How Many Picks Per Round Does the NFL Draft Have?

The NFL Draft is one of the most important events for any football fan. But how many picks are made per round? We break it down for you.

Introduction

Since the inaugural NFL Draft in 1936, the Canton Bulldogs held the first pick and chose Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago. In total, there have been 1,266 picks in the first round of the NFL draft. The number of picks per round has varied throughout the years as the NFL has expanded and contracted.

The following is a break down of how many picks there have been per round in NFL drafts dating back to 1936. The data includes all 1,266 picks made in the first round of NFL drafts from 1936 to 2018.

Data is sorted by year and then pick number. For example, in 1936, there were no picks made in Round 1 after pick 21. In 1937, there were no picks made in Round 1 after pick 18.

The Number of Picks Has Varied Over the Years

Since the NFL draft began in 1936, the number of picks per round has varied depending on the number of teams in the league. In 1936, there were only nine rounds and a total of 160 picks. The next year, 1937, saw ten rounds with a total of 180 picks.

The following year, 1938, saw a decrease in the number of rounds back down to nine, but an increase in the total number of picks to 186. This was most likely due to an expansion in the league, as two new teams were added that year. From 1939 to 1958, there were a total of 12 rounds and 221 picks each year.

The 1959 NFL Draft was historic as it marked the first time that there were more than 200 picks in a single draft. That year saw 14 rounds with a total of 250 selections. This remained the format until 1963 when the draft went back down to 12 rounds but increased the total number of picks to 244.

The following year, 1964, saw another expansion with the addition of two new franchises bringing the total number of teams up to 16 for that season. The draft went up to 15 rounds that year with a grand total of 360 selections. This is still the record for both the most rounds and most overall picks in a single NFL draft.

After 1964, the league began gradually reducing both the number of rounds and overall selections each year until it reached its current format in 2010: seven rounds with 254 total picks.

The Number of Picks Is Determined by the Number of Teams

The NFL draft consists of seven rounds, with each of the 32 teams getting one pick per round. The number of picks per round is determined by the number of teams in the league; since there are 32 teams in the NFL, there are 32 picks in each round of the draft.

The Number of Picks Is Also Determined by the Number of Compensatory Picks

In addition to the 32 total picks in each round, the number of selections is also determined by the number of compensatory picks. These are additional selections (usually in the later rounds) that are awarded to teams whose free agents have been signed by other teams. The number of compensatory picks each year can vary, but it is generally between 32 and 48.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the number of picks per round in the NFL draft has varied over the years, but it has generally stayed between 20 and 30. The number of rounds has also varied, but it has typically been between seven and ten. The NFL draft is an important event for teams to build their rosters, and it is one of the most anticipated events of the offseason.