The much-awaited day college prospects and NFL franchises wait for is here at last, with many fans curious about the timings and venue of the 2026 NFL draft.

As 257 prospects await to find out which franchise they will start their pro careers with, here are all the details you need to know about the event in Pittsburgh.

When and Where Is the 2026 Draft Happening?

This year, Pittsburgh is hosting the three-day event at Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The draft’s Round 1 begins on 23 April, Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. It will be followed by Rounds 2-3 on 24 April, Friday at 7 p.m. E.T and ends on 25 April with Rounds 4 through 7 at Noon E.T.

How and Where to Watch?

Viewers can tune into NFL Network, NFL+, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes to watch the draft live. The following days will be telecast on the same platforms. 

What to Look Forward to in This Draft?

The 97th annual meeting of the franchises is being hosted in Pittsburgh to pick the most eligible college football players.

Some of the standout players to watch out for are quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza, winner of the 2025 Heisman Trophy, Ty Simpson, and Carson Beck.

The most discussed running backs are Jeremiyah Love, Johan Coleman, and Nicholas Singleton. 

Edge rusher David Bailey and Malachi Lawrence, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and linebacker Sonny Styles are some of the most sought-after prospects, too. 

As for the franchises, the Las Vegas Raiders have the first overall pick and are expected to draft Mendoza. They are followed by the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. 

The Steelers, who went 10-7, have the most picks with 12. The franchise with the fewest number of picks is the Seattle Seahawks. The 2025 Super Bowl champions have just four picks. 

This year, there are 33 compensatory picks between 15 teams. The Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers have four compensatory picks each, the most among all teams.

These selections range from round 3 to 7, and the Minnesota Vikings have received the highest compensatory pick (3rd round pick at 97). 

Only a few hours left to find out which player would land where. What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments. Read more at 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote