WhenEvery spring, late April, over three days: Round 1 on Thursday night, Rounds 2–3 on Friday, Rounds 4–7 on Saturday.
Seven rounds32 picks a round, plus compensatory picks: usually about 257 players in all. It was seven rounds every year since 1994 (12 rounds in 1980–92, 8 in 1993).
The orderWorst record picks first. The 18 teams that missed the playoffs go in reverse order of record, then the playoff teams by how far they got; the Super Bowl champion picks last in every round. Ties go to the team with the easier schedule.
Compensatory picksUp to 32 extra picks at the ends of Rounds 3–7 for teams that lost more (or better) free agents than they signed, plus Round 3 picks for teams whose minority coaches or executives were hired away as head coaches or general managers.
On the clock10 minutes a pick in Round 1, 7 in Round 2, 5 in Rounds 3–6 and 4 in Round 7. Teams can trade picks right up to the moment they're made, including picks up to three years ahead.
Who's eligiblePlayers at least three years out of high school. College underclassmen have to declare by mid-January; anyone not picked becomes an undrafted free agent and can sign with any team.
Rookie contractsFour years, with pay set by a scale tied to the pick. First-rounders' teams can add a fifth-year option. The last pick of the draft is nicknamed “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Since 1936The first draft was in 1936 (first pick: Jay Berwanger, who never played in the NFL). The data here starts in 1980.