First Night Of NFL Draft Draws Record 15.6 Million Viewers

UNDATED (AP) – Housebound football fans gave the NFL a huge boost on Thursday. The first night of this week’s NFL draft averaged 15.6 million viewers on television, easily shattering the record set six years ago. The first round was aired on ABC, ESPN, the NFL Network and ESPN Deportes. Viewership peaked from 8:45-9 p.m. EDT when 19.6 million people tuned in, according to Nielsen. That is up 37% over last year’s 11.4 million. The previous high was 12.4 million in 2014, when the draft was held in early May. The draft was the first live U.S. sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic. The draft originally was to be held in Las Vegas but is taking place virtually. The draft resumed from with second- and third-round selections. After having a record 15 of the 32 players in the first round of the draft come from the SEC, another 10 came off the board in Round 2. Seven more wide receivers went in the second round, one more than in Day 1. The wideouts included Florida’s Van Jefferson to the Rams and Baylor’s Denzel Mims to the Jets. With 13 receivers taken in the first two rounds, it breaks the record of 12 set in 2014. Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts was selected by the in the second round with the 53rd overall pick. He was the fifth QB selected in the draft, and the first in the second round. Round 2 was the running back round, with five high-profile players coming off the board. Green Bay used a second-round pick on running back A.J. Dillon, taking the Boston College workhorse with the 62nd overall selection. Now, the quarterbacks are waiting. After four quarterbacks went off the board in the first round of the NFL Draft, Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma was the only QB taken in rounds two and three on Friday. That means Saturday when rounds four through seven are completed, notable passers Jacob Eason of Washington and Jake Fromm of Georgia will be available. And more than a few other intriguing players, especially if you look outside the Power Five schools.