If you’ve ever watched the NFL Draft on television or been one of the few loveably unhinged fans there to soak in the incredible experience in person, something about the timing has always felt a bit… off. The ceremony’s slow, often drawn-out pace and fan passion as they eagerly await their team’s franchise-catapulting decision just aren’t in alignment in what’s routinely a 4-hour affair – and that’s just for the first round! 

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Watch Sunday Night Football on NBC and streaming on Peacock. 

Well, it appears NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has thought about it too, and finally answered fan prayers: Following feedback about the cadence and length of previous drafts, time is now of the essence. 

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The time change the league making to the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league notified teams on Wednesday that, starting with the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh April 23-25, the time between picks will decrease from 10 minutes to eight minutes. So, whether you’re Jerry Jones with the Dallas Cowboys (who play the Vikings this week on Sunday Night Football) or Robert Kraft with the New England Patriots, this is your official two-minute warning.

Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed on The Pat McAfee Show back in April that the prospect of modifying the logistical scheduling of the Draft’s first round was on his mind. 

“I started thinking last night that we should shorten it,” Goodell opined to McAfee during Day 2 of the 2025 Draft in Green Bay. “Should we have time you could save? I’m making it up — seven-minute first round, but you can get two minutes extra if you need it… you can call it but then you don’t get it again for the rest of the draft, so you get one extension.”

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Typically, most teams will have done mountains of thorough research and compiled every metric known to man to reach a conclusion on who they will most likely select long before the first round even commences. That said, the reason why teams have historically spent their full time allotment was to facilitate last-minute draft-day trades with teams by either passively keeping the phones open for business or actively getting on the horn themselves to make a deal.

The modification should be a warm welcome for those ardent fans who just can’t bear the thought of an two extra minutes waiting for their teams to make a choice on stage. Still, the condensed timeframe generates added pressure for teams to confidently make their selection without delay. The shortened window could also potentially lead to less dealmaking, at least until general managers, coaches, owners, and other executives get accustomed to the loss of time. 

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It’s not the first time the NFL has cut time for teams making draft selections. Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft, teams were allotted 15 minutes per pick instead of 10 minutes.

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants (2-11) currently co-own the top spot for the No. 1 pick along with the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) and the Tennessee Titans (2-11). 

Be sure to check Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock with the Minnesota Vikings visiting Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 14, from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.