How Long Does The 1st Round Of The NFL Draft Last?

The first round of the NFL Draft has historically lasted about four hours, but that might be changing this year. The NFL is changing the length of picks from 10 minutes to 8 minutes. But it is worth mentioning that teams weren't always taking the full 10 minutes. So it wouldn't be a huge surprise if it were still close to 4 hours. 

2026 NFL Draft Live - Watch and Stream Here

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft starts at 8:00 pm ET on Thursday, April 23rd. It is expected to run until midnight, at which point the draft ends for the day. It will continue with Rounds 2-3 on Friday, April 24th at 7:00 pm ET, with Day 3 going most of the day on Saturday. 

NFL gear from the Chat Sports shop - t-shirts, hats and more NFL fan merchandise

The draft is being held in Pittsburgh Bay this year! 

Live draft coverage will be broadcasted on the Chat Sports' YouTube page! 

WATCH THE 2026 NFL DRAFT HERE!

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