You've probably been there. You're scrolling through social media, the college football season just wrapped up, and suddenly everyone is talking about 40-yard dash times and "high-floor" prospects. It happens every January. The itch for the draft starts early. Honestly, if you're a fan of a team like the Titans or the Jaguars this year, the draft is basically your Super Bowl.
But if you are looking for the specifics of when does 2025 nfl draft start, you aren't just looking for a calendar date. You're looking for the kickoff of a three-day marathon that, for the first time ever, is taking over the "Frozen Tundra" of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Let's cut right to the chase with the actual clock times.
The Official 2025 NFL Draft Schedule
The NFL doesn't like to mess with a winning formula. They've stuck to the three-day weekend format because, well, it brings in millions of viewers. For 2025, the festivities begin on Thursday, April 24.
If you are planning your life around the TV broadcast, here is how the timing breaks down across the three days:
- Round 1: Thursday, April 24, at 8:00 p.m. ET. This is the big one. The red carpet, the Commissioner at the podium, and the ten-minute clocks that feel like an eternity.
- Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Things move a bit faster here. Teams get seven minutes for Round 2 and five minutes for Round 3.
- Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 26, at 12:00 p.m. ET. This is the "draft nerd" day. It’s a marathon that usually lasts until about 7:00 p.m. ET when "Mr. Irrelevant" finally hears his name called.
Green Bay is in the Central Time Zone, so if you’re actually heading to Lambeau Field, remember that the local start times are 7:00 p.m. on Thursday/Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. It’s gonna be chilly. Even in late April, Wisconsin weather is... unpredictable.
Where exactly is it happening?
The NFL is setting up the "Draft Theater" right next to Lambeau Field. Specifically, it's taking over the Titletown District and the Resch Center campus. They’ve actually closed down Oneida Street to build a stage that holds thousands of fans.
If you're going, you need the NFL OnePass app. Seriously. You can't even get into the free "Draft Experience" festival without it. It’s the digital key for the whole weekend.
Who Is On the Clock First?
The draft order is pretty much set now that the regular season has finished. The Tennessee Titans have secured the No. 1 overall pick.
Most experts, including the folks over at PFF and various draft grinders, are eyeing Miami quarterback Cam Ward as the likely first name called. After the Titans, the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants are sitting in those prime spots at No. 2 and No. 3.
What makes the 2025 start so interesting is the lack of trades before the event. For the first time in a while, every team actually held onto their original first-round pick heading into the draft cycle. That usually means more chaos on draft night because teams are more willing to move when they see a player sliding.
Watching From Home: Channels and Streams
You don't have to be in Green Bay to see the picks. The coverage is everywhere.
ABC and ESPN usually handle the heavy lifting. ESPN tends to go deep on the stats and "film room" style analysis, while ABC often leans into the human-interest stories and the player backgrounds. If you want the pure, old-school draft feel, NFL Network is the way to go.
For the streamers out there:
- NFL+ will have live coverage.
- The ESPN App and ABC App work if you have a cable login.
- YouTube TV and Fubo are the best "cord-cutter" options for live viewing.
Why This Year Feels Different
The 2025 draft is historic because of the venue. We’ve seen the draft in Vegas, Nashville, and Detroit (which set huge attendance records last year). But Green Bay is the smallest market to ever host.
It’s basically a city-wide party. The Packers are even opening up the Lambeau Field seating bowl so fans can sit in the stands and watch the big screens. They’re calling it the "Draft Haus" experience. Expect a lot of cheese curds and Bratwurst on the broadcast.
What to Do Now
If you're serious about following the draft, don't just wait for April 24. There are a few things you should keep an eye on before the clock starts:
- Download the NFL OnePass app if you’re even thinking about traveling to Wisconsin.
- Watch the NFL Combine in late February. That’s where the "underwear Olympics" happen and draft stocks rise or fall based on a tenth of a second.
- Check your team's salary cap. Often, a team's needs change wildly during free agency in March, which completely shifts who they might take in April.
The road to the 2025 NFL Draft officially starts in Green Bay on April 24, but the drama is already building. Set your calendars for 8:00 p.m. ET that Thursday—it's going to be a wild ride.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the current NFL Draft Order to see exactly where your team picks in the first round.
- Set a calendar reminder for March 11, 2025, which is the start of NFL Free Agency; this will dictate what your team does when the draft actually starts.
