In a nutshell - your fitness, your skills, your character. Players are assessed during physical tests, interviews and medicals at the NFL Combine, pro days and team visits.

But this year's pre-draft activities have been hampered by coronavirus restrictions.

"Health is a big issue," said Osi Umenyiora. "You want a guy who's durable because of the rigours of the NFL. Some people come in and may be jerks so they'd get downgraded, but some show a sense of leadership, which teams really value.

"It's also down to your tape and how well you work out. Some guys look really good players but their draft stock goes down because they didn't test as well."

This one was expected, though. The Arizona Cardinals select Isaiah Simmons, a linebacker from Clemson.

So the New York Giants going for Andrew Thomas has left Jedrick Wills on the board. Many mock drafts had the Giants going for the former Alabama offensive tackle with that fourth pick.

It's Derrick Brown, a defensive tackle from Auburn, for the Panthers.

Now the Carolina Panthers, rebuilding after releasing quarterback Cam Newton, are on the clock.

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback

The Patriots aren't going to move up [from 23rd] to get a quarterback, that's just not what they do. If Jordan Love falls to them then maybe they'll go for him but they've got other needs to fill.

They might have their eye on someone we'll never know about because the Patriots do not talk. Their scouts know the traits that [head coach] Bill Belichick is looking for and can identify people that would fit their needs and their organisation.

That's why the draft is so fascinating. These are the moves that teams can make. I remember a guy called Tom they drafted in the sixth round and he did all right!

It must be the best draft pick ever. Seven quarterbacks had already been selected in 2000 when, deep in the sixth round, the New England Patriots chose Tom Brady with the 199th pick.

Twenty years and six Super Bowl wins later, Brady, 42, has joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so the Pats go into the draft with Jarrett Stidham (last year's 133th pick) and veteran Brian Hoyer as their only QBs.

"From everything I've heard, they have a lot of confidence in Stidham," said Osi Umenyiora. "I think they're going to sit pretty and see what happens next year."

Justin Herbert was seen as the next best quarterback in the draft and the Los Angeles Chargers needed one after letting veteran Philip Rivers move on.

The Chargers select the former Oregon QB.

No, the Miami Dolphins needed a quarterback and have put their faith in Tua Tagovailoa (btw, pronounced Tung-ovailoa)

He wasn't ready to perform at the NFL Combine, and although he produced a video from his own pro day, he couldn't do any physical test or medicals with teams due to the lockdown.

But no physicals, no matter. Miami have seen enough. They're giving the young lad from Hawaii a go.

Aaron Rodgers was a big faller in the 2005 draft, and if anyone slips in this year's draft it could be Tua Tagovailoa.

After leading Alabama to the national championship in 2017 the quarterback from Hawaii was tipped for the Heisman Trophy last season but suffered a dislocated hip last November and has only just recovered.

Image source, Getty Images

Blimey, do we have a beard-off in the offing?

Now then, didn't see Andrew Thomas going this early on any mock drafts.

The New York Giants select the offensive tackle from Georgia.

Some protection for young quarterback Daniel Jones, who has succeeded Eli Manning after being drafted sixth last year.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor suggests there were offers from teams to trade up for that first pick.

The Detroit Lions needed a cornerback after trading Darius Slay... and there's no surprise here, they've gone for Jeff Okudah, who's also out of Ohio State.

Jonathon: Keen to see where players I’ve drafted on Madden NFL end up. That’ll be Simmons and Chaisson.

I think most mock drafts have Simmons going in the top 10. Chaisson a little later.

As expected, the Washington Redskins select former Ohio State defensive end Chase Young with the second pick.

The Washington Redskins are now on the clock. New coach Ron Rivera is a defensively-minded coach and is expected to go for edge pass rusher Chase Young.

In the first round teams have 10 minutes to make their selection.

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback

It will not solve all Cincinnati's problems but in this day and age the quarterback is the prized position. It's what makes or breaks you. You have to have an elite quarterback if you want to win in the play-offs and go for a Super Bowl push.

I'm OK with a quarterback who believes in himself because when he's out there on the field and all the pressure's coming at him, and he has to make the big plays, he better believe in himself, he better believe he's great. That gives him a bit of an edge and, from that position, other players feed off that, they will follow, because usually the quarterback's the leader.

And Joe Burrow's been smart by making demands about AJ Green staying because he's an elite receiver and when you're a quarterback you want to know you have those kind of targets. He's been trying to convey confidence and that's what you want to see out of a young, rookie quarterback coming into the NFL, where there's a lot of lions ready to jump on you.

And with the first pick of the 2020 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.