After the whirlwind of free agency, teams turn their attention to shoring up their rosters through the draft. On Thursday, 257 college players will be selected. The first round begins at 8 p.m. ET and each team has 10 minutes to make its pick. The second and third rounds are on Friday, and the final rounds are on Saturday.
Some of the big names to watch this year include Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who has the potential to become a two-way star thanks to his gunslinging style and high ceiling. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Mason Graham is another name to consider, as the Outland Trophy winner has the speed and strength to evade blocks and power through opponents.
Fantasy footballers will also want to take a close look at Oregon running back Bo Nix, who has the skills and vision to be a productive NFL starter. Another player to watch is Florida State pass rusher Abdul Carter, who ranked sixth in FBS with 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks last season.
Under the terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, teams that lose certain key players in free agency are awarded additional compensatory draft picks. These are awarded at the end of the three rounds, and this year, three such picks were assigned to teams that lost players who met specific criteria. The NFL has the right to award up to four extra picks in 2025.