thursday, April 27. Rounds 2-3 will be held the following day with the final four rounds slated for April 29.

“The NFL draft will be awesome for our city and a real gift for the fans of Philadelphia,” said former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski, the co-chair of the Philadelphia NFL Draft Host Committee. “The NFL will put on an incredible show, and I’m thrilled to work with my co-chair, Ira Lubert, and the entire business community to ensure the draft is a huge success in Philadelphia.”