As the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh, it could be a late night for Steelers fans (and not only for those navigating 17 new road closures because of the draft). The team is more than halfway down the list of first-round picks in this year's draft.
So what time will the Steelers make their pick? Here's when you should tune in if you're not at the draft.
The Draft is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, and the Steelers are slated to pick at No. 21 in the first round of the draft. Teams get 10 minutes to make their first-round selections.
If each team takes the full amount of time, Pittsburgh might have to wait 200 minutes – three hours and 20 minutes – to be on the clock. That means the Steelers' first pick might not come until 11:30 p.m. ET.
That time could change, however, depending on whether or not each team takes the full allotted time to make a pick or Pittsburgh makes a trade to move up or down the draft order.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to make a decision about whether or not he'll stay with the Steelers at some point, a choice Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen recently said was "50-50."
Some speculated Rodgers might make a decision before or at the draft, but NFL insider Tom Pelissero said Rodgers' timeline to announce his plans would happen after draft, possibly in May.
Other than the Arizona Cardinals, every NFL team already has a clear starter or candidates to win the starting job for 2026.
As they head into the draft, the Steelers have needs at quarterback, safety, linebacker, cornerback, wide receiver, a running back and offensive tackle. Only five of 14 quarterbacks presumed to go in the 2026 draft receieved a grade of B or higher from USA TODAY experts.
Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Friday, April 24, starting at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 4-7 will start at noon ET on Saturday, April 25.
Round 2 picks will last seven minutes, while picks in rounds 3–6 picks will be five minutes each. In Round 7, teams will get four minutes.
As of April 23, Pittsburgh has the No. 53 overall pick in the second round and Nos. 76, 85 and 99 in the third round.
Multiple channels will broadcast the draft, including NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The draft will be available for streaming on NFL+.
It's free to attend the draft, but attendees must register for free access to the draft campus ahead of time through the NFL OnePass app or on the NFL's website.
The NFL Draft will take place from April 23–25, with events split across the Allegheny River.
The Draft Theater and Main Stage are set to be located on the North Shore in the area outside Acrisure Stadium, according to VisitPITTSBURGH. The NFL Draft Experience, a free fan festival, will take place at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What time do the Steelers pick? Possible first round timing tonight