There have been months of workouts and interviews, and it is finally time for it all to come to a head at the 2026 NFL Draft.
The latest crop of draft hopefuls is itching to learn their respective fates and where they will begin their professional football careers. This year, the NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it will be the city’s second time hosting the draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders are currently “on the clock” and hold the No. 1 overall pick. They are expected to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner who led the Hoosiers to a national championship. Anything can happen in the draft, and there have been reports that this could be the “most trade-heavy draft” in recent memory, adding even more excitement to the fan-favorite event.
Here is more on the 2026 NFL Draft, including date, time, order, location, how to watch and updated mock drafts.
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When is the NFL Draft in 2026?Date: Thursday, April 23 (Round 1), Friday, April 24 (Rounds 2-3), Saturday, April 25 (Rounds 4-7)Start time: 8 p.m. ET (Thursday), 7 p.m. ET (Friday) and 12 p.m. ET (Saturday)TV channels: ESPN, ABC, NFL NetworkLive streams: Fubo
The 2026 NFL Draft will run from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25. The first day of the draft will focus on Round 1, and the second day will have two rounds. The third day of the draft is usually way more laid-back, and every pick isn’t announced as teams finish the last four rounds.
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Where is the NFL Draft in 2026?
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the first time since 1948 that the city has gotten the chance to host it. Back then, the draft was held at Hotel Fort Pitt. This year, the draft is expected to be held on the North Shore outside of Acrisure Stadium. There will also be draft events taking place across the river at Point State Park.
DraftLocationCity1936Ritz-CarltonPhiladelphia1937Hotel LincolnNew York1938Hotel ShermanChicago1939Hotel New YorkerNew York1940Schroeder HotelMilwaukee1941Willard HotelWashington, D.C.1942-44Palmer HouseChicago1945-47Hotel CommodoreNew York1948Hotel Fort PittPittsburgh1949-50Bellevue-Stratford HotelPhiladelphia1951Blackstone HotelChicago1952Hotel StatlerNew York1953-54Bellevue-Stratford HotelPhiladelphia1955Warwick HotelNew York1956Bellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 1-3)PhiladelphiaAmbassador Hotel (Rounds 4-30)Los Angeles1957Warwick Hotel (Rounds 1-4)PhiladelphiaBellevue-Stratford Hotel (Rounds 5-30)Philadelphia1958-61Warwick HotelPhiladelphia1962-64Sheraton HotelChicago1965-66Summit HotelNew York1967Hotel GothamNew York1968-71Belmont Plaza HotelNew York1972Essex HouseNew York1973-74Americana HotelNew York1975Hilton HotelNew York1976-78Roosevelt HotelNew York1979Waldorf Astoria HotelNew York1980-83Sheraton HotelNew York1984-85Omni Park Central HotelNew York1986-94Marriott MarquisNew York1995-04Theatre at Madison Square GardenNew York2005Jacob Javits Convention CenterNew York2006-14Radio City Music HallNew York2015-16Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University/Grand ParkChicago2017Benjamin Franklin ParkwayPhiladelphia2018AT&T StadiumDallas2019Downtown NashvilleNashville2020Held virtuallyN/A2021Downtown ClevelandCleveland2022Caesars ForumLas Vegas2023Union StationKansas City2024Campus Martius Park, Hart Plaza Detroit2025Titletown DistrictGreen Bay2026North Shore, Acrisure StadiumPittsburgh
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What time does the NFL Draft start in 2026?
The 2026 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET when the Raiders will be on the clock officially. After just the first round the first night, the teams will be back on Friday night for the second and third rounds. The final day of the draft on Saturday will begin at 12 p.m. ET.
DateRound(s)Start time (ET)Thursday, April 2318 p.m. Friday, April 242-37 p.m. Saturday, April 254-712 p.m.
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NFL Draft TV schedule 2026
There are several ways to catch the action of the 2026 NFL Draft. All three days of action will air on ESPN and NFL Network. Those that have cut the cord will be able to live stream the draft using Fubo.
Here is an overview of the 2026 NFL Draft TV schedule.
Round(s)DateStart time (ET)TV Channels1Thursday, April 238 p.m.ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, Fubo2-3Friday, April 247 p.m.ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, Fubo4-7Saturday, April 2512 p.m.ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, Fubo
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NFL Draft first round order 2026
Here is a look at the order of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the number one pick and are expected to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. The quarterback said that he intends to watch the draft in Miami with his family.
PickTeam1Raiders2Jets3Cardinals4titans5Giants6Browns7Commanders8Saints9Chiefs10Bengals11Dolphins12Cowboys13Rams (via Falcons)14Ravens15Buccaneers16Jets (via Colts)17Lions18Vikings19Panthers20Cowboys (via Packers)21Steelers22Chargers23Eagles24Browns (via Jaguars)25Bears26Bills2749ers28Texans29Chiefs (via Rams)30Dolphins (via Broncos)31Patriots32Seahawks
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The Sporting News’ latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft
Here is a look at Vinnie Iyer’s latest mock draft for Sporting News. It is worth noting that Iyer allowed himself to make trades in this mock so the draft order may not be identical to the current order.
PickTeamPlayerPositionSchool1RaidersFernando MendozaQBIndiana2JetsArvell ReeseLB/EDGEOhio State3Commanders (via Cardinals)Jeremiyah LoveRBNotre Dame4TitansRuben Bain Jr.EDGEMiami5GiantsSonny StylesLBOhio State6BrownsCaleb DownsSOhio State7Cardinals (via Commanders)David BaileyEDGETexas Tech8Cowboys (via Saints)Mansoor DelaneCBLSU9ChiefsCarnell TateWROhio State10BengalsPeter WoodsDTClemson11DolphinsJermod McCoyCBTennessee12Saints (via Cowboys)Jordyn TysonWRArizona State13Rams (via Falcons)Spencer FanoOTUtah14Lions (via Ravens)Francis MauigoaOTMiami15BuccaneersAkheem MesidorEDGEMiami16Jets (from Colts)Makai LemonWRUSC17Ravens (via Lions)Olaivavega IoaneGPenn State18VikingsDillon ThienmanSOregon19PanthersKenyon SadiqTEOregon20Cowboys (via Packers)Keldric FaulkEDGEAuburn21SteelersBlake MillerOTClemson22ChargersAvieon TerrellCBClemson23EaglesEmmanuel McNeil-WarrenSToledo24BrownsCaleb LomuOTUtah25Patriots (via Bears)Kadyn ProctorOTAlabama26BillsCashius HowellEDGETexas A&M2749ersMonroe FreelingOTGeorgia28TexansKayden McDonaldDTOhio State29Chiefs (via Rams)KC ConcepcionWRTexas A&M30Raiders (via Broncos, Dolphins)Omar Cooper Jr.WRIndiana31Bears (via Patriots)T.J. ParkerEDGEClemson32Browns (via Seahawks)Ty SimpsonQBAlabama