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FOX Is Reportedly Considering Big NFL Draft Move

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 3:43 PM ET

FOX is reportedly in play to re-join the NFL Draft fray.

Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports identified FOX, ESPN, and Google as the media companies bidding for the draft's broadcasting rights. A new deal would be effective starting in 2026.

ESPN has televised the NFL Draft since 1980, and the league-owned NFL Network will also continue to air the annual event in April. ESPN is reportedly pursuing an acquisition of NFL Media assets, which McCarthy called a "backup method" to keeping its draft rights.

McCarthy noted that Netflix, which streamed NFL games for the first time on Christmas, won't bid for NFL Draft rights. However, McCarthy believes the league will add a streaming service to its draft coverage. The insider identified Amazon Prime Video, the home of Thursday Night Football, as a "long-shot contender."

FOX has not televised the NFL Draft since simulcasting the NFL Network's coverage in 2018. The network has a long-running relationship broadcasting games, including February's Super Bowl.

Assuming he's still around in 2026, Tom Brady could give FOX's draft coverage a star presence. Viewers would probably lose count of references to the seven-time Super Bowl champion slipping to the 199th pick in 2000.

Yet FOX doesn't have a streaming portal like the other primary bidders. ESPN can include its broadcast on ESPN+ and Google owns YouTube TV, which landed the NFL Sunday Ticket package last season.

The NFL Draft remains a rare live event that captivates the nation's attention. Last year's draft averaged 12.1 million viewers across the NFL Network and all Disney platforms, a 6 percent uptick from 2023. The seven rounds take place over three days, giving networks hours of material.

Green Bay will host this year's NFL Draft, which starts on Thursday, April 24, at 8 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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