National Football League

AP source: NFL to announce that 2017 draft headed to Philly

Published Aug. 31, 2016 7:22 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK (AP) The NFL will announce Thursday that the 2017 draft will be held in Philadelphia, a person with direct knowledge of the announcements tells The Associated Press.

The person spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the league has not made an official announcement of the move.

After two years in Chicago, the draft has become a traveling show. Philadelphia beat out several other locations eager to stage the proceedings.

For decades, the draft was held in New York, but scheduling issues for 2015 and a strong bid from Chicago led to it being moved. The draft traditionally is held on the final Thursday-Saturday of April, which would be April 28-30 in 2017.

The first three rounds are held in prime time, with the opening round on Thursday, the second and third rounds on Friday. The final four rounds take place Saturday afternoon.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL