NFL Draft 2021 In Cleveland: What To Know, Where To Watch

CLEVELAND — The 2021 NFL Draft starts Thursday in Cleveland.

The draft will be held across three days, concluding Saturday. During the high-profile event, world-famous actors, athletes and musicians will descend on Cleveland. Cameras will whirl around downtown, spotlighting the city's landmarks and chic neighborhoods.

TV coverage of the event will kick off Thursday evening. At 6 p.m., some of the athletes expecting to be selected during the draft will walk a red carpet into the Main Stage. Kings of Leon will perform at about 7:40 p.m.; and Ann Wilson, of Heart fame, will perform the national anthem. The first round of the NFL draft will begin at 8 p.m.

On Friday, round two of the NFL Draft will begin at 7 p.m. When round three concludes, Grammy-nominated band the Black Pumas will perform for the crowd.

On Saturday, the NFL draft will resume at noon, moving through rounds four through seven. Machine Gun Kelly will perform when the draft finishes at about at 6:30 p.m.

A massive covered stage was built on the lakefront, near FirstEnergy Stadium, the Rock Hall and the Great Lakes Science Center. Due to the continued threat of COVID-19, the Main Stage will be open air, allowing for continuous airflow through the structure.

All three days of the NFL Draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, ESPN and ABC. The first two nights of the draft will receive prime-time coverage on Thursday and Friday.

When the Browns pick:

• First round: No. 26
• Second round: No. 59
• Third round: No. 89 and No. 91
• Fourth round: No. 110 and No. 132
• Fifth round: No. 169
• Sixth round: No. 211
• Seventh round: No. 257

Road closures:

Several road closures began Wednesday evening and will continue through Sunday morning.

Here are the planned closures:

• Route 2 west from I-90 west is closed at Dead Man's Curve
  • Anyone driving into Cleveland from the east side should use one of the following exits: Superior/St. Clair, Chester, or Prospect.
• The E. 9th Street exit from Route 2 west is closed.
• The W. 3rd exit from Route 2 west is closed.
• Lakeside/W.6th and E. 9th and the Municipal Lot exits are closed along Route 2 east.
• West and East Mall Drive are closed.
• E. 9th from Lakeside to North Marginal is closed.
• W. 3rd, from north of the Route 2 overpass, is closed.

There will also be a parking ban in Cleveland, which will continue through 4 a.m. Sunday. All downtown construction projects have been temporarily paused.