The 2024 NFL Draft format explained: number of rounds, pick order...

From its humble beginnings in the 1930s to the spectacle it is today, the NFL Draft has undergone notable evolution. Initially, player signings were chaotic, with teams vying for top talent through informal negotiations. It was not until 1936 that the NFL introduced the draft system, leveling the playing field for all teams.

Under the guidance of Philadelphia Eagles co-owner Bert Bell, the league adopted the draft to distribute talent more fairly among teams. This marked the birth of the NFL Draft as we know it, with teams selecting players based on predetermined order rather than comPeting in open bidding wars. Over the years, the draft format has evolved, with changes in the number of rounds, drafting procedures, and the introduction of compensatory picks. Notable moments, such as the Herschel Walker trade and the rise of televised drafts, have contributed to the draft’s cultural significance and status as a major event on the NFL calendar.

The NFL Draft is an annual event that allows teams to add new talent to their rosters. Some players will immediately make a big impact on their new team, while others may not. However, the possibility that a drafted player could lead their team to greatness makes teams fiercely compete for talent, whether in the first round or the last. As the league has grown in size and popularity, the NFL Draft has evolved, and the competition for star players has become intense both externally (between the NFL and other leagues) and internally (among the NFL’s teams). The league has regularly changed the draft and introduced new rules and regulations to maintain fairness.

The number of rounds and picking order

The NFL Draft is an annual event in which all 32 football clubs receive one pick in each of the seven rounds. The selection order is based on the previous season’s standings, with the team that finished with the worst record choosing first and the Super Bowl champion choosing last.

Draft slots 1-20 are assigned based on the end-of-season standings for teams that did not qualify for the playoffs. The club with the worst record gets the first pick, while the one with the best record gets the 20th pick. For teams that qualified for the playoffs, draft slots 21-32 are assigned based on the previous year’s playoff results.

If teams finished the previous season with identical records, the determination of draft position is decided by strength of schedule. The team that played the schedule with the lowest winning percentage will be awarded the higher pick. If the teams have the same strength of schedule, division or conference tiebreakers are applied. If the divisional or conference tiebreakers are not applicable, or ties still exist between teams of different conferences, ties will be broken using the following tie-breaking method: