One of the premier events in the entire American Football calendar, the NFL Draft dominates headlines from February to May. You can’t go five minutes without seeing someone’s mock draft, or hearing about some college football talent who’s stock is rising or falling. For those of us who’ve followed this sport long enough, this is par for the course now. However, for the new or the causal fan, this is a whirlwind of opinions and a lot to take in. But, what is the NFL Draft? And how can I watch it in the UK?
What Is the NFL Draft?
NFL teams build their rosters via 3 methods. Free Agency; where teams will pick from the best players not assigned to a roster. Trades; where teams will swap assets with another team in order to acquire one of their players. Or, via The Draft. A 3-day event held annually, where all 32 NFL teams select new talent from a pool of 300+ players. The very vast majority of these players will be prospects that have come out of college, however the international growth of football means that an increasing number of players every year are entering from all over the world.
The 3 days cover 7 rounds and the order is dependent on the previous seasons records. The worst team from the previous season holds the #1 pick in each round, while the Super Bowl Champions hold the 32nd pick in each round. Rounds 1 and 2 are both 32 picks each, while rounds 3-7 are 32 + compensatory picks given out at the league’s discretion for a variety of factors. Round 1 takes place on the Thursday night, 2-3 take place on Friday, and rounds 4-7 take place throughout the Saturday.
In 2026, the Las Vegas Raiders will have the #1 pick, as they were the worst team in 2025.
Why Does the Draft Happen?
It’s a noble idea. One that’s designed to create parity. Ensuring the worst teams are able to acquire the ‘best’ talent and therefore, improve in comparison to the rest of the league. Alas, football is unfortunately, not that simple. However, we’re not going to be discussing the intricacies of football here.
Up until the mid-1930s, no such thing existed. Players who left college were considered to essentially be free agents. This meant that would often enter bidding wars, and fight over the best talent. That was until 1935, when a Minnesota Gophers running back by the name of Stan Kostka was very much in demand. Kostka, who’d had an excellent collegiate career, took advantage of the bidding war and held-out for 9 months. The hold-out made him the NFL’s highest paid player when he signed a $5000 deal with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In order to stop this from happening again, the NFL implemented the Draft in 1936.
When and Where is the NFL Draft?
Typically, the NFL Draft takes place in late-April. The venue changes every year and this year it’s going to be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. First pick/the clock starting is scheduled for as follows:
Day 1: Thursday 23rd April at 8pm ET (24th, 1am UK)
Day 2: Friday 24th April at 7pm ET (25th, 12am UK)
Day 3: Saturday 25th at 12pm ET (25th at 5pm UK)
How Can I Watch the Draft in the UK?
If you are intrigued by the prospect of getting to watch the next generation begin the next chapter in their careers, you’re in luck. The event is televised live and absolutely available to those of us across the pond. The entire event is available on NFL Network, which you can watch for FREE with a DAZN account. It will also be shown on Sky Sports.
What’s even better is the AAW Network is teaming up with the guys over at Good Teams Win, Great Teams Cover. We’ll be live streaming a watchalong of Round One on YouTube and social media. Head to our YouTube channel and subscribe to watch with us.
The AAW Network has your back!
Whether this is your first time watching/following along with the Draft, or whether you’re a seasoned pro, we’d love for you to join us in our Discord server for the event. While some of us will be live on YouTube, our server will be buzzing with live reactions and chat around the night.
If you’d like to get your prep in before it starts, then make sure to listen to Hurdle the Line and College Football UK as they talk all things NFL Draft, From players you need to know, to how NFL teams may decide their picks. We’re sure you’ll be fully ready to go by the time the draft starts.
What up, doe? I hope you enjoyed this article. If you’d like to get in touch with me and talk Detroit sports, Michigan, or college football in general then you can do so on social media. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Twitter.
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