when does 2nd round of nfl draft start

The 2nd round of the 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 24, 2026.

Quick Scoop: Key Details

• Day: Friday, April 24, 2026.

• Rounds on Day 2: Round 2 and Round 3 both take place that night.

• Start time: 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).

• Overall draft dates: April 23–25, 2026.

How it fits into the draft schedule

• Thursday, April 23: Round 1, starting at 8 p.m. ET.

• Friday, April 24: Rounds 2–3, starting at 7 p.m. ET.

• Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4–7, starting at 12 p.m. ET.

Why it’s usually at night

In recent years, the NFL has consistently put Rounds 2–3 in a prime‑time Friday window around 7 p.m. ET , to maximize TV audience and keep the draft as a multi-day event. That pattern continues for the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh.

So if you’re planning to tune in, block off your Friday evening—Round 2 kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and runs straight into Round 3. 📺

TL;DR: If you’re searching “when does 2nd round of nfl draft start” for the upcoming draft, it’s 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 24, 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.