It’s finally here. We’ve reached Draft Day, and the 2026 NFL Draft will soon kick off with the latest generation of star talent officially turning pro. All 32 teams are hoping to get better over the next few days, including the New Orleans Saints — who own the eighth overall pick and should pick early on Thursday night. But when will they make that pick?
Round 1 is set to begin at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 23, and with teams limited to eight minutes at each pick this year (instead of ten) the Saints should go on the clock around 7:56 p.m. CT. But maybe get to your couch or pull up the stream a little sooner, in case teams picking ahead of New Orleans don’t use all eight minutes to make their selection.
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And that’s barring a trade. If Saints general manager Mickey Loomis likes an opportunity to trade up in Round 1, he’ll do it — just like he did in 2003 (targeting defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan), 2005 (left tackle Jammal Brown), 2008 (defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis), 2011 (running back Mark Ingram II), 2014 (wide receiver Brandin Cooks), 2018 (defensive end Marcus Davenport), and 2022 (wide receiver Chris Olave). Loomis has not traded down in 19 years.
So it wouldn’t be a bad idea to tune in from the start of the draft. The event will be broadcast on NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes with streams available on NFL+, ESPN Unlimited & Select, as well as Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Watch the 2026 NFL Draft LIVE with Fubo
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: What time will the New Orleans Saints pick in Round 1?