NFL Draft

The National Football League Draft, also known as the NFL Draft or simply “the draft”, is an event held annually by the National Football League (NFL). It serves as a way for professional football teams to acquire new players through a competitive process. The drafting order is determined based on each team’s record in the previous season, with weaker teams receiving earlier picks and stronger teams later ones. Teams are then allowed to select eligible college or high school players who have declared their eligibility for selection into the NFL.

A typical draft consists of seven rounds, during which all 32 NFL franchises select from among approximately 250 prospects; although there can be undrafted free agents signed after that point if desired by any team. Each round lasts about five minutes per pick, though it may take longer depending on trades between teams and other factors such as compensation picks granted due to lost talent from prior seasons’ signings of unrestricted free agents (UFA) and restricted free agents (RFA). After each round ends, commentators broadcast analysis regarding which selections were deemed good/bad value choices based upon where they were selected in comparison with pre-draft rankings compiled by various scouting services like Mel Kiper Jr.’s Big Board and Todd McShay’s Top 100 list.

In total there are 255 drafted players across all 7 rounds plus those chosen afterwards via UFAs / RFAs – amounting to over 300 new faces entering into pro football every year! This influx of fresh young talent helps ensure parity within league competition while providing veteran veterans with much needed rest periods throughout regular season playtime – ultimately making sure no one team gets too far ahead of another when it comes time competing against them head-to-head late games down final stretch drives towards playoffs contention.