The NFL is on the verge of a quiet but potentially seismic shift that could redefine how the NFL draft unfolds. A new draft change has begun to move behind the scenes, and the surprising part is the league’s growing alignment on it. If approved, it could alter the way every first-round pick is made beginning in 2026.

“The NFL notified teams today that it will shorten the time between picks in the first round of the draft from 10 to 8 minutes starting with the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on X. “Teams were on board.”

In his post, Schefter explained that this change will help wrap the first round faster than in past years. Earlier, it had been ending close to 11:45 p.m. ET. Commissioner Roger Goodell first floated the idea, which has received a nod from all the teams, during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show in April. Back then, Goodell suggested one more change if the teams were out of time while deciding on their first draft picks. 

“You can get two minutes extra if you need it, you can call it, but then you don’t get it again the rest of the draft,” he said. “You get one extension.”

However, the NFL hasn’t included this extension in the new timing adjustments. So, how will the shorter window affect the trades? It may be a setback for teams that rely heavily on draft-day trades. Those extra minutes played a critical role in completing late-stage negotiations. Now, front offices will have no choice but to adapt to a faster environment as the structure of round 1 changes. However, fans may enjoy the quicker pace of the NFL draft.

It will probably make the viewing experience far more efficient for them. Earlier, the league gave ten minutes to make a selection in round 1, seven minutes in round 2, five minutes for rounds 3 to 6 and compensatory picks, and four minutes in round 7. If a team submits its pick past the time limit, its spot passes to the next team in line immediately. But there’s a catch to it. The team with the original spot doesn’t lose its chance completely. It can make its selection later in the same round. 

The 2026 NFL Draft countdown begins

The NFL draft travels to a new host city each year, with Green Bay serving as the host for 2025. In 2026, the three-day event will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the time of writing, the New York Giants, with a 2–11 record, are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Further, the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans, both also at 2–11, currently sit in line for the second and third picks.

For context, the draft order always stems from reverse standings in the league. It means the team with the worst record picks first, and the reigning Super Bowl champion gets to pick last. If multiple teams finish the season with similar records, the strength of schedule determines their draft positions. It is the combined winning percentage of their opponents.

Meanwhile, the NFL allows teams to trade their selections before, during, or after the season. With everything factored in, the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will kick off on April 23. The event will be expected to air on networks such as ESPN, ABC. It will mark the debut of the updated timing rules.