The NFL Draft is heading to the nation’s capital. The 2027 draft will take place in Washington, D.C., from 29 April to 1 May, with the main stage on the National Mall. Here is what is known so far.
NFL Draft 2027 dates and location
The three-day event begins on Thursday, 29 April 2027 and ends on Saturday, 1 May. It is the 92nd annual draft. The main stage will be on the National Mall, with activities spread across several landmarks in the city.
A first for Washington
Washington, D.C., has never hosted the draft in its current festival format. The only previous draft held in the capital was in 1941, at the Willard Hotel. The announcement was made by President Donald Trump, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders owner Josh Harris in May 2025.
Attendance records
The 2026 draft in Pittsburgh set an all-time attendance record of more than 805,000 fans over three days. The 2025 draft in Green Bay drew more than 600,000. Goodell has said he expects about one million fans in Washington.
Likely schedule
The league has not published start times. If the draft follows the 2026 pattern, round one will start at 8 pm Eastern Time on Thursday, rounds two and three at 7 pm on Friday, and rounds four to seven at noon on Saturday. In India, that would be about 5:30 am on Friday, 4:30 am on Saturday and 9:30 pm on Saturday.
How many picks?
The draft has seven rounds and, before compensatory picks, 224 regular selections. With compensatory picks added, the total is usually about 256.
The prospects
Early reports say the 2027 quarterback class is deep, with Texas quarterback Arch Manning among the names scouts are watching. Several college stars have also been mentioned as possible top picks. Prospects can change their plans before the draft, so treat these as early talk.
Where to watch
The draft is expected to air on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network, as it did in recent years. A broadcaster for India was not confirmed in the sources we found, so check the NFL’s international listings closer to the date.
The road to the draft
The draft order is set by the season’s results, and the Super Bowl on 14 February will close the 2026 season. Our guide to the Super Bowl LXI has those details, and our NFL playoff format guide explains how teams reach the postseason.
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