The NFL Draft is back next Thursday, and in addition to ESPN’s dual broadcast coverage on both their main channel and ABC, the NFL Network will once again be covering all seven rounds.
Starting from the first round on Thursday night through the end of coverage on Saturday, NFL Network plans to offer “round-the-clock” coverage. That’s just part of the 80 hours they plan on airing starting with preview coverage this Sunday.
From their release:
For the 15th year, NFL Network provides live on-location coverage of the NFL Draft. NFL Network’s coverage of the 2021 NFL Draft from Cleveland kicks off Thursday, April 29 at 8:00 PM ET with first round coverage provided by 2021 Sports Emmy nominee host Rich Eisen, draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, analyst Charles Davis and Stanford head coach David Shaw, along with analyst Kurt Warner, FOX Sports’ lead college football analyst Joel Klatt, and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Additionally, Melissa Stark interviews the draftees on-stage following their selection.
NFL Network’s live coverage of the 2021 NFL Draft continues with Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday, April 30 at 7:00 PM ET, with NFL Network’s Peter Schrager and Chris Rose joining Eisen, Jeremiah, Davis, Klatt, Rapoport and Stark.
Live coverage of the 2021 NFL Draft concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, May 1 at 12 Noon ET with Eisen, Jeremiah, Davis, Schrager and Rapoport.
For first round coverage, NFL Network will also have reporters on site at strategically selected team draft rooms:
- Judy Battista & James Palmer – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Stacey Dales – Philadelphia Eagles
- Mike Giardi – New England Patriots
- Kim Jones – New York Jets
- Aditi Kinkhabwala – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Omar Ruiz – Miami Dolphins
- Michael Silver – Denver Broncos
- Jane Slater – Dallas Cowboys
- Steve Wyche – Atlanta Falcons
- Mike Yam – San Francisco 49ers
After last year’s remote Draft, which saw Roger Goodell sitting in a recliner and Bill Belichick’s dog running the Pats draft for a while, this year will be a return to (somewhat) normal coverage and logistics. There will still certainly be some constraints posed by the ongoing pandemic, but there’s something comforting in the knowledge that from Sunday through next weekend, you can flip on NFL Network and know there will be someone talking about what the Bears might do at quarterback in the middle of the draft.
About Jay Rigdon
Jay is a columnist at Awful Announcing. He is not a strong swimmer. He is probably talking to a dog in a silly voice at this very moment.