The 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one for the ages. With the league reaching a greater audience than ever before and its popularity continuing to skyrocket, the coverage around and at the event continues to get more detailed and nuanced.
This year’s iteration is set to begin on April 24 and conclude on April 26, and it will be emanating from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. It marks the second consecutive NFC North location to get hosting duties after last year’s privilege went to Detroit. But outside of the fans in attendance, how can everyone else catch what goes down?
How and Where To Watch the 2025 NFL Draft?
The 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled to be a three-day event, as per usual, beginning with the first round on April 24 at 8 p.m. ET. The next two rounds will take place on April 25, starting at 7 p.m. ET, before the event concludes on April 26 with Rounds 4-7 starting at noon ET.
The event will be available to watch on the NFL Network, ABC, and ESPN as a broadcast option. For those who prefer modern streaming options, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, and Sling TV will also remain options to catch the action.
The stage for the draft and the fan experience area will both be located in the Titletown District near the iconic Lambeau Field. As part of the experience, fans in attendance will be treated to immersive sponsorship activities, photo ops, exclusive merchandise, as well as autograph sessions.
History of NFL Draft Broadcasting
Despite the NFL Draft first becoming an official concept in 1936, the first 40+ iterations were not available to be viewed by the general public. But with technology and scouting becoming a major part of the process, it was inevitable that the event ended up on television.
However, its impact on ESPN is hard to overstate. At the time, the company wasn’t the superpower it is today. Instead, grasping to remain intact, network president Chet Simmons made a bid to air the draft live.
Over the first few years, it wasn’t very successful. However, once the event shifted to weekends in 1988, it coincided with a significant ratings increase for ESPN. Since then, they have been the one constant when it comes to the NFL Draft.
However, other networks have tagged along, with the league’s own NFL Network joining the party in 2006. In 2018, Fox joined the list thanks to its agreement with the NFL that was going to include Thursday Night Football, with ABC coming in as a Day 3 broadcaster.
That changed again in 2019 when the simulcast idea between Fox and the NFL Network fell out. Instead, ABC became a broadcast partner for all three days, alongside the traditional NFL Network and ESPN coverage.
