The city of Philadelphia is the frontrunner to host the 2017 NFL Draft, according to sources that spoke to an ESPN insider.
In just one day, the NFL will hold its yearly selection draft in front of thousands of fans. For the second straight year, the event will be held in Chicago. After the league held its previous 50 drafts in New York City, the move to Chicago two years ago signaled what looks to be an ongoing road show for the draft.
For the 2017 edition, it appears that the NFL is not going to be returning to the Windy City, but will instead head to the City of Brotherly Love, where the always-supportive Philadelphia sports fans will have a chance to enjoy the moment:
Philadelphia has emerged as leading candidate to host 2017 NFL Draft, per sources. NFL considering Philly, LA - neither has a 1 next year.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2016
Philadelphia was actually the site of the first NFL Draft before the 1936 season, and has hosted 11 since, the last one before the 1961 season.
The league has also been taking bids for the NFL Drafts that will be held during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, with Los Angeles the reported frontrunner for at least one of those (with Denver reportedly bidding for the 2019 NFL Draft).
The 2016 NFL Draft will get underway on Thursday at 8 p.m. The Los Angeles Rams, after trading with the Tennessee Titans, will have the first pick as they prepare for their return to the City of Angels for the first time since the 1994 season.
The Rams are expected to pick either quarterback Jared Goff or quarterback Carson Wentz, with the Philadelphia Eagles (who traded up to the number two pick) likely to select the other.
For more NFL Draft news, check out our NFL Draft hub page.