The NFL is making a major change to how the first round of the draft works. Starting in 2026, teams will have less time on the clock, and this decision will affect how quickly picks and trades come together.

The League told teams that the time between first-round picks will drop from 10 minutes to eight minutes. This change begins with the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, teams agreed with the move because it will help the first round end earlier and keep the night from dragging too long.

This idea didn’t come out of nowhere. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talked about shortening the draft earlier this year on The Pat McAfee Show. He said, “I started thinking last night, we’ve gotta shorten it.” Goodell admitted the first round was simply taking too long and needed a faster pace.

During that same appearance, Goodell also brought up a possible extension rule. He said teams could get “two minutes extra” if they needed more time to finish a trade or final decision. He added, “If you need it, you can call it, but then you don’t get it again the rest of the draft.”

One of the main reasons for the change is how late the first round has been ending. Schefter noted that the opening night often finished around 11:45 p.m. ET. Cutting two minutes per pick could trim more than an hour from the broadcast. That means less waiting for players who are hoping to hear their names called.

Teams don’t seem worried about losing two minutes. Most of their draft boards are already set before the night begins. The only time pressure becomes a real issue is when trade talks happen late in the day. Even then, front offices believe they can adjust to the shorter window.

With the timing change now official, the NFL is aiming for a cleaner and more TV-friendly first round. The 2026 draft in Pittsburgh will be the first test of whether a faster pace improves the event or creates new challenges for teams working against the clock.

Written by

Mohd Mudabbir Ansari

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu