Time, TV schedule and how to watch Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft

TL;DR

The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday night, featuring a promising group of talent. The New England Patriots, with 11 picks, aim to build on last season's success after reaching Super Bowl LX.

Key points

2026 NFL Draft starts Thursday night
New England Patriots have 11 draft picks
Patriots aim to build on last season's Super Bowl run

Mentioned in this story

Mike Vrabel

New England PatriotsBuffalo BillsSuper Bowl LX

A fresh crop of talent lies at the forefront of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The New England Patriots used the three-day event as a springboard back to relevancy last season, when they dethroned the Buffalo Bills as divisional kings and outlasted the rest of the AFC conference for a trip to Super Bowl LX.

A big reason for their meteoric rise is head coach Mike Vrabel and the front office hitting multiple home runs in last year's draft. Players like Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, Jared Wilson, Kyle Williams, Craig Woodson and Andy Borregales all contributed in a major way to the Patriots' improbable postseason run.

That should be the team's goal heading into the 2026 draft, armed with 11 picks at their disposal. They could throw 11 darts at the draft board, or they could package some of their extra picks for trades to move up and get the players they really want. It all starts on Thursday night.

Here's how to watch Round 1 of the draft, including time and TV schedule: