NFL Draft 2020 dates, start time, pick order, TV channels & updated mock drafts

The 2020 NFL Draft will start on the date for which it was originally scheduled. This is notable considering the coronavirus pandemic has either shut down or pushed back almost every other event on the global sports calendar.

Per usual, the NFL Draft in 2020 will start on a Thursday (April 23) in prime time and run through Saturday (April 25). For the second year in a row, ABC is an option as a TV channel on which one can watch all seven rounds of the NFL Draft. ESPN and NFL Network also will broadcast the 2020 NFL Draft in its entirety. The start time for Round 1 of the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23 is 8 p.m. ET. The start time for Rounds 2-3 of the 2020 NFL Draft, scheduled to take place Friday, is 7 p.m. ET. The start time for Day 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft, which includes Rounds 4-7, is 12 p.m. ET.

The 2020 NFL Draft also can be streamed live on the ESPN app or the NFL app (among other streaming options) across multiple devices. In Canada, the entire 2020 NFL Draft can be streamed on DAZN.

NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS:
Big board of the top 100 players in 2020

In terms of normality, that's about it for the 2020 NFL Draft. The event was originally scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, but the COVID-19 outbreak forced the NFL to cancel all public events in the new home of the Raiders. Instead, teams will make their selections from remote locations after more than a month of remote scouting. In that sense, the 2020 NFL Draft will be an unprecedented event.

Below is all you need to know about the 2020 NFL Draft, including TV channels and start times for all three days, plus the order of all 255 picks, SN's latest mock draft, a big board of the top 100 prospects and more.

When is the NFL Draft in 2020?

• Dates: Thursday, April 23 (Round 1) | Friday, April 24 (Rounds 2-3) | Saturday, April 25 (Rounds 4-7)
• Start times: 8 p.m. ET (Thursday) | 7 p.m. ET (Friday) | Noon ET (Saturday)
• TV channels: ABC | ESPN | NFL Network
• Live stream: ESPN app | NFL app | DAZN (in Canada)

The 2020 NFL Draft is scheduled to begin Thursday, April 23 with the first of seven rounds. The draft continues Friday, April 24 with the second and third rounds, and it concludes Saturday, April 25 with the last four rounds.

Over the span of three days, a total of 255 NFL Draft picks will be made by 32 teams.

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What time does the NFL Draft start?

The start time for the 2020 NFL Draft is 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23. That night, the entire first round of the 2020 NFL Draft will play out, but only the first round.

The start time for the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft is 7 p.m. ET on Friday. Round 3 of the NFL Draft will also play out Friday night. The start time for Saturday's coverage of the NFL Draft, which includes Rounds 4-7, is noon ET.

In the first round of the NFL Draft, each team gets 10 minutes to make its pick. In the second and third rounds, each team gets seven minutes to make its pick. In the fourth, fifth, sixth rounds, each team gets five minutes to make its pick. In the seventh round, each team gets four minutes to make its pick. If a team lets its time expire without making its pick, it can make a pick later, but it runs the risk of letting the next team on the clock take the player it was considering.

That process and timing means the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night will last roughly three hours. Rounds 2-3 on Friday night will last roughly four hours, and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday will last roughly six hours.

NFL Draft TV schedule

The entirety of the 2020 NFL Draft will broadcast live on three different TV networks — ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. ESPN Deportes also will present a Spanish edition of ESPN’s broadcast.

Anybody with access to broadcast TV (even without cable) can watch the NFL Draft on ABC. All the major cable networks carry both ESPN (Xfinity channel 49) and NFL Network (Xfinity channel 265). The specific ESPN and NFL Network channels for Spectrum, Cox and Optimum cable customers vary based on viewing area.

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How to live stream the NFL Draft

NFL Draft live steams can be found on multiple platforms and can be viewed on multiple devices. As for live TV streaming services, YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, Sling TV and AT&T TV Now all carry at least one of the channels broadcasting the 2020 NFL Draft. AT&T Watch TV, however, does not carry ABC, ESPN or NFL Network.

