Mandi Wright / USA TODAY NETWORK
The seven-round NFL Draft has been the staple for decades now. Is it time for the draft to grow? What’s better than the NFL Draft? How about more NFL Draft?
Realistically, the draft is not everyone’s cup of tea. After all, football is won
in February, not the late-April draft. Yet for those that dive deep into scouting reports and mock drafts, it adds another level of intrigue to an otherwise long offseason. The early rounds of the draft have the greatest impact, yet it is the cumulative draft class that can change the fortunes of an NFL season. Where would the Detroit Lions be without fourth-round Amon-Ra St. Brown? How different would their offensive line look in 2025 without the early success of sixth rounder Christian Mahogany? Every draft pick is a chance to select a great player.
Should NFL teams get one more bite at the apple?
The NFL Draft has been set at seven rounds since 1994. The 1993 NFL Draft was eight rounds long, while the earlier drafts lasted anywhere from 12 to 30 rounds. Expanding the draft has not been a talking point of late, but given the growing number of NFL-caliber prospects both inside and outside the United States, would it make sense to add more rounds?
Today’s Question of the Day is:
Should the NFL expand the NFL Draft?
My answer: Yes, and I think there are two ways that the NFL should expand the draft.
The first and most obvious way is to simply add an additional round.
Undrafted free agents are making impacts on an annual basis. Hogan Hatten won the long snapper role for the Lions last season as an undrafted rookie. Beanie Bishop and Jalen Coker turned in great rookie seasons in 2024 for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, respectively. From Pro Bowlers to contributors to depth pieces, there is value in undrafted players.
The seventh round is often viewed as an afterthought, and the reason is somewhat justified. It is rare for these players to become superstars, and many of the names being called are complete unknowns to casual draft fans. It is odd how, in contrast, the undrafted signing period is a frenzy as names are quickly scooped up by teams post-draft. NFL teams clearly have interest in more prospects than there are draft positions, why not present them with an additional round to skip the chaos that is undrafted free agency?
Adding an eighth round would not change the number of rookies joining a team. Being drafted is no guarantee of making the team, but it is a vote of confidence that undrafted rookies rarely get. Additionally, it might encourage teams to draft more specialists, such as kickers, punters, and long snappers—the seventh round might be too rich for some teams, but an eighth round could be the sweet spot for positional value. It would also add one more year of team control, from the mandatory three-year UDFA deal to a rookie four-year contract.
An alternative to adding an eighth round would be to make it exclusive to international players. The NFL is pushing itself internationally with the International Series in Europe and the Americas, with an Australian-hosted game coming in 2026 as well. The NFL also runs the International Player Pathway program as a way to grow their international player base. Each year, players within the program (from outside the United States and Canada) can sign with NFL teams or, if eligible, be selected in the NFL Draft. The international player is granted a roster exemption until the 53-man roster is established—this does not apply to the regular season active roster, but if they land on the practice squad, they maintain this exemption. The Lions have used this previously with David Bada (2024) and Max Pircher (2023). As a side note, despite Giovanni Manu’s Tongan citizenship, he is not eligible for the program as his pre-draft residence was Canada.
The Canadian Football League has a similar concept with the CFL Global Draft, a two-round format in which players from outside Canada and the United States are selected. I see no reason why the NFL could not expand to include something similar, either as an additional round or as a separate draft entirely. It not only incentivizes teams to scout internationally, such as the Philadelphia Eagles with Jordan Mailata, it also ensures more opportunities for international players in general.
Would the eighth round of the NFL Draft be must-watch television? Certainly not, but I see little harm in growing the draft. The MLB has 20 rounds—too many for the NFL—and the NBA has just two—too few for the NFL. I think eight rounds is a sweet spot for football, a balance between finding contributors versus having enough roster spots to accommodate them all. And if the NFL wants to bump up the roster limit while they’re at it, I would not complain.
Is a seven-round NFL Draft the right amount, or would you rather see the number of rounds increased? Let us know in the comments below.
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