NFL Full Schedule 2022/23 - Important Date Release, Top Games, Opponents and More

NFL Full Schedule 2022 - 2023 - NFL Important Dates

When is the expected release of the 2022 NFL regular season schedule, when will the season start, and what do we already know right now?

Each teams plays a 17-game regular season following the annual three-game exhibition. Here's how the NFL set up the schedule for the year ahead. Home, away opponents for all 32 teams.

The 2022 NFL Schedule is scheduled to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 8 with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams hosting a team to be determined at 8:20pm ET on NBC.

The complete 2022 NFL Schedule will be released in late April or early May 2022.

2022 NFL Schedule Release Date to be Confirmed

The 2022 NFL season may still be a few months away, but the offseason always rolls on at a tremendous pace. It won’t be long until we are looking at the season on the horizon once again. Part of that build-up is the release of the 2022 NFL regular-season schedule. The NFL has recently moved that schedule release date to after the draft, and it’s almost become an event all of its own. Let’s take a look at when we might expect the schedule to be released in 2022 and what we know so far.

As it stands at the beginning of March, we do not know the release date of the NFL schedule for the 2022 season. However, based on the release date from last year, we can very much take an educated guess. In 2021, the schedule was released on May 12. That was 12 days after the NFL Draft concluded on May 1.

If the NFL follows the same pattern, that will make the date of the schedule release May 11 this year. Wednesday has tended to be the NFL’s day of choice for offseason events in recent years. Therefore, if the schedule release remains in May, we can expect it to be either May 11, 18, or 25. There is a slim chance that it could be May 4, but that would then merge into the post-draft coverage.

When does the 2022/23 NFL season start?

The 2022 NFL season will begin on Thursday, September 8. If the NFL sticks to tradition, the 2022 season will begin where the 2021 season concluded — SoFi Stadium. Traditionally, the Super Bowl winners host that opening game. However, the NFL has broken from that tradition in exceptional circumstances.

Correspondingly, the 2022 NFL season is scheduled to finish on February 12, 2023. Super Bowl 57 will be hosted at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

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What can we expect from the 2022/23 NFL schedule release?

There are a few things of note about the 2022 NFL schedule. As discussed, we expect the Rams to host the NFL Kickoff Game on September 8. We then know that the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and Jacksonville Jaguars will play one of their home games in London. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play in Germany, and the Arizona Cardinals will play in Mexico.

There is also an interesting scheduling quirk late in the 2022 NFL season. This year, both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Sunday. Therefore, it’s expected that to avoid playing a full slate of games on Christmas Day, the 2022 NFL schedule release will have the main slate of games played on Saturday, December 24, with one or two games played on Christmas Day. In contrast, New Year’s Day will see the NFL play a traditional Sunday slate.

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What is the standard process for setting the NFL schedule?

Even though we will not know the exact 2022 NFL schedule until the official release date, we know which teams will face one another. The NFL has a structure set in place for deciding which teams match up each year. A team plays six games against their divisional opponents, one at home and one on the road.

Another four games are played against the teams in another division within the same conference. Additionally, each team plays four games against a division in the opposing conference. These have a rotation yearly across a three-year cycle.

Here is how the 2022 schedule rotation looks:

• AFC East opponents:
  • NFC North & AFC North
• AFC North opponents:
  • NFC South & AFC East
• AFC South opponents:
  • NFC East & AFC West
• AFC West opponents:
  • NFC West & AFC South
• NFC East opponents:
  • AFC South & NFC North
• NFC North opponents:
  • AFC East & NFC East
• NFC South opponents:
  • AFC North & NFC West
• NFC West opponents:
  • AFC West & NFC South

The remaining two games on the traditional 16-game schedule will see each team face the other two teams within the conference that finished in the same place in the division as them in 2021. So, for example, the Arizona Cardinals will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings.

The NFC will host nine home games each this year

The 2021 NFL regular season saw the introduction of the 17-game season. As part of that procedure, the NFL put in place a rotating schedule where the AFC teams will host an extra game in odd years, and the NFC hosting in even years. Therefore, the 2022 NFL schedule will have nine home games for each of the 16 NFC teams — unless they are hosting a game internationally.

Additionally, the 17th game schedule is done on a rotating divisional basis. For example, the NFC West will host the AFC East in 2022, after traveling to the AFC North in 2021. Each team will face the team that finished in the same spot as them in the corresponding division. Therefore, the Rams will face the Bills, the Cardinals will face the Patriots, the 49ers will face the Dolphins, and the Seahawks will face the Jets.

The full divisional rotation is AFC East at NFC West, AFC West at NFC South, AFC South at NFC North, and AFC North at NFC East. Let’s take a look at the full list of “17th games” for the 2022 NFL schedule.

• Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
• New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals
• Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers
• New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks
• Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers
• Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings
• Houston Texans at Chicago Bears
• Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions
• Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
• Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons
• Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers
• Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
• Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
• Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders
• Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants

The 2022/23 NFL schedule will have five international games

As mentioned above, we already know that five regular-season games in 2022 will be played outside of the US. The league will return to London with three games, after hosting just two there last year. Additionally, after a two-year hiatus, Mexico will also host another game this year. Previously, the Estadio Azteca had hosted three games in four seasons between 2016 and 2019.

The 2022 NFL schedule will also see the league head to Germany for the first time. For the past decade, there has been plenty of discussion about expanding the NFL International Series into Germany. However, the league is finally set to take the plunge in 2022, with a further four games planned in the next four years.

NFL football schedule: 2022 opponents

— Home, away games against three division teams

— Four teams from another division in its conference on a rotating, four year cycle

— Two intra-conference teams based on the previous season standings

— One inter-conference opponent based on the previous season's standings on a four-year rotating cycle

NFL schedule 2022: AFC East

Buffalo Bills

Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans

Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts

Away: Buffalo Bills,Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers

Miami Dolphins

Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers

Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers

New York Jets

Home: Buffalo Bills,Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars

Away: Buffalo Bills,Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks

NFL Full Schedule 2022: AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins

Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans

Pittsburgh Steelers

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles

Cleveland Browns

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders

Baltimore Ravens

Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins

Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Full Schedule 2022: AFC South

Tennessee Titans

Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants

Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders

Indianapolis Colts

Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders

Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, New England Patriots

Houston Texans

Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders

Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants

Jacksonville Jaguars

Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants

Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders

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NFL Full Schedule 2022: AFC West

2022 NFL football full schedule

Kansas City Chiefs

Home: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans

Away: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Las Vegas Raiders

Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers

Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans

Los Angeles Chargers

Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins

Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers

Denver Broncos

Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers

Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans

NFL Full Schedule 2022: NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans

Philadelphia Eagles

Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans

Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

Washington Commanders

Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans

Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers

New York Giants NFL schedule

Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans

NFL schedule 2022: NFC North

Green Bay Packers

Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans

Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders

Minnesota Vikings

Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets

Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders

Chicago Bears

Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers

Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets

Detroit Lions

Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders

Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets

NFL Full Schedule 2022: NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks

Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers

New Orleans Saints

Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks

Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers

Atlanta Falcons

Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers

Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders

Carolina Panthers NFL schedule

Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers

Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks

NFL schedule 2022: NFC West

Los Angeles Rams

Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders

Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Arizona Cardinals

Home: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Away: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders

Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders

Seattle Seahawks

Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, New York Jets

Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The NFL schedule for 2021-2022 is projected to be released Wednesday, May 12th 2021 at 8 PM EST with the schedule release show on NFL Network. Typically, ESPN.com, CBSSports.com & USAToday.com have the first internet publication of the schedule. The first dowloadable, printable PDF schedules are typically published by ESPN or NFL.com. 2021-2022 NFL ticket sales are first available on Vividseats.com. The preseason schedule is typically released 10 days to two weeks in advance of the regular season schedule. The release date varies based on scheduling, matchups & the start of the NFL free agency period.

2022 NFL IMPORTANT DATES
2022
January
Jan. 8-9	Week 18.
Jan. 10	Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted rookie who was selected in any round of the 2019 College Draft or any undrafted rookie who signed in 2020. Any permissible renegotiated or extended player contract will not be considered a rookie contract, and will not be subject to the rules that limit rookie contracts.
Option exercise period begins for fifth-year option for first-round selections from the 2019 College Draft. To exercise the option, the club must give written notice to the player on or after January 10, 2022, but prior to May 3, 2022 (i.e., not later than May 2).
Jan. 15-16	Wild Card Playoff Games.
Jan. 17	Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility. A list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2022 College Draft will be sent to clubs on January 21.
Jan. 22	NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California.
Jan. 22-23	Divisional Playoff Games.
Jan. 28	HBCU Combine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama.
Jan. 30	AFC and NFC Championship Games.
February
Feb. 3	East-West Shrine Bowl, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Feb. 5	Senior Bowl, Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama.
Feb. 6	NFL Pro Bowl, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Feb. 13	Super Bowl LVI, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California.
Feb. 19	HBCU Legacy Bowl, Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana.
March
Mar. 1-7	NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mar. 8	Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
Mar. 14-16	During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 14 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 16, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2021 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 16.
During the above two-day negotiating period, a prospective UFA who is not represented by an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor is permitted to communicate directly with a new club’s front office officials (excluding the head coach and other members of the club’s coaching staff) regarding contract negotiations.
No prospective unrestricted free agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 16.
Mar. 16	The 2022 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
The first day of the 2022 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 16. Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the League office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 16.
Mar. 16	Trading period for 2022 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2021 contracts.
Mar. 27-30	Annual League Meeting, The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida.
April
April 4	Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2021 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.
April 18	Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs
April 20	Deadline to bring draft-eligible players to their facilities for a physical examination.
April 22	Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 27	Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to restricted free agents.
April 27	Deadline to time, test, and interview draft-eligible players.
April 28-30	NFL Draft, Las Vegas, Nevada.