USFL Draft details: Time, draft order, selection process
The uniforms have been unveiled. The draft lottery has been won. Now, it's time for the new United States Football League to draft its players.
The 35-round inaugural USFL Player Draft, a historic two-day event, will take place Tuesday and Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama, home to every USFL regular-season game in 2022.
Officially known as the Player Selection Meeting, Day 1 of the inaugural USFL Draft begins Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT, consisting of 12 rounds — and the USFL Draft will be unlike any other.
Day 1 of the draft will proceed by position, beginning with quarterbacks in Round 1, followed by edge rushers and defensive ends in Rounds 2 through 4, offensive tackles in Rounds 5 through 7, cornerbacks in Rounds 8 through 11 and back to quarterbacks in Round 12.
Teams will each have two minutes per selection on Day 1, and the selection order will use an analytical modified snake system between positional rounds so that each team has two No. 1 picks at two positions — the first time such a draft order has been used in a major professional sports draft.
Here is the full draft order for the first round of the 2022 USFL Draft, as determined by Thursday's draft lottery:
1. Michigan Panthers
2. Tampa Bay Bandits
3. Philadelphia Stars
4. New Jersey Generals
5. Houston Gamblers
6. Birmingham Stallions
7. Pittsburgh Maulers
8. New Orleans Breakers
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With the USFL draft just days away, the order for the first round was revealed in a lottery Thursday on "Speak For Yourself."
Day 2 of the USFL Draft will start at 9 a.m. CT on Wednesday and will proceed until 35 rounds are completed. From Round 13 until Round 23, teams will have 90 seconds per pick, and the positional order will be wide receivers in Rounds 13-17, safeties in Rounds 18-19, center in Round 20, inside linebacker in Round 21, and guards in Rounds 22-23.
Teams will have one minute per pick in Rounds 23-35, which will focus on defensive tackles and nose tackles in Rounds 24-26, running backs and fullbacks in Rounds 27-28, outside linebackers in Rounds 29-31, kickers in Round 32, punters in Round 33, tight ends and H-backs in Round 34, and long-snappers in Round 35. Teams must draft at least one player from each position group.
USFL teams are drafting from a pool of 450-500 players who have already signed contracts to play in the league. Only players who have signed contracts are eligible for selection.
Trades between teams to swap draft picks or acquire a player or players will not be permitted, but teams may elect to pass during any round, receiving a compensatory pick that may be used at the conclusion of a different position round. But remember, teams must draft at least one player from each position group.
The USFL will provide real-time coverage of the 2022 player Draft, including selection, reporting, features, and behind-the-scenes content through its League and team social channels, as well as on FOX Sports' digital platforms.
For even more on the new USFL, check out our Everything You Need To Know, and make sure to follow the USFL and your favorite teams!