🏈 When is the NFL Draft? Key Dates & Schedule
When does the NFL draft start? It'll be clear the draft has started when you hear the annual boos raining down upon commissioner Roger Goodell as he takes the stage.
And if you're still unsure, it'll be even more obvious when the Las Vegas Raiders no doubt select Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza with their first overall pick.
What are the details of the event though? Let's break it down.
📅 When does the NFL draft start?
The NFL is continuing what's now the new tradition of rotating the draft festivities to a new city every year. It becomes a party filled with hope and dreams, many of which are later shattered fast, but embrace the good vibes and positivity now.
The event is heading to the North Shore of Pittsburgh this year, with the main stage set up just outside of Acrisure Stadium. Here are the dates and times for each round, and when we'll see the NFL draft odds play out:
- First round: April 23, 8 p.m. ET
- Rounds 2-3: April 24, 7 p.m. ET
- Rounds 4-7: April 25, noon ET
Lock those in as some of the NFL schedule and key dates for the 2026-27 season. Immediately after the draft there's a frenzy to sign undrafted free agents too, with a gem often emerging then.
📋 2026 NFL mock draft
Our NFL draft expert Rob Paul did the first version of his mock draft earlier this month.
It unsurprisingly features Mendoza at No. 1 and then standout pass-rusher Arvell Reese heading to the New York Jets at No. 2. And we don't wait long for the first wideout off the board, with Carnell Tate becoming a member of the Tennessee Titans.
Be sure to read the full breakdown of every pick in his 2026 NFL mock draft.
| Pick | Team | Player, POS | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza, QB | Indiana |
| 2 | New York Jets | Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE | Ohio State |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | Francis Mauigoa, OT | Miami |
| 4 | Tennessee Titans | Carnell Tate, WR | Ohio State |
| 5 | New York Giants | Spencer Fano, OT | Utah |
| 6 | Cleveland Browns | Jordyn Tyson, WR | Arizona State |
| 7 | Washington Commanders | David Bailey, EDGE | Texas Tech |
| 8 | New Orleans Saints | Rueben Bain Jr., DL | Miami |
| 9 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jeremiyah Love, RB | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | Caleb Downs, SAF | Ohio State |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | Mansoor Delane, CB | LSU |
| 12 | Dallas Cowboys | Sonny Styles, LB | Ohio State |
| 13 | Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta) | Jermod McCoy, CB | Tennessee |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Keldric Faulk, DL | Auburn |
| 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Cashius Howell, EDGE | Texas A&M |
| 16 | New York Jets (via Indianapolis) | Makai Lemon, WR | USC |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | Caleb Lomu, OT | Utah |
| 18 | Minnesota Vikings | Avieon Terrell, CB | Clemson |
| 19 | Carolina Panthers | Peter Woods, IDL | Clemson |
| 20 | Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay) | Colton Hood, CB | Tennessee |
| 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | KC Concepcion, WR | Texas A&M |
| 22 | Los Angeles Chargers | Vega Ioane, IOL | Penn State |
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | Kenyon Sadiq, TE | Oregon |
| 24 | Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville) | Kadyn Proctor, OL | Alabama |
| 25 | Chicago Bears | Kayden McDonald, IDL | Ohio State |
| 26 | Buffalo Bills | Denzel Boston, WR | Washington |
| 27 | San Francisco 49ers | Akheem Mesidor, EDGE | Miami |
| 28 | Houston Texans | Monroe Freeling, OT | Georgia |
| 29 | Los Angeles Rams | Ty Simpson, QB | Alabama |
| 30 | Denver Broncos | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF | Toledo |
| 31 | New England Patriots | CJ Allen, LB | Georgia |
| 32 | Seattle Seahawks | Brandon Cisse, CB | South Carolina |
🔢 When are the notable pro days?
NFL front offices already have many of the resources they need to make key decisions and evaluate what direction their teams will take in the upcoming draft.
But there can never be enough when you're trying to either rebuild or reload for another deep playoff run. There are a few more opportunities to analyze the upcoming draft class, including the combine, which runs Feb. 23 to March 2. Dive in further with our NFL draft combine betting guide.
Pro days are ongoing though, and here are the notable schools still yet to hold sessions.
| School | Pro day date |
|---|---|
| Navy | March 5 |
| Wisconsin | March 6 |
| Colorado State | March 10 |
| San Diego State | March 10 |
| Kansas | March 11 |
| Clemson | March 12 |
| Oklahoma | March 12 |
| Oklahoma State | March 12 |
| South Carolina | March 16 |
| Syracuse | March 16 |
| Washington | March 16 |
| Northwestern | March 17 |
| Minnesota | March 18 |
| Penn State | March 18 |
| Stanford | March 18 |
| California | March 19 |
| Memphis | March 19 |
| Michigan State | March 19 |
| Western Michigan | March 19 |
| Michigan | March 20 |
| Vanderbilt | March 20 |
| Boise State | March 24 |
| Cincinnati | March 24 |
| Louisville | March 24 |
| Notre Dame | March 24 |
| Arizona | March 25 |
| Ohio State | March 25 |
| Sam Houston State | March 25 |
| UCF | March 25 |
| UNLV | March 25 |
| Pittsburgh | March 26 |
| Houston | March 27 |
| Kent State | March 27 |
| Mississippi State | March 27 |
| South Dakota State | March 27 |
| Colorado | March 31 |
| Indiana | March 31 |
❓2026 NFL draft FAQs
When is the 2026 NFL draft?
The 2026 NFL draft takes place April 23-25.
When are the start times for each round?
Here are the times for each round:
- First round: April 23, 8 p.m. ET
- Rounds 2-3: April 24, 7 p.m. ET
- Rounds 4-7: April 25, noon ET
Where is the NFL draft this year?
The NFL keeps moving the draft around annually, and this year it'll be held in Pittsburgh.
What team holds the most NFL draft picks this year?
The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the most picks at 12, with three other teams at 11 (the New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, and New England Patriots).
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