How does the NFL Draft work?

The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly here, with all 32 franchises heading to Pittsburgh to snap up college football's top talent.

New to the NFL Draft or simply need a refresher? Here's everything you need to know, from how the order works to when to set your alarm.

What is the NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft is exactly what it sounds like: every team in the league picking the best players from college football.

There are seven rounds, each with 32 picks, totalling 224 before compensatory picks are added.

In theory, each team picks once per round. In practice, with picks being traded, teams can find themselves with multiple picks per round or, on occasion, none. 

In the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins have two first-round picks after acquiring them in previous deals.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos have no first-round picks after trading theirs away.

Here's the full 2026 NFL Draft order.

How is the NFL Draft order decided?

The team with the worst record from the previous season picks first. The Super Bowl champions pick last, 32nd, in every round.

That means that this year, the Las Vegas Raiders are selecting first overall, while the Seattle Seahawks are picking last.

Teams that missed the playoffs select between 1st and 20th. Teams that made the postseason pick from 21st and up.

If two teams finished with the same record, it comes down to strength of schedule. If it's still level at that point, various tiebreakers kick in, after which the order can be decided by a coin toss.

How can the draft order change?

Teams can trade their picks at any point, before or during the draft, in exchange for players or other selections.

This means some teams end up with multiple picks in the same round, while others have none.

Trading up can be very expensive, especially for early first-round picks. Trading down is often preferred, giving teams more draft capital to fill more roster needs.

The Kansas City Chiefs famously traded up in 2017 to land Patrick Mahomes, and that worked out fairly well for them.

Why do some rounds have more than 32 picks?

The NFL awards compensatory picks to teams that have lost significant free agents.

Up to 32 additional picks can be handed out, up to a maximum of four per team, and are placed at the end of rounds three through seven.

Clubs can also earn extra picks if a minority coach or executive on their staff gets poached to become a head coach or GM elsewhere.

Here is the full list of compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

How long does each team have to pick?

• Round 1: 8 minutes per pick, down from 10 minutes in 2025.
• Round 2: 7 minutes.
• Rounds 3-6: 5 minutes for standard and compensatory picks.
• Round 7: 4 minutes.

If a team lets the clock run down without picking, the next team will jump ahead of them. This situation played out in the 2003 NFL Draft, when the Minnesota Vikings let the clock expire after failing to have a trade sanctioned in time.

When this happens, the original team doesn't lose its pick, but they risk having the player they wanted taken by the next team.

How does a pick actually get made?

Each team has a table at the draft venue. Their representatives stay in constant contact with executives back at club headquarters.

When a decision is made, the player's name, position and college are written on an official card and handed to an NFL staff member known as a runner.

Once the runner has the card, that's it. The pick is locked in, and the clock resets for the next team.

Who is eligible for the NFL Draft?

Players can't just turn up. They need to have been out of high school for at least three years and to have used up their college eligibility before the next college season begins.

Underclassmen can apply to enter early, but need league approval. The deadline to declare is seven days after the NCAA National Championship Game.

What happens to players who aren't drafted?

Players who are not selected in the seven rounds become undrafted free agents. At that point, they are free to sign with any team.

For many, they may never be signed. For others, it's a temporary setback.

Kurt Warner, Antonio Gates and Warren Moon all went undrafted, and all three ended up in the Hall of Fame.

Where is the 2026 NFL Draft being held?

It's Pittsburgh's first time hosting since 1947.

The main stage and Draft Theatre sit on the North Shore outside Acrisure Stadium. The fan festival is across the river at Point State Park. Entry is free.

How to watch the 2026 NFL Draft

• Worldwide (excluding the US, China): DAZN
• US: NFL Network, NFL+, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes

What time is the 2026 NFL Draft?

Day one: Round 1

• Date and time (UK): Friday, April 24 at 1am BST
• Date and time (US): Thursday, April 23 at 8pm ET

Day two: Rounds 2 and 3

• Date and time (UK): Saturday, April 25 at midnight BST
• Date and time (US): Friday, April 24 at 7pm ET

Day three: Rounds 4, 5, 6 and 7

• Date and time (UK): Saturday, April 25 at 5pm BST
• Date and time (US): Saturday, April 25 at 12pm ET

Who are the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love are among the most talked-about names heading into round one.

Ohio State's Sonny Styles, who dominated athletic testing at the NFL Combine, could become the first linebacker selected in the top five since 2019 and one of four Buckeyes to go in the top ten.

Wide receivers Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon have also garnered major attention as projected first-round talents.

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a real wild card, landing anywhere between 16th overall and the second round in mock drafts.