NFL Draft 2026: Night 1 Open Thread

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Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas was was selected 9th overall by the New Orleans Saints during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The New Orleans Saints are set to begin another important draft weekend tonight in Pittsburgh. They are slotted to pick at number 8 as of this moment and we will see if they stand pat, move ahead, or fall back with their first-round pick. This, of course, all adds to the drama that is the NFL Draft. Hopefully the Saints start this draft with a fantastic pick tonight.

Here is the information on how to watch tonight’s first round:

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2026 NFL Draft

First Round – Thursday, April 23rd

Start Time – 5:00pm PST / 7:00pm CST / 8:00pm EST

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ESPN

Host – Mike Greenberg

Analysts – Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland, and Mel Kiper, Jr.

Reports – Adam Schefter

Interviews – Molly McGrath

Online Streaming and Mobile – espn.com/watch and ESPN App

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NFL Network

Host – Rich Eisen

Analysts – Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, and Joel Klatt

Reports – Kurt Warner and Ian Rapoport

Interviews – Jamie Erdahl

Online Streaming and Mobile – NFL.com and NFL App

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ABC

Host – Rece Davis

Analysts – Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Field Yates, and Nick Saban

Reports – Pete Thamel

Interviews – Laura Rutledge

Online Streaming and Mobile – abc.go.com and ABC App

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ESPN Radio

Host – Chris Carlin

Analysts – Mike Tannenbaum, Max Starks, Ian Fitzsimmons, and Jordan Reid

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Let’s enjoy the tension, anger, elation, agony, euphoria, shock, hilarity, and all other emotions that go along with the NFL Draft!