What time is the NFL Draft tonight?

The NFL Draft kicks off tonight, April 27th. What time does the anticipated event, hosted in Kansas City this year, begin?

It’s finally here. The NFL Draft starts tonight, with the first round taking place on Thursday before the subsequent rounds complete on Friday and Saturday. This year’s event takes place in Kansas City, and for those of you in the area, the event is surprisingly affordable, so it’s not a bad idea to check it out!

This year’s draft is headlined by a seemingly can’t-miss (unless he’s in a crowd of 6-foot people, then you won’t find him) quarterback in Bryce Young, and another top-tier slinger in CJ Stroud. Other quarterbacks like Will Levis and Hendon Hooker are expected to get some attention, with the former possibly even leap-frogging CJ Stroud.

Beyond the quarterbacks, there is top-tier talent like Jalen Carter and Bijan Robinson that could go in the first round. While there’s plenty to like about the latter rounds of the draft, the first round has appeal like no other, so you’ll want to make sure you’re locked into your seat for the first several picks.

So, what time do you need to plan for?

What time does the NFL Draft start tonight?

The NFL Draft starts tonight, April 27th at 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central. The Carolina Panthers, who own the first pick (via a trade with the Chicago Bears) will have ten minutes to submit their selection once the commissioner announces the draft has begun.

Of course, they’ve had months to get this right, so they should know who they’re taking. The first round is the only round where teams have that much time to make a selection.