2024 NFL Draft: How to Watch Tonight, Full Weekend TV Schedule, First Round Order

2024 NFL Draft: How to Watch Tonight, Full Weekend TV Schedule, First Round Order

The Chicago Bears are expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins tonight. Questions arose as soon as the next pick, however, with the Washington Commanders picking second and also needing a QB. Will Washington go with North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels?

With the third pick, the New England Patriots are also looking for a quarterback and may be considering between Maye or Daniels and J.J.J. McCarthy. Other quarterback-needy teams, including the New York Giants with the sixth pick, Minnesota Vikings (11th), Denver Broncos (12th) and Las Vegas Raiders (13th), may be looking to trade one of the top quarterbacks.

In addition to the top four quarterbacks, a trio of talented wide receivers are expected to join the top 10 picks: Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State, Rome Odunze from Washington and Malik Nabers from LSU. These players and more will find their NFL homes this week.

The NFL Draft is a three-day event that begins tonight with the first round at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). Here’s everything you need to know to watch all the action without cable.

How can I watch the draft live?
Watch live for free: ABC will air all three days of the draft. If you have an over-the-air antenna connected to your TV and get your local ABC station, you can watch for free.

The Pat McAfee Show will be in Detroit to cover the first round of the draft on Thursday night. The show will be co-hosted by McAfee with legendary head coach Bill Belichick, and you can watch on YouTube, TikTok, the ESPN App and ESPN Plus.

Subscription options: The NFL Draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and the NFL Network. There’s also a live stream on the WatchESPN app or the NFL Mobile app (or ESPN.com or NFL.com). One caveat: You’ll need to prove you have a TV subscription (from a cable or satellite provider or a live TV streaming service) that includes ESPN or the NFL Network to watch live on either app.

Cable TV cord cutters have several options for watching the draft via live TV streaming services, detailed below.

When does the NFL draft start?
The NFL draft begins with the first round tonight. The three days of the draft will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and the NFL Network.

Here’s the TV schedule (all times ET):

Thursday, April 25
Round 1: 8 to 11:30 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.
Friday, April 26
Rounds 2 and 3: 7 to 11:30 p.m. on ABC Network, ESPN2 and the NFL.
Saturday, April 27
Rounds 4 to 7: Noon to 7pm. on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.
On ESPN, Mike Greenberg will serve as host for the first two nights of the draft along with Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick, Booger McFarland, Adam Schefter and Molly McGrath.

On ABC, Rece Davis will host with Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Field Yates from one set, and Sam Ponder and Robert Griffin III reporting from the other. For Day 3 of the draft on Saturday, ABC and ESPN will combine forces with Davis, Kiper, Riddick and Yates covering rounds 4 through 7.

On NFL Network, Rich Eisen will lead coverage featuring Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Kurt Warner, Joel Klatt and Ian Rapoport.