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The NFL Draft season has officially begun, with mock drafts and pro days galore. These are the days when scouting culminates in a few picks that will decide the future of a franchise.
The first few days will see some of the Big Ten's best at the top of the draft board, including Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, and the Ohio State trio of Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.
There are always surprises abound, however, and there is no better way to stay tuned with these than watching the draft festivities live.
With the draft itself just around the corner, it's time to condense all of the important information on how to watch and what to expect.
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When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
- 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)
- TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NFL Network
- Live stream: fubo | DirecTV stream | NFL+ | ESPN App | YouTube TV | Hulu+ Live TV
In 2026, the NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh, but there's no need to be in the Steel City to watch the occasion.
There are three days of live draft coverage, both on traditional TV channels and on streaming services.
You can watch all the coverage, from the Raiders' first No. 1 overall pick in 19 years to the Denver Broncos with the final selection, all on the services above. Saturday's coverage will also feature some undrafted free agent signings.
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What time does the NFL Draft start?
The NFL Draft's start time depends on which day fans plan to watch. For those tuning into the action on day one, it'll start at 8 PM ET, with Friday's action beginning at 7 PM.
And for those who can't get enough of the action, you can stick around for the day's three selections, beginning at noon.
| Date | Round(s) | Start time (ET) |
| April 23 | 1 | 8 PM |
| April 24 | 2-3 | 7 PM |
| April 25 | 4-7 | 12 PM |
NFL Draft TV schedule
Here's a list of each TV channel providing live coverage of this year's event, including ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. All three of these services will cover each day of the event.
| Round(s) | Date | Start time (ET) | TV Channels |
| 1 | Thursday, April 23 | 8 PM | ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network |
| 2-3 | Friday, April 24 | 7 PM | ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network |
| 4-7 | Saturday, April 25 | 12 PM | ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network |
How to live stream the NFL Draft
For those without access to cable, there are still plenty of ways to check out your favorite team's selection. Here are all the ways you can tune in.
- Live stream: (U.S.) fubo | DirecTV stream | NFL+ | ESPN App | YouTube TV | Hulu+ Live TV
NFL Draft order 2026
All eyes are on the Raiders for the No. 1 pick, and most believe that this result in a Fernando Mendoza selection. After them, however, come the Jets, Cardinals, and Titans, followed by the other New York team, the Giants, at No. 5. The full draft order for round one can be found below.
| Round | Pick | Team |
| 1 | 1 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 1 | 2 | New York Jets |
| 1 | 3 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 1 | 4 | Tennessee Titans |
| 1 | 5 | New York Giants |
| 1 | 6 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1 | 7 | Washington Commanders |
| 1 | 8 | New Orleans Saints |
| 1 | 9 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1 | 10 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1 | 11 | Miami Dolphins |
| 1 | 12 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1 | 13 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 1 | 14 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 1 | 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 1 | 16 | New York Jets |
| 1 | 17 | Detroit Lions |
| 1 | 18 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1 | 19 | Carolina Panthers |
| 1 | 20 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1 | 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1 | 22 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 1 | 23 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1 | 24 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1 | 25 | Chicago Bears |
| 1 | 26 | Buffalo Bills |
| 1 | 27 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1 | 28 | Houston Texans |
| 1 | 29 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1 | 30 | Miami Dolphins |
| 1 | 31 | New England Patriots |
| 1 | 32 | Seattle Seahawks |
2026 NFL mock draft
While the first pick seems to be a shoo-in, the first round is filled with uncertainty. Some picks will fall, others will rise, and trades are sure to come.
The major question marks lie in picks No. 2 and beyond, with few teams certain on who they're looking for. Here is what Vinnie Iyer thinks will happen in his latest mock draft.
1. Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (6-5, 236 pounds)
2. New York Jets
- Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State (6-4, 241 pounds)
3. Arizona Cardinals
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (6-5, 244 pounds)
4. Tennessee Titans
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (6-2, 263 pounds)
5. New York Giants
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (6-0, 206 pounds)
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