The first round of the NFL Draft typically lasts about 3 to 4 hours. This duration can vary slightly depending on how quickly teams make their selections and the number of trades that occur during the round
. Each team is allotted 10 minutes to make their pick in the first round, which contributes to the overall length of the round. Since there are 32 picks in the first round, this time allotment sets a maximum theoretical duration close to 5 hours, but in practice, picks are often made more quickly, so the round usually finishes in around four hours
. For example, the 2025 NFL Draft first round started at 8:00 p.m. ET and was expected to run until about midnight, roughly four hours in total
. In summary:
- First round length: Approximately 3 to 4 hours
- Time per pick: 10 minutes maximum
- Number of picks: 32
- Actual length depends on pace of selections and trades
This structure has been consistent in recent years and is designed to balance thorough team decision-making with a manageable broadcast length
