The NFL Draft currently consists of seven rounds. Each of the 32 NFL teams generally receives one pick per round, making for a standard total of 224 picks, though the actual number can be higher due to compensatory picks awarded to teams under certain conditions, bringing the total closer to around 256 picks in recent drafts

. The draft format with seven rounds has been in place since 1994. Prior to that, the number of rounds varied significantly, ranging from as many as 30 rounds in earlier decades to 12 rounds after the AFL-NFL merger, before settling on seven rounds in the mid-1990s

. In summary:

• Number of rounds: 7
• Number of teams: 32
• Typical total picks: Approximately 224 base picks plus compensatory picks (up to 256 total)
• Seven-round format established in 1994

This structure allows teams to select new players in reverse order of their previous season's performance, with the worst team picking first in each round, subject to trades and compensatory picks