
The Walt Disney Company will kick off its presentation of the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 29, at 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT on ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and the ESPN App. Coverage will include 1,500 creative elements, 450 player highlight packages and 35 player vignettes. ESPN and ABC will document the three-day event with 50 cameras and more than 50 microphones following live action in Cleveland, more than 40 additional cameras at the homes of Draft prospects and another 32 cameras offering looks into each NFL Draft room.
On ESPN, Mike Greenberg will host primetime telecasts in Cleveland on April 29 and 30 with senior NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., NFL analysts Louis Riddick and Booger McFarland, Senior NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, and NFL host Suzy Kolber, who will interview draftees. This will be ESPNâs 42nd NFL Draft telecast.
On ABC, Rece Davis will host primetime broadcasts in Cleveland on April 29 and 30 with college football analysts Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard and senior NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay. From a nearby set, Maria Taylor will host with college football analysts Jesse Palmer and David Pollack. Taylor will also interview the family members of NFL draftees. Leveraging valuable insights from the eleven-time Sports EmmyÂŽ Award-winning âCollege GameDay Built by The Home Depotâ crew, ABC will offer player-focused coverage, giving insight to storylines on and off the field.
Following distinctive primetime presentations, the ABC and ESPN teams will combine to present Day 3 of the NFL Draft with Davis, Kiper, McShay, Riddick, Mortensen and Schefter offering commentary.
The ABC and ESPN teams will also preview the NFL Draft on editions of âCollege GameDayâ and âNFL Draft Countdown.â Pre-event coverage begins April 29-30 at 5 p.m. EDT and Saturday at 11 a.m. EDT, all on ESPN. Davis and Taylor will host âCollege GameDayâ April 29-30 and Laura Rutledge will host on May 1. Rutledge will also report from the red carpet for âCollege GameDayâ prior to Round 1. Greenberg will host âNFL Draft Countdown.â
On ESPN Deportes, âMonday Night Footballâ voices Eduardo Varela and Pablo Viruega will deliver exclusive Spanish-language coverage from ESPNâs headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Reporter Rebeca Landa and Sebastian Martinez-Christensen will provide reports.
ESPNâs coverage of the 2021 NFL Draft will also air internationally, reaching more than 60 million households in Spanish-speaking Latin America, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, the Netherlands and Africa.
On ESPN Radio, 6 p.m. EDT âSportsCenterâ anchors Elle Duncan and Kevin Negandhi will lead NFL Draft broadcasts April 29-30 from Bristol, Connecticut, alongside NFL Front Office Insider Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN Radioâs Bart Scott and reporter Ian Fitzsimmons. Duncan and Kevin Negandhi will also kick off next Thursday and Friday morning co-hosting ESPNâs âGet Upâ from 8-10 a.m. EDT. ESPN Radioâs coverage will continue on May 1 with host Jason Fitz, NFL Draft analyst and Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy, Tannenbaum and Fitzsimmons. Saturdayâs NFL Draft on ESPN Radio coverage will also be simulcast on many of ESPNâs digital and social platforms, including Twitter and Facebook.
In addition to airing live on ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and the ESPN App, the 2021 NFL Draft will be televised on NFL Network presented by Verizon and streamed live through NFL digital properties. âSportsNationââs NFL Draft Digital Show will also stream live Rounds 1-3. Further, ESPN will surround the three-day event with coverage across all platforms and countdown to Round 1 with a 26-hour âDraft Marathonâ across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS.
SportsNation NFL Draft Digital Show Streaming Live across the ESPN App, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and â in an ESPN first â TikTok
This year, ESPNâs live digital show for the NFL Draft will be anchored by âSportsNationâ on Thursday and Friday and accessible across the ESPN App, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and â for the first time for an ESPN studio production â TikTok. As fans have come to expect from the âSportsNationâ brand, the show will focus on reactions and engagement from fans both on site in Cleveland and across social media.
Ashley Brewer, Treavor Scales, and Mike Golic, Jr. will host from the main set in Bristol, Conn., and will be joined by a lineup of ESPNâs digital commentators including Mina Kimes and Harry Lyles as well as instant analysis from Matthew Berry, Jason Fitz and Field Yates. Together, they will deliver pick-by-pick coverage through the fansâ perspective with off-stage moments that will complement the viewing experience to the main telecast. The show will also feature first round reaction from âFirst Takeâ commentators Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman and player vignettes from âSportsCenterâ anchor Kevin Negandhi. Additionally, it will create real-time video highlights and moments for the ESPN App, YouTube, and across social platforms.
