The NFL Draft currently consists of seven rounds. Each of the 32 NFL teams receives one pick in each round, although the total number of picks can vary due to compensatory selections and forfeitures
. The seven-round format has been in place since 1994, after the league experimented with eight rounds in 1993. Prior to that, the draft had as many as 30 or more rounds in earlier decades
. In summary:
- Number of rounds: 7
- Each team normally has one pick per round
- Compensatory picks can increase the total number of selections beyond 224
- The draft is held over three days, with rounds 1-3 on the first two days and rounds 4-7 on the third day
