Christopher Handler paints a new 2025 NFL Draft-themed fence along Lombardi Avenue on April 12, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis.

On Wednesday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the NFL was making a significant change to the NFL draft starting in 2026. Schefter is reporting that the NFL has shortened the time between picks in the first round 10 minutes to eight starting in 2026.

One of the big criticisms of the draft, and there aren't many, was just how long it took to get through the first round. With the production and spectacle of the event, most of the time, the pick is in several minutes ahead of time, but the league drafts things out as long as possible. Picks were usually tipped online, and the actual pick on the broadcast felt anticlimactic. If this leads to the NFL getting more out of the broadcast and wraps things up quickly.

The 2026 NFL draft is scheduled for April 23-25. The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh, PA.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: NFL announces huge format change for 2026 NFL draft

Reporting by Curt Popejoy, Draft Wire / Draft Wire

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