NFL Announces Draft Changes

The NFL reports that the draft process will undergo significant changes, starting this year. Day 1 of the draft will now only include rounds 1 and 2, and each round’s selection time limit has been shortened. Full Story:

The NFL announced several revisions to its annual college draft today to streamline the selection process for clubs and fans.

The changes were announced by Commissioner Roger Goodell at a league meeting in Philadelphia.

Beginning with next year’s draft, only Rounds 1 and 2 will take place on Saturday (April 26), the first day of the draft. Previously, the first three rounds of the draft were conducted on Saturday.

The time allocated for each club to make its selection in Rounds 1 and 2 also has been changed.

Instead of 15 minutes for each pick in Round 1, clubs will now be allowed 10 minutes. In Round 2, the selection time has been shortened to seven minutes from 10 minutes.

The draft also will begin later on Saturday — at 3:00 p.m rather than at noon.

Round 3 will be moved to Sunday and remain at five minutes per selection. Rounds 3 through 7 will be conducted on Sunday, with each selection allocated at five minutes.

The draft on Sunday now will begin at 10:00 a.m. rather than 11:00 a.m.

“We believe these changes will make for a more streamlined and efficient draft,” said Commissioner Goodell.

The 2008 NFL Draft will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and televised by NFL Network and ESPN.