Total Pro Sports
The NFL Draft has come a long way from being just a simple selection process. What used to be a low-key event is now a full-blown spectacle that fans eagerly await every year. It’s more than just picking players- it’s a weekend of drama, strategy, and big moves that can change a franchise’s fate.
But how does it all work? How many rounds are there, and what are the key rules teams must follow? Let’s break it down for the 2025 NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft consists of seven rounds. This has been the case since 1994. While the draft once had as many as 30 rounds, today’s format is more streamlined. The draft spans three days:
Each round follows a set draft order, with teams selecting based on their previous season’s record. The team with the worst record gets the first overall pick, while the Super Bowl champion picks last in the first round.
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The total number of picks changes each year due to penalties, compensatory picks, and trades. For the 2025 NFL Draft, there are 257 total selections. Here’s the breakdown per round:
While each team starts with one pick per round, many selections change hands through trades. Additionally, compensatory picks are awarded based on player losses in free agency, and JC-2A picks reward teams that develop minority candidates who become head coaches or general managers elsewhere.
Each team has a set time to make their selection, and the time decreases as the draft progresses:
If a team fails to make its pick before time runs out, the next team can make its selection immediately. The original team can still make its pick afterward, but they risk losing their desired player if another team chooses them first. While rare, this scenario has happened in past drafts....
