National Football League

NFL 'looking at' inviting 2nd-rounders to draft

Published Mar. 1, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

The Radio City Music Hall stage may no longer be reserved for just the top prospects in April’s NFL draft.

League spokesman Greg Aiello told FOXSports.com that the league is “looking at” inviting some of the top projected second-round picks to New York City for the second day of the draft on April 23. That would allow the league to potentially showcase such talent as star college quarterbacks Tim Tebow (Florida) and Colt McCoy (Texas) if neither player gets chosen in the first round on April 22.

Under a new format, the draft will now extend for three days. For the first time, the first round will be held in prime-time on a Thursday night. Rounds 2-3 will unfold Friday night, followed by Rounds 4-7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. E.S.T. on April 24.

At least four of the top prospects -- Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Tennessee safety Eric Berry -- are likely to receive invitations to New York City for the draft’s first day. But none of those players have the same allure as Tebow, whose NFL future is this year’s most intriguing pre-draft storyline. Tebow was one of the greatest players in college football history, but questions about whether he can excel in an NFL-style offense or will even remain at quarterback could push him out of the first round.

Agent Jimmy Sexton told FOXSports.com that Tebow hasn’t decided where he will be for the draft. Sexton is optimistic that Tebow will be a first-round pick, especially after receiving a clean bill of medical health from Combine doctors and excelling Sunday in non-throwing drills. Tebow ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds and registered a vertical jump of 38.5 inches, which ties Josh McCown for the highest leap among quarterbacks in Combine history.

The big knock on Tebow is his passing mechanics. Tebow is expected to unveil a new throwing motion March 17 at his on-campus pro day.

McCoy was the winningest starting quarterback in NCAA history with 43 victories and is known for pinpoint accuracy. But questions about his size – he’s 6-foot-1 and ¼ inch -- and arm strength also could bump him into round two.

“I’d like to say I’m 6-4, but this is what God gave me,” McCoy said Saturday at the Combine.

The 2009 NFL draft drew a record 39 million television viewers. The draft was televised on weekends from 1995 through 2009.

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