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The NFL, President Donald Trump and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris officially announced that the 2027 NFL Draft will take place in Washington, D.C., on Monday (May 5).
"The NFL Draft has become a marquee event, uniting fans across the country and around the world," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell alongside the president in the Oval Office via NFL.com. "We are excited to bring the 2027 Draft to Washington, D.C., a city rich in history and national pride. With the support of President Trump, the Commanders, Events DC, and Mayor Bowser we're looking forward to delivering an unforgettable experience as we celebrate the next generation of NFL stars."
The announcement came exactly one week after Harris and Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans for a more than $2.7 billion stadium to be built at the campus of the old RFK Stadium in downtown Washington, D.C. The proposed roof stadium will be part of a transformation project that will include housing, parks and recreation, hotels, restaurants, retail and neighborhood amenities, which is projected to be completed in 2030, according to the Commanders' official website.
Renderings of the new stadium showed a glass dome roof with a view of the United States Capitol.
The Commanders previously played at RFK Stadium from 1961 to 1996 before moving to the current Northwest Stadium, originally Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, in 1997. The Commanders pledged an investment of at least $2.7 billion to the roofed stadium project, which is the single largest private investment in the city's history, while the DC Government will also invest $500 million. The announced follows a recent renaissance for the Washington NFL franchise.
Harris officially purchased the team in 2023 and the Commanders selected former Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft with Daniels winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award and going 12-5 as a starter, clinching Washington's first playoff appearance since 2020.