• by David Goetzl , July 23, 2009

The NFL is throwing long with its annual draft, moving the first two rounds into prime time -- with round one on ESPN and the NFL Network airing on a Thursday, opposite some of the most popular shows on television.

Thursday brings competition such as "Gray's Anatomy" and "CSI," but also opportunity -- it draws more ad dollars than any other night. Plus, the NFL may get a break as networks often repeat top shows in late April, holding new episodes for the May sweeps.

The draft, which begins April 22, will also stretch over three days for the first time. The broadcast of rounds two and three will drift into prime time on Friday, and the remaining rounds will take place during the day Saturday.

The Thursday broadcast starts at 7:30 p.m., with Friday starting a half hour earlier. Both run until 11 p.m.

Since 1995, the draft has run on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, though the start times have been getting later. The draft has been growing increasingly popular -- in line with the league itself -- reaching what the NFL said was a record high this year.

The NFL said the first round on ESPN and the NFL Network drew a combined 6.3 million viewers, competing partly against the NBA playoffs.

"We continue to look for ways to make the draft more accessible to more fans," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television."