For those with connected TV devices (Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, PS4 and Roku), the NFL Draft can be streamed live with the NFL App, the ABC App or the ESPN App by authentication with participating TV providers.

Similar options are available for those who wish to live stream the NFL Draft via mobile devices and tablets — the NFL App, the NFL Network App, the ABC App and the ESPN App. On computers and laptops, a live stream of the NFL Draft will be available by authentication with participating TV providers at NFL.com/Watch, ESPN.com/Watch and ABC.go.com.

In Canada, the NFL Draft can be streamed live on DAZN, which includes NFL Network coverage and offers a free trial period for new subscribers.

NFL Draft 2020 order of picks

A handful of trades involving 2020 NFL Draft picks has shaken up the order for all seven rounds, leaving teams like the Dolphins an embarrassment of riches with 14 selections (including six in the first three rounds) and teams like the Saints with only five.

There are 255 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft now that 32 compensatory picks have been added to Rounds 3-7.

• First round:

(You can find the full, updated order for Rounds 2-7 here.)

2020 NFL mock draft

NFL free agency changed what we expect to happen in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The 49ers and Vikings, for example, recently acquired additional first-round picks via trades and gave themselves new options for the selection process.

Based on the latest 2020 NFL mock draft from SN's Vinnie Iyer, here are our projections for the first five picks.

• 1. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14): Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

"Unless another team gets aggressive and makes Cincinnati an offer it can't refuse, Burrow will be the franchise quarterback under offensive-minded coach Zac Taylor. At 6-3, 221 pounds, Burrow combines his mental and physical toughness in the pocket with a strong arm and an accurate delivery. During his Heisman Trophy- and national championship-winning run with the Tigers, his leadership skills and athleticism flourished at an unprecedented college level."

• 2. Washington Redskins (3-13): Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

"With defensive-minded Ron Rivera as the new coach, assuming the Redskins do not get a can’t-refuse offer to trade back, they should jump at the chance to get this cornerstone talent for the team's defensive rebuild. Young (6-5, 264 pounds) is a game-changing disruptor who had 16.5 sacks in only 12 games as a junior. He can produce at an all-around level even higher than that of Nick Bosa, who went No. 2 from the Buckeyes to the 49ers and promptly dominated as SN's Rookie of the Year."

• 3. Detroit Lions (3-12-1): Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

"The Lions moved Darius Slay in a trade with the Eagles and signed Desmond Trufant to replace him, but they need to address the other outside corner spot. Okudah, an elite ball hawk at 6-1, 205 pounds, has the build to handle receivers of all sizes. He is fluid and quick enough with great recovery skills in coverage to develop into a shutdown type with his strengths showing up in press man."

• 4. New York Giants (4-12): Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

"After landing three defensive starters in free agency, the Giants can turn to right tackle with someone who can eventually take over for Nate Solder on the left side. Becton (6-7, 364 pounds) has gotten more attention for his strong and powerful frame, and he has shown he can be smooth in his movements. He is willing to work hard to become as good in pass protection as he is overwhelming defenders when sealing the edge in the running game."

• 5. Miami Dolphins (5-11): Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

"The Dolphins have resisted another veteran option with current bridge QB Ryan Fitzpatrick under contract for one more year. That provides the all-clear for Tagovailoa (6-0, 217 pounds), who has been cleared for football contact after the hip injury that cut short his final college season. When healthy, Tagovailoa is an accurate, mobile, deep-ball throwing QB with the upside of Russell Wilson, only throwing with his left arm."

(SN's mock draft for the entire first round can be found here.)

NFL Draft prospects

Because different teams have different needs, especially at the top of the NFL Draft, the best players available won’t necessarily be selected in order. For example, many believe the Bengals will select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the top overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but Burrow is the fifth best prospect on Sporting News’ big board.

According to SN NFL writer Vinnie Iyer, here are the top 10 prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State 
2. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson 
3. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
4. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn 
5. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU 
6. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama 
7. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
8. Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama 
9. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma 
10. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama 

For a complete ranking of the top 100 prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft, here is SN’s big board.