NFL Draft on the ESPN App is the best thing I streamed this week
NFL Draft on the ESPN App is the best thing I streamed this week
Whether or not ESPN will keep an NFL Network broadcast of the draft next year, its presentation on ESPN Unlimited was a hit with me.
As someone who hasn’t kept a pay-TV subscription for a long time, my access to the NFL Draft each year has been somewhat limited. I’m a huge NFL fan, but have been mostly limited to following the draft on my phone, or watching the annual ABC presentation of the draft via an over-the-air antenna.
But in 2026, everything has changed. At long last, ESPN and its sibling cable networks are available directly to the consumer via the new ESPN Unlimited subscription service. It’s pricey, starting at $30 per month, but it’s given me access to ESPN programming without a pay-TV plan. I’ve used the service to watch this year’s NFL Draft, and the result was my favorite stream of the week.
The ABC presentation of the NFL Draft has always been more focused on the off-field lives of the players selected, giving viewers the chance to get to know the people under the helmets. While I’ve always liked this presentation, I’ve hungered to stream the field-level analysis spotlighted on ESPN’s presentation of the draft.
ESPN Unlimited gave me the chance to watch ESPN’s coverage team featuring longtime draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., analysts Louis Riddick and Booger McFarland, and insider Adam Schefter with all the latest news and updates. I can see why the ESPN team is so popular during the draft; I got insider details, analysis from experts on why picks were good or bad from team perspectives, and a lot more.
But I have to give some flowers to the ESPN app’s organization of the NFL Draft, as well. Had I wanted to, the app gave me the option to switch easily between the ABC and ESPN presentations of the draft, or even “The Pat McAfee Draft Spectacular,” had I wanted to get the punter-turned-podcaster’s takes on the picks. The app laid out all of these choices easily, and I could move between them with just a few remote button clicks.
I also enjoyed the easy access to draft shoulder coverage on programs like “NFL Live” and “SportsCenter,” with links prominently placed near other draft-related videos on the ESPN app. It’s a highly immersive experience that even the most voracious seeker of NFL content will be satisfied by.
It will be fascinating to see what ESPN chooses to do with the NFL Network’s coverage team of the draft. The channel hosts knowledgeable names like Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah, and I would hate to see them disappear from draft coverage once ESPN has full control over NFL Network; the league agreed to sell the channel to ESPN for a 10% equity stake in the channel. But that’s a question for next year.
For now, however, I am relishing the glitz, glamor, and over-production of the NFL Draft in a brand new way, thanks to ESPN Unlimited. The league knows that this is the last chance to own the coverage cycle until training camps ramp up, and it’s making the most of draft weekend, as it always does. I’m just glad I don’t have to buy into an $80+ monthly live TV streaming package to see it all unfold.
ESPN Unlimited is available to stream starting at $30 per month. Customers who subscribe to Disney+ and Hulu as well can bundle all three services starting at $36 monthly. Viewers can also bundle ESPN Unlimited with Fox One for $40 per month, or with MLB.TV plans.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.