NEWSLETTER
It’s that time of the year. The upcoming 2023 Draft has NFL fans excited. The process brings hope to struggling teams as they get excited about potential stars joining their team. You have probably wondered, how many picks are in the NFL Draft? Here’s what you need to know about the draft in the National Football League.
How Many Rounds are in the NFL Draft
The NFL Draft consists of seven rounds. Team record and playoff success determine the draft order. The Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs will be picking last. The Chicago Bears are on the clock first as they kick off drafting the latest group of new NFL players.
The NFL Commissioner reads first-round picks in front of a large crowd. You will see occasionally see NFL personnel, celebrities, and former NFL players reading picks in rounds four through seven.
Total Picks in Each Round of the NFL Draft Process
The first and second rounds usually have 32 picks each. There have been drafts with less if a team lost a pick due to disciplinary action. The number of picks for rounds three through seven can vary based on the number of compensatory picks.
There are 228 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. 31 in the first round and 32 in the second round. The breakdown for each round is as follows from the third to the seventh round.
Specifically, teams have 10 minutes to make a pick in the first round. In the second round, it dips down to seven minutes to make a selection. Teams get six minutes for rounds three through six. The seventh round receives four minutes per pick.
Free Agent Compensatory Picks in 2023 NFL Draft
NFL compensatory draft picks are extra draft selections given to teams at the end of rounds 3-7 to balance the level of competition between teams that have lost key players in free agency. These picks are meant to help offset the impact of losing top players and help teams fill the gaps in their rosters.
The practice was first introduced in the NFL in 1994 and is also used in other leagues, such as the NHL and MLB. The number of compensatory picks awarded each year varies, but a team may get a maximum of four picks per draft.
If a team qualifies for more than four compensatory picks following calculations, they will be awarded the four highest remaining selections.
The NFL uses a confidential formula to calculate compensatory picks. An NFL Management Council created the formula. The formula accounts for a player’s average salary per year, snap count, postseason awards, and playing time history.
NFL Draft Order
Every year, the NFL draft order is determined for each team based on their performance during the previous season. Teams that didn’t make the playoffs get the first 18 picks, with the team that had the worst record getting the first pick.
These teams are assigned to draft slots 1 through 18, based on their regular season records. Also, teams with worse records get earlier slots, while teams with better records get later slots.
The next 14 slots, from 19 through 32, go to the teams that made the playoffs. The six teams that lost in the Wild Card round are assigned to slots 19 through 24, based on their regular season records. The losers in the Divisional Playoffs are given slots 25 through 28, based on their regular season records.
The losers in the Conference Championships get slots 29 and 30. Additionally, the team that lost the Super Bowl gets the 31st slot, and the Super Bowl champion gets the last slot.
When is the 2023 NFL Draft?
The 2023 NFL Draft takes place in Kansas City, Missouri. The event takes place from April 27-29, 2023. The first round of the draft will begin on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. The second and third rounds will commence on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The final rounds of the draft are on Saturday, with the start time set for noon ET.
The best college football players in the country are selected in the draft. Teams hope the picks can help to build a stronger roster for the 2023 season. Union Station is the draft venue and fans from around the country will come to support their squad as the draft takes three days to complete.
The First Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears have the first overall pick in the 2023 Draft. The team finished the 2022 season with a record of 3-14. There are many questions surrounding what the team will do with the first pick.
Scouts have talked about the strong number of college quarterbacks available. The Bears will have to decide if they want to stick with Justin Fields or move in a new direction. They also might trade the first pick of the first round.
How Many Picks Are In The NFL Draft FAQs
There are 32 picks each in the first and second rounds. The number of picks from rounds three to seven can vary based on the number of compensatory picks. These picks are determined by a proprietary formula each year.
There are 32 NFL teams that will be filling draft positions over the course of seven rounds. The Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs will be making the last pick in the draft after winning it all.
Yes. Teams can have made trades to acquire more picks and compensatory picks are awarded if teams lose players to free agency.
The NFL Draft is April 27-29, 2023. A long list of draft-eligible players will be waiting to hear their names called in Kansas City, Missouri. The draft will be at Union Station.
