2018 NFL Draft: What time does Day 1 start?

The first round of the 2018 NFL Draft is shaping up as unpredictable, so what time does Day 1 start?

Finally, and perhaps mercifully a lot of respects, the 2018 NFL Draft will start on Thursday night. All the buzz, rumors and misinformation will shape into teams actually drafting a new set of players, at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

As usual ESPN and NFL Network will air full draft coverage and analysis on television, with Fox joining the fray with a simulcast of NFL Network’s coverage. Troy Aikman and Joel Klatt will be added to the mix for the NFL Network/Fox coverage, and ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit will replace Jon Gruden on the ESPN set.

There are ample options to watch or listen to the draft, as usual via television, radio or streaming, however you may choose or is most convenient.

As has become tradition in recent years, the first night of the NFL draft contains just the first round before Day 2 Friday night (Round 2 and Round 3) and Day 3 Saturday (Rounds 4-7). The Cleveland Browns will go on the clock first, for the second straight year.

But what time does Day 1 of the draft start?

Coverage of the draft will start, via any chosen medium, at 8 p.m. ET Thursday night, April 26. But there will be some “pre-game” setup to do, and commissioner Roger Goodell will follow shortly after by declaring the Browns are on the clock for their allotted 10 minutes to make that first pick.

So the first pick probably won’t be made until around 8:15 or 8:20 ET Thursday, if the first segment of coverage will be repetitive overkill for some.

Next: NFL Schedule 2018: Biggest game for all 32 teams

The Thursday night prime time Day 1 slot is becoming old hat for NFL fans and followers who want to watch and monitor the draft proceedings. So get your team gear and beverage/food choices ready.