A multicast show with ESPN Radio will be live streamed for Saturdayâs coverage featuring Golic Jr., Scales and Yates.
ESPN NFL Reporters to Cover All 32 Teams
The following NFL reporters will appear on a variety of shows sharing the latest news from around the league: Jeff Darlington (covering the Buccaneers, Chiefs, Dolphins, Jaguars, Packers), Dan Graziano (Bengals, Chargers, Giants, Lions, 49ers), Kimberley A. Martin (Bills, Browns, Panthers, Vikings, Washington), Sal Paolantonio (Colts, Eagles, Jets, Ravens, Steelers), Mike Reiss (Patriots), Dianna Russini (Bears, Falcons, Raiders, Saints, Titans), Lindsey Thiry (Rams) and Ed Werder (Broncos, Cardinals, Cowboys, Seahawks, Texans).
âNFL Liveâ and Afternoon âSportsCenterâ Segments to Originate from Cleveland
Laura Rutledge will host âNFL Liveâ from Cleveland April 28-30 with NFL analysts Mina Kimes, Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark. The daily NFL news and information show will air at its regular time on April 28 (4-5 p.m. EDT) and expand to two hours April 29-30 (3-5 p.m. EDT), leading into âCollege GameDay.â The noon EDT edition of âSportsCenterâ will also expand for Draft coverage April 29-30, airing live until 3 p.m. EDT. Rutledge will host segments from Cleveland during the three-hour programs.
More Pre- and Post-Draft Coverage on âSportsCenterâ
âSportsCenter with Scott Van Peltâ will air at 11:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN following primetime presentations of the Draft with more reaction, analysis and interviews. Leading up to the Draft, editions of âSportsCenterâ will air related content including a series narrated by anchor Kevin Negandhi that explores the Draft needs of the Jets, Dolphins, Patriots, 49ers and more, as well as a virtual reality series with analyst Dan Orlovsky breaking down the top five quarterbacks. âSportsCenterâ also will air Draft-related excerpts from other ESPN shows including âHey Rookie,â âDetail: Tebow,â âQB21 with Kirk Herbstreitâ and a series of vignettes on Draft prospects.
ESPN, ABC Commentators Make Guest Appearances on NFL Network
Today, Louis Riddick will join âNFL Total Accessâ and David Pollack will join âNFL Now,â continuing a Draft tradition of cross-network collaboration. ESPN2 will also simulcast NFL Networkâs âGood Morning Footballâ April 29-30 from 7-10 a.m. EDT. Additionally, the Draft-a-Thon will be featured across live Draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio and NFL Network April 29-May 1. Release.
SEC Network Debuts New âDraft Specialâ
SEC Network is televising âSEC Featured: Draft Special,â a look at the best storytelling surrounding the top potential Draft picks from the Southeastern Conference. Airing now through April 29, the show is hosted by SEC Network host/reporter Alyssa Lang. Additionally, SECN has featured regular Draft analysis and expert interviews throughout its daily programming, including âThe Paul Finebaum Showâ and âSEC Now.â
ACC Network Draft Preview Leads Into Round 1
ACC Network will air an hourlong âThe Huddle: Draft Previewâ on April 29 at 6 p.m. EDT. Host Kelsey Riggs along with ACCN college football analysts Eric Mac Lain and EJ Manuel will break down what will make players successful at the next level. The show will also cover player arrivals and interviews leading into ESPN and ABCâs NFL Draft coverage.
âFirst Takeâ âDraft Blitz,â Round-by-Round Recaps and Special Guests
Every day leading up to the start of the 2021 NFL Draft, ESPNâs popular morning debate show âFirst Takeâ â featuring Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and host Molly Qerim Rose â will continue its âDraft Blitzâ segments where the trio breaks down one teamâs needs, goals, options and much more. In addition, âFirst Takeâ will preview the overall Draft before the start of Round 1 with a special edition on April 29 as well as recap each round with must-watch perspective the following morning with a full lineup of special guests.
âDaily Wagerâ
ESPNâs daily sports betting news and information program âDaily Wagerâ will have NFL Draft content every day leading up to the Draft, including discussing Draft prop bets for every team in the league. âDaily Wagerâ will dedicate almost all of the April 28 show to Draft content, airing from 6-7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. The weekday show will air at an earlier time April 29-30 (4 p.m. EDT, ESPN2).
ESPN+
Leading up to, during and following the NFL Draft, ESPN+ is providing fans with distinctive analysis and insights from ESPN Draft analysts and ESPN NFL Insiders, including a series of preview specials, new episodes of âDetailâ and âThe Fantasy Show with Matthew Berryâ and premium articles on ESPN.com and the ESPN App. Details.
The Undefeated
ESPNâs multiplatform content initiative exploring the intersection of sports, race and culture will offer comprehensive coverage of the 2021 NFL Draft via features, HBCU highlights and vignettes. Highlights include Martenzie Johnson examines how race plays a part in Justin Fieldsâ and other Black quarterbacksâ evaluations; Domonique Foxworth looks back 10 years on how cornerback Richard Sherman fell to the fifth round and the Seahawks âLegion of Boomâ came to be; Branson Wright explains what drives Justin Hilliard, an NFL Draft prospect who played six years at The Ohio State University while dealing with injuries that could have ended his collegiate career; and David Steele interviews University of Missouri football players Joshua Bledsoe, Tyree Gillespie and Larry Roundtree on how their bond in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., strengthens them to be the best men on and off the field.
Additionally, the HBCU features focus on the top prospects from Historically Black Colleges and Universities who have a chance at playing in the NFL, such as Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass; Florida A&Mâs offensive linemen Calvin Ashley; former Hampton University and Florida State University quarterback Deondre Francois; and North Carolina Central University’s defensive back Bryan Mills. Video stories from Bill Rhoden spotlight the 19 players from HBCUs inducted into the Hall of Fame; how the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty of the â70s was built on the foundation of drafting a league-high 24 players from HBCUs; and a profile of recent HBCU draftees who became NFL Pro Bowl players.
ESPN.com and ESPNDeportes.com
ESPN.comâs coverage of the 2021 NFL Draft will focus on signature voices Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Louis Riddick, Kirk Herbstreit and others. Highlights include NFL Mock Drafts paired with âSportsCenter Specials,â pros and cons on every first-round Draft pick from NFL Nation, plus Draft Day analysis from NFL Nation on every draft pick and real-time data via DraftCast. Following the 2021 NFL Draft, ESPN will release Kiperâs Draft Grades (the foundation for âSportsCenter Special: Draft Gradesâ on May 4) and âEarly Impactâ Rookies (May 4) as well as McShayâs best picks for all 32 teams (May 1). Additionally, McShay will look ahead to next year with a Way-Too-Early 2022 Mock Draft on May 6, Kiper will unveil his Way-Too-Early 2022 Big Board on May 11, and NFL Nation will break down the biggest post-draft questions for all 32 teams on May 12. In addition, ESPNDeportes.com will have a team dedicated to covering the Draft, providing pre-Draft analysis, pieces written by Sebastian Martinez-Christensen and videos of every selection.
NFL Draft Programming Live from Cleveland:
Date | Time (EDT) | Event/Show | Network(s) |
Wednesday, Apr 28 | 4-5 p.m. | âNFL Liveâ | ESPN |
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Thursday, Apr 29 | 12-3 p.m. | âSportsCenterâ (segments) | ESPN |
3-5 p.m. | âNFL Liveâ | ESPN | |
5-7 p.m. | âCollege GameDayâ | ESPN | |
7-8 p.m. | âNFL Draft Countdownâ | ESPN | |
8-11:30 p.m. EDT | Round 1 | ESPN, ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio,ESPN Deportes, NFL Network | |
Friday, Apr 30 | 12-3 p.m. | âSportsCenterâ (segments) | ESPN |
3-5 p.m. | âNFL Liveâ | ESPN | |
5-6 p.m. | âCollege GameDayâ | ESPN | |
6-7 p.m. | âNFL Draft Countdownâ | ESPN | |
7-11:30 p.m. EDT | Rounds 2 and 3 | ESPN, ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio,ESPN Deportes, NFL Network | |
Saturday, May 1 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | âCollege GameDayâ | ESPN |
12-7 p.m. EDT | Rounds 4-7 | ESPN (ABC simulcast), ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network |