Predicting NFL Draft locations for 2025, 2026 and beyond
Here's a look at NFL Drafts past, thoughts about the selection meeting's present, and theories about possible locations in the future.
It seems like it's been forever since the football universe fixated its gaze on the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. A phenomenal and unexpected fairy-tale ride that ended with the Birds hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy and a victory parade in February of 2018 began with an NFL Draft in the City of Brotherly Love.
This time, we travel nine and a half hours down I-80 or I-76 (both have tolls) and we leave the Philadelphia Museum of Art to embark on a journey toward Campus Martius Park's Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan. This year's selection meeting will be held in Motown,
If nothing changes between now and Thursday (or during the draft's three-day span), Philly will make eight selections. It should be fun. Then, the discussions will begin about another NFL Draft and then another.
Where will the next NFL Draft be held? Who are the likely cities to host future NFL Drafts?
Philly has hosted 13 NFL Drafts, including the first in 1936 at Philly's Ritz-Carlton Hotel and five straight from 1957 to 1961. A three-year stay in Chicago from 1962 to 1964 preceded the NFL's decision to settle on New York as its home, where it remained from 1965 until 2014.
Chicago was again the draft's home in 2015 and 2016 before, as mentioned earlier, Philly was the host in 2017. It has since been a traveling circus. 2020's version was the only exception as COVID-19 forced the event to be held virtually.
Where might future locations be? We're glad you asked. Here's an attempt to answer those questions.
2025 NFL Draft: Green Bay, Wisconsin
There is no need to make any predictions here. The 2025 NFL Draft will be hosted in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 24-26, 2025. Packers.com states the draft "will take place in Green Bay inside and around iconic Lambeau Field and Titletown."
This should be interesting as, according to Forbes magazine, 312,000 people attended the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City. The U.S. Census estimated that Green Bay's population was around 106,095 in 2022. That's on;y 6,018 more than the total capacity of the Alabama Crimson Tide's Bryant-Denny Stadium.
2026 NFL Draft prediction: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
While no one knows who will host the 2026 NFL Draft, we'd like to make our pitch for Pittsburgh, PA. That's only a 4:48 drive from Philly down I-76. Plus, this could be a possibility.
In February, the Steelers announced they had submitted a bid for the City of Pittsburgh to host either the 2026 or 2027 NFL Draft. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has shown his support. He has also penned a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The Steel City hasn't hosted an NFL Draft since 1947.
2027 NFL Draft prediction: Cincinnati, Ohio?
We haven't considered or mentioned Cincinnati as a possible draft location often, but this could be fun. Jason Williams of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports Cincy is "targeting a 2027 bid" for the NFL Draft. The Bengals and Visit Cincy have shown tremendous interest in bringing the draft to Cincinnati.
According to Brian Planalp of FOX19, there are two potential locations to consider... "Future highway caps over Fort Washington Way or a future outdoor plaza/exhibition space on the former site of the Millennium Hotel,"
Had Green Bay not been selected to host the 2025 NFL Draft, another bid reportedly would have been made for 2027, but now that we know the first bid was successful, that clears a path for Cincinnati to get its wish granted two years later.
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