The 2026 NFL Draft, one of many league’s hallmark occasions, will get underway Thursday night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
It marks the unofficial begin of the brand new season, when all 32 groups, buoyed by their hopeful followers, are available with a contemporary slate and a possibility to deal with their rosters’ largest weaknesses.
When is the NFL Draft begin time?
The NFL Draft and its festivities start at roughly 8 p.m. EDT Thursday.
Pittsburgh native KELS is slated to sing the nationwide anthem, and the James Weldon Johnson Basis’s Nationwide Hymn Choir, that includes The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, will carry out “Elevate Each Voice and Sing.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who declares all 32 alternatives of Spherical 1, will make introductory feedback earlier than the draft itself kicks off. The NFL has mentioned that alternatives for Rounds 2 and three will likely be introduced by present and former stars.
Barring any stunning last-minute trades, the Las Vegas Raiders will likely be first on the board with the No. 1 total choose. As soon as on the clock, groups will every have eight minutes to make their alternatives within the first spherical — down from earlier years, once they had 10 minutes.
In Spherical 2, groups could have seven minutes to decide on their gamers, and through Rounds 3-6, they are going to be allotted 5 minutes.
In Spherical 7, groups have solely 4 minutes to make their alternatives.
In complete, 257 gamers will likely be chosen over the seven rounds. The participant chosen final is given the moniker “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Vera Nieuwenhuis / AP
What is the schedule for every spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft?
The NFL Draft is held over three days, from Thursday, April 23, by means of Saturday, April 25.
Spherical 1 will happen Thursday night, with protection getting underway at 8 p.m. EDT.
Rounds 2 and three will likely be held Friday, with alternatives starting at 7 p.m. EDT.
Rounds 4 by means of 7 will happen Saturday, with picks beginning at 12 p.m. EDT.
How will you watch the 2026 NFL Draft on cable?
All three days of the NFL Draft will likely be accessible to observe on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Community.
The place are you able to stream the 2026 NFL Draft?
The NFL Draft could be watched on a number of streaming platforms, together with the ABC App, the ESPN app, NFL+ and Hulu+ Reside TV. It’s going to even be accessible on reside TV streaming apps, together with YouTube TV and Fubo TV.
The place is the 2026 NFL Draft going down?
For the primary time since 1948, the NFL Draft is being held in Pittsburgh, hometown of the Steelers, one of many league’s most iconic and winningest franchises.
The draft will happen at Acrisure Stadium, whereas the NFL’s interactive fan competition will happen simply throughout the Allegheny River at Level State Park.
The NFL is anticipating lots of of hundreds of followers to attend over the course of the draft. The league estimated that 600,000 individuals attended the 2025 NFL Draft in Inexperienced Bay over its three days.
