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2024 NFL Draft Need to Knows
Photo: Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) looks on during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

2024 NFL Draft Need to Knows

One of the most exciting days for many sports fans is right around the corner! The NFL draft is unmatched compared to other professional sports in terms of coverage and overall excitement with the kind of impact these players will make on their teams right away the following season.

If you are new to the draft, looking to place some bets on the event, or just searching for some basic info to get you set for the big day, this page was made just for you. Here is everything you need to know for the 2024 NFL draft.

Where does the 2024 NFL draft take place?

The NFL draft will begin on Thursday at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit.

When time does the 2024 NFL draft begin at?

The Chicago Bears will be on the clock with the first overall selection at 8:00 pm Eastern time.

How many days does the 2024 NFL draft take?

The 2024 NFL draft will take place across three separate days broken down as follows.

Round 1: Thursday, April 25 at 8:00 pm Eastern time

Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 26 at 7:00 pm Eastern time

Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 27 at 12:00 pm Eastern time

Where can I watch the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft will be broadcast live on ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network. The draft can also be streamed on ESPN+, Hulu+, YouTube TV, Fubu TV, and Sling TV.

How many rounds does the 2024 NFL draft last for?

There are seven rounds in the NFL draft for 32 teams meaning there will be 257 selections made.

How long does each team have to pick?

Pick times will vary between rounds, with longer selection times given to the early-round draft slots that are most consequential. Here is a breakdown of the time given in each round.

Round 1: Ten minutes

Round 2: Seven minutes

Rounds 3-6: Five minutes

Round 7: Four minutes

What happens if a team doesn’t make their pick within the time limit?

If a team fails to select a player within the allocated time limit, they will still be able to make the selection, however, they will be penalized by dropping back one spot. This means that the team that was scheduled to pick after them will now be on the clock first.

How are draft picks submitted?

Each team has a specific table set up at the draft venue that is in contact with team executives. Once the executives have decided on a pick and the table has been informed, someone at the table writes down the name on a card. That card is handed off to an NFL “runner” and at this point they are officially off the clock. A second runner lets the next team know they are on the clock and who has been selected, while the first runner delivers the card to the head table for it to be announced.

What teams don’t have first round selections?

Three teams will not make a selection in the first round, the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Carolina Panthers. The Panthers traded the No.9 and No.61 picks in last year’s draft, a 2024 first rounder which will end up being the first overall selection, a second-round pick in 2025, and DJ Moore to acquire the first overall selection from the Bears last season. They selected Bryce Young over 2023 NFL offensive rookie of the year CJ Stroud, who had a disappointing season with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first 16 games.

After such a successful draft last season selecting the Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud, and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Will Anderson Jr. the pick later, they elected to trade both of their first round picks this season. Houston traded the 23rd overall selection that they acquired from Cleveland in the Desean Watson trade to the Minnesota Vikings, and they traded their 27th overall selection to the Arizona Cardinals.

What is the 2024 NFL draft order?

  1. Chicago Bears (acquired from Carolina)
  2. Washington Commanders
  3. New England Patriots
  4. Arizona Cardinals
  5. Los Angeles Chargers
  6. New York Giants
  7. Tennessee Titans
  8. Atlanta Falcons
  9. Chicago Bears
  10. New York Jets
  11. Minnesota Vikings
  12. Denver Broncos
  13. Las Vegas Raiders
  14. New Orleans Saints
  15. Indianapolis Colts
  16. Seattle Seahawks
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars
  18. Cincinnati Bengals
  19. Los Angeles Rams
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers
  21. Miami Dolphins
  22. Philadelphia Eagles
  23. Minnesota Vikings (acquired from Cleveland through Houston)
  24. Dallas Cowboys
  25. Green Bay Packers
  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  27. Arizona Cardinals (acquired from Houston)
  28. Buffalo Bills
  29. Detroit Lions
  30. Baltimore Ravens
  31. San Francisco 49ers
  32. Kansas City Chiefs

Who is expected to be the first overall selection?

Quarterback Caleb Williams is nearly guaranteed to be selected by the Bears with -20,000 odds on FanDuel. Two other quarterbacks in Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye are expected to go within the following two picks, while J.J. McCarthy has also forced his way into the top-round conversation. Wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr and Malik Nabers, as well as Offensive Tackle Joe Alt all have a strong chance to be drafted in the top five as well.

If you are looking to place bets on the 2024 NFL draft, make sure to check out the best sports betting sites your country has to offer. These sites provide competitive up to the up-to-the-second live odds that will be changing on draft day as trades and player news are released.