What to expect from the networks covering the 2018 NFL Draft

Michael McCarthy

•
What to expect from the networks covering the 2018 NFL Draft image

Watching the NFL Draft on TV used to be simple. For a quarter of a century (1980-2005), you tuned to ESPN. Then for 12 years (2006-2017) you watched either ESPN or NFL Network. That was it. Period.

Well, those easy, uncomplicated TV days of yore are gone for good. This year's three-day NFL Draft, which runs Thursday through Saturday in Arlington, Texas, will be shown across a record six TV networks, including two broadcast channels (Fox, ABC) and four cable networks: (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network). Viewers in Canada will be able to watch it on the new streaming service, DAZN, which is owned by Sporting News parent company Perform Group.

SIGN UP for a FREE 30-day trial of DAZN and watch the NFL Draft LIVE in Canada

For the first time, all seven rounds will air on broadcast TV. With five star quarterbacks — Sam Darnold, Heisman Trophy winners Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen — likely to go in Thursday's Round 1, this draft is poised to be the most-watched of all time. Besides, what would sports fans rather see on big Fox Thursday night? "Gotham?" "The Orville?" Or Round 1 of the NFL Draft? Please.

As the NFL's chief media officer Brian Rolapp noted when announcing the addition of Fox, fan interest in the NFL Draft only "grows year after year."

If the NFL has its way, and it usually does, league TV partners CBS and NBC may air the event in the future. That could create a virtual roadblock of draft coverage.

This year's event is expected to draw over 400,000 fans to the Cowboys' AT&T Stadium and dozens of league and sponsor events around the Arlington-Fort Worth-Dallas area. And no, NFL Insiders will not be tweeting out picks before they're announced live on TV. The NFL Draft is now more of a TV show than anything else. It doesn't do the league any good to suck the suspense out of its real-life soap opera.

"As we have in the past, we have asked all of our media partners not to tip the picks," said NFL spokesman Alex Riethmiller.

So what do TV networks have up their sleeves? Here's a scouting report on what the competing TV entities — ESPN/ABC and Fox/NFL Network — are planning for Round 1 (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET), Rounds 2-3 (Friday, 7 p.m. ET) and Rounds 4-7 (Saturday, Noon ET). 

ESPN/ABC

Overview: The Worldwide Leader in Sports was the sole network showing the draft for decades. Its hope is that viewers believe ESPN is still the best as rival Fox Sports gets its nose under the tent for the first time. ESPN will televise all seven rounds. Sister Disney network ABC will simulcast ESPN's coverage of rounds 4-7 on Saturday. 

Key players: Trey Wingo will serve as main host for the second straight year, following in the footsteps of Chris Berman, the face of ESPN's draft coverage for 37 years. Joining Wingo will be draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., front office insider Louis Riddick and "College GameDay" analyst Kirk Herbstreit. Kiper is the "GOAT" of draft gurus, according to Seth Markman, ESPN's NFL czar. The telecast wouldn't be the same without him. 

Other key contributors: NFL Insiders Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, analyst Todd McShay and host Suzy Kolber. 

Game changer: Kirk Herbstreit. Markman calls the popular "Herbie" the "face" of college football on TV. ESPN is hoping his presence on the main set will attract "College GameDay" fans. Herbstreit's knowledge of players coming out of the college game is second to none, added Markman: "He knows these guys better than anyone. Knows the systems they came from. Knows all the coaches they played for. I think he’s going to add something that we’ve never had before."

 NFL fans can watch all seven rounds of the draft in Canada on DAZN.

Rising stars: Look for Louis Riddick, a rocket ship in Bristol, to get more air time. Ditto for McShay, Kiper's longtime draft foil. 

What's new: ESPN's "College GameDay" has long been one of ESPN's biggest hits. The network is smartly plotting "College GameDay's" first on-location visit to the NFL Draft at Jerry World, the same way the traveling show visits Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson.

Before kickoff of Round 1, ESPN will show a two-hour "College GameDay" starring Herbstreit, Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and David Pollack (5-7 p.m. ET). Then, when the main NFL action gets underway on ESPN, sister network ESPN2 will offer viewers a college football-themed viewing option. Smart move.

Did you know? Leading into Round 1, ESPN will show 26 consecutive hours of draft coverage. Also, ESPN Deportes will offer a Spanish-language telecast of Round 1. ESPN3 will show Rounds 2-3 in Spanish.

Quote: Burke Magnus, ESPN executive vice president of programming and scheduling: "The draft is the perfect intersection of college football and the NFL, so giving fans the opportunity to experience Round 1 through the lens of 'College GameDay' makes perfect sense."

FOX/NFL NETWORK

Overview: The league's NFL Network has played second fiddle to ESPN at the draft for years. But the gap between the telecasts is shrinking, both in viewers and acclaim. Some critics would tell you NFL Network's one-two punch of anchor Rich Eisen and draft guru Mike Mayock were superior to Berman/Kiper and now Wingo/Kiper.

With this year's Fox/NFL Network simulcast, NFL Network would dearly love to claim victory at last in the draft ratings battle. If you combine NFL Network's viewership with Fox's broad reach, they might beat ESPN this year. Fox reaches over 100 million homes while NFL Network goes to more than 70 million. Due to cable TV customers cutting the cord, ESPN is down to about 87 million homes. 

Key players: Eisen, the ex-ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor, will serve as host. He'll be joined by Mayock and analysts Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Deion Sanders, Steve Smith Sr., and Steve Mariucci. Plus, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, Peter Schrager of "Good Morning Football," Melissa Stark, Chris Rose, Colleen Wolfe and Kyle Brandt. Fox's lead college football analyst, Joel Klatt, will appear on pre-draft coverage of Rounds 1-3 and live coverage of Rounds 2-3.

Sports fans can SIGN UP for a FREE 30-day trial of DAZN.

Game changer: Aikman and Glazer. Adding Aikman, Fox's No. 1 game analyst, and scoop machine Glazer will give NFL Network's coverage a new look. But the duo has to deliver on the big stage with hard-hitting analysis and news/insights. Aikman will work on a set just outside the stadium, alongside Mariucci and Steve Smith. Meanwhile, Eisen, Mayock, Jeremiah and Shaw will man the main set inside the stadium.

Rising stars: NFL Insider Rapoport has been coming on strong. As the answer to ESPN's Schefter, his scoops will be featured prominently. Schrager has become a star on the "Good Morning NFL" weekday show. His work as a sideline reporter helps too. Look for him to get plenty of air time.

What's new? NFL Network will deploy 21 "war room" cameras at team facilities, including the Browns as they make the No. 1 pick.

Did you know? The NFL has confirmed running back Saquon Barkley of Penn State and quarterbacks Sam Darnold of USC and Josh Allen of Wyoming will attend the draft. ... If five quarterbacks are taken in Round 1, it will mark the third time that has happened since the beginning of the so-called "common draft" in 1967. The 1983 version holds the record with six QB's taken in Round 1, including Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly.

Quote: Mark Silverman, president of Fox Sports National Networks: "The opportunity for Fox to help shape the stories that are told around such an energetic and optimistic time for NFL fans is definitely a place we want to be." 

Michael McCarthy

Michael McCarthy Photo

Michael McCarthy is an award-winning journalist who covers Sports Meda, Business and Marketing for Sporting News. McCarthy’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC.com, Newsday, USA TODAY and Adweek.