Report: NFL Draft Scores 12.5 Million Viewers

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Second most watched draft behind last year’s edition

2021 NFL Draft
(Image credit: ESPN)

 The first round of the NFL Draft was the top pick for more than 12 million viewers Thursday night, according to SportsMediaWatch.com 

The event generated 12.5 million viewers across ESPN, ABC and NFL Network, falling just short of the record 15.2 million watchers that tuned into last year’s event, according to the report. Of the three networks ESPN drew the most viewers with 6.4 million. 

The NFL Draft saw three quarterbacks chosen with the first three picks of the draft, with the Jacksonville Jaguars choosing Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence chosen with the first pick, the New York Jets taking Brigham Young’s Zach Wilson with the second pick and the San Francisco 49ers choosing North Dakota State’s Trey Lance at number three.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.