The NFL is looking further into the future for its draft locations, potentially even beyond its Super Bowl schedule. While Super Bowl sites are locked in through February 2029, the league may award the April 2029 draft around the same time it selects the 2028 host city.

According to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, Cincinnati is emerging as a strong contender—with some insiders saying the city has the "inside track"—to host the 2029 NFL Draft. However, it remains uncertain whether the league will make that decision in the near term.

For 2028, Minnesota is the "clear favorite" to be awarded the draft later this month. This would mark the latest in a growing trend of cities vying to host the league's premier offseason event, which has become a major tourism and economic driver.

Commissioner Roger Goodell recently told Pat McAfee that the league may start awarding drafts "a little further in advance" due to the increasing complexity of hosting. "The Super Bowl has gotten to a point where it’s not just the stadium size... but also hotel rooms and all the other facilities. Hosting the draft is slightly easier, but it’s getting more difficult," Goodell explained.

This logistical reality highlights a key issue: the NFL still hasn't set a firm date for Super Bowl LXII, which would be played more than two months before the 2028 draft. The delay points to one major reason—the league's ongoing push to expand the regular season to 18 games starting in 2027.

If owners don't announce a specific date for the Atlanta-hosted Super Bowl (currently projected as February 13, 2028 under the current schedule) at their upcoming meeting later this month, it signals they'll spend the summer working to convince the NFL Players Association to agree to the inevitable expansion as soon as possible.

For fans and collectors, this means more opportunities to snag draft-day gear from potential host cities like Cincinnati and Minnesota—perfect for showing team pride before the big event arrives.