NFL Draft Clock Shrinks to 5 Minutes

0:00On May 1st, the 2026 NFL draft is in the books, and all 32 teams are gearing up for the regular season while rookie settle in. Football talk is buzzing about the strength of each squad's new class, but Colt's GM Chris Ballard drops some real talk on the Rich Eisen show about. A big draft week. They cut the first round pick clock from 10 minutes down to 8th this year, and Ballard is pushing to slash it even more, all the way to 5. He laid it out straight, saying teams need their plans locked in before the clock starts, because debating late is just too risky. Most front offices roll with detailed boards for every possible spot, so no one's caught off guard. Teams adapted quick to the shorter timer, firing off picks at a solid clip without much drama. Folks around the league figure other GMs feel the same, why drag it out when you're ready to roll. The Colt skipped the first round altogether, after trading that pick to the Jets last season for cornerback Ahmad Saus Gardener, so Ballard didn't. Sweat the change first hand. Expect the NFL to keep speeding things up.

1:04A five minute clock could hit as early as next April, keeping the whole draft flowing smooth and efficient.