clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Everything you need to know about the 2018 NFL Draft

Answering the questions you may be wondering about in the lead up to the draft!

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

NFL Draft Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images

The 2018 NFL Draft starts THURSDAY NIGHT at 8pm EST and will be hosted at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas. There will be 256 picks made as teams reload their rosters in hopes of lifting the Lombardi Trophy in 10 months.

But there’s more to it than that. You’ve got questions about the Jacksonville Jaguars and the NFL Draft — its history, its schedule, and its rules. We’ve got answers. Here’s a look at some of the most common queries that come up each year once draft season begins.

When does the NFL Draft start?

The 2018 NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday night and will conclude on Saturday evening.

How long does each round of the NFL Draft last?

It’s a three day affair, starting with Round 1 on Thursday, then Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday. Everything concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, at which point Mr. Irrelevant is crowned and teams begin snapping up undrafted free agents.

Round 1 begins at 8pm EST and is scheduled to last until about 12am midnight, though it could go over that time slot. Each team in the first round has 10 minutes to make their pick, and at 32 picks that could mean 320 minutes — five hours and 20 minutes — of draft time. History suggests Day 1 won’t take that long; in the past three years the event has lasted anywhere from 3:20 to 3:40.

Day 2 kicks off at 7pm EST and is scheduled for four hours of broadcast time. Day 3 is scheduled for seven hours of programming, running from 12pm EST until 7pm EST, though the actual draft itself will likely close up shop before that.

When will the Jaguars pick in the first round?

If history repeats itself, the Jaguars will select around 11:36pm EST.

What picks do the Jaguars have this weekend?

Round 1, Pick 29

Round 2, Pick 61

Round 3, Pick 93

Round 4, Pick 129

Round 6, Pick 203

Round 7, Pick 230

Round 7, Pick 247

Where is the 2018 NFL Draft?

The NFL’s traveling road show hits Arlington this spring — home of the Dallas Cowboys. This year’s draft will take place at AT&T Stadium.

Is the NFL Draft on TV?

Yes, and you can watch it on bunch of channels. Fox secured the over-the-air broadcasting rights for the first two days of the draft, while ABC got Day 3. They’re not the only networks in on the event. ESPN and NFL Network will also provide coverage live from Arlington all three days, allowing for some extra punditry as teams try to find their next generation of starters as the draft winds down.

Can you stream the draft online?

Yes, you can stream the draft on FuboTV. It’s also available on NFL.com, Fox Sports Go and WatchESPN.

Are NFL Draft tickets free?

They were, but the bulk of the 60,000 tickets to watch the event live at the stadium were already distributed via lottery. You can still head to Arlington and register for the chance to get standby tickets into the Draft Theater by downloading the NFL Draft 2018 Fan Mobile Pass on iTunes or Google Play.