As the curtains close on another exhilarating NFL Draft weekend, the resounding success of the event underscores the enduring allure of football and its ability to captivate audiences on a grand scale. With record-breaking viewership, digital dominance, and global appeal, the NFL Draft has once again reaffirmed its status as a premier showcase of athletic talent and a cultural phenomenon that transcends boundaries. As fans eagerly await the arrival of the new season, the memories and moments forged during the draft will serve as a source of inspiration and anticipation for the journey ahead
NFL Draft audience down 3% after weaker Friday, Saturday
The NFL Draft saw a 3% drop on TV this year, but still remained well above what the event drew two years ago. ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NFL Network combined to average 5.7 million viewers, shy of the 5.9 million in 2023, but above the 5.2 million back in 2022. The draft hasn’t climbed above 6 million since 2021 (6.1 million that year). The event started strong on Thursday night, which was the best first round since 2021. But the audience fell 8% on Friday night without much QB fanfare or storylines, marking the least-watched figure for Rounds 2-3 since 2012. On Saturday, ABC/ESPN/NFL Net averaged just under 3 million viewers, down 3% from 3.1 million in 2023. ABC had 1.4 million viewers for its coverage of Rounds 4-7 on Saturday afternoon (went from around 12-7:15pm ET). That’s actually up from 1.3 million last year. ESPN drew 1.1 million in the same window Saturday, down from 1.2 million in 2023. NFL Network for the final day averaged 498,000 viewers, down from 583,000 on the Saturday telecast in 2023.
NFL Draft: three-day combined viewership across ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/NFL Net
| 2024 | 5,744 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,927 |
| 2022 | 5,198 |
| 2021 | 6,085 |
| 2020 | 8,227 |
| 2019 | 6,090 |
