NFL Draft Sees Best First Round Overnight Rating Since '14

Last night's combined 8.4 overnight rating was the best since ESPN and NFL Net had an 8.7 in '14GETTY IMAGES

The NFL Draft on Thursday delivered the first round’s best combined overnight rating since ’14, which was marked by intrigue over where QB Johnny Manziel would land. ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network and Fox combined to average an 8.4 overnight rating for the primetime telecast, the best since ESPN and NFL Net had an 8.7 in ’14 and second-best figure since the first round moved to a primetime window in ‘10. Thursday’s first round is up big from a 6.7 overnight last year, and up from a 6.3 in ’16. Despite the addition of Fox as a broadcast partner for the Draft, ESPN and ESPN2 on Thursday night still led the way with a 3.9 combined overnight, compared to Fox’ 2.9 overnight and NFL Net’s 1.5. However, the numbers out of Bristol are down from a 4.8 last year on ESPN alone, while NFL Net was down from a 1.9. Looking back, ESPN/ESPN2’s figure last night is the net's lowest for the “first day” of the Draft since ’08, when the first two rounds aired on a Saturday afternoon on ESPN (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).

Download the NFL Draft 1st Round Overnights

EXPERT ANALYSIS: In N.Y., Andrew Marchand writes in a QB-heavy Draft, Fox' Troy Aikman's "expertise at the position worked out well," as he was "willing to tell viewers why a player might struggle." This marked Aikman's first time calling the draft as part of Fox simulcasting NFL Network's coverage, and he still "needed to be coached up, as he buried the lead at times." Aikman "definitely has his doubts" about Bills QB Josh Allen and viewers "wanted to know why." He "eventually delivered on Allen, but viewers had to wait for it." Meanwhile, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit was "particularly good on the Browns going with Baker Mayfield, saying he was the best quarterback and backing it up with how the NFL game is changing and height isn't as important." NFL Network's Mike Mayock had Mayfield "rated as the fourth-best quarterback," but when host Rich Eisen asked him why, Mayock only said that he "thought the other three were better" (N.Y. POST, 4/27). THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch writes both ESPN and the NFL Network "offered strong main desks this year with the elimination of voices who were not as invested in the NFL draft on a year-long basis." ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Seth Markman said that he was "pleased by his main set group" of Herbstreit, Trey Wingo, Louis Riddick and Mel Kiper Jr. Deitsch writes the quartet is the "best main set ESPN has had in years." Meanwhile, NFL Network's outside set with Aikman, Steve Mariucci and Steve Smith was "more distracting than informative" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/27).

GETTING STRAIGHT TO THE POINT: SI.com's Kalyn Kahler wrote ESPN's Suzy Kolber had a "smart red carpet interview" with Allen before the Draft, "getting right into the subject of Allen's racially insensitive tweets that surfaced" Wednesday night. Kolber "asked the question about the lingering impact of using the n-word in a tweet" and how Allen plans to "address the racially insensitive tweets with his future teammates, many of whom will be black" (SI.com, 4/27).

TALKING THE TALK: THE RINGER's Rodger Sherman writes Smith was the "undisputed star" of NFL Network's coverage, as the "only thing more fun than watching Steve Smith play wide receiver was listening to Steve Smith talk." Smith called Panthers WR D.J. Moore his "spirit animal" and said he will give "instant grits all day long" (THERINGER.com, 4/27).

ON THE FLIP SIDE: THE ATHLETIC's Deitsch notes the ESPN2 college-focused broadcast was "super-laid back" as the main group "sat in chairs on an outside set." That is "not an easy broadcast setting but host Rece Davis, as always, proved capable as a driver of conversation alongside David Pollack, Desmond Howard, Booger McFarland and Joey Galloway." There was "particularly nice work by McFarland, who was quick to recognize that the Ravens had traded up" for QB Lamar Jackson (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/27).