NFL draft ratings dip 12%, still third-most watched ever

Viewership of the 2026 NFL Draft dropped 12% year-over-year with an average of 6.6 million viewers across all networks for the three-day event, according to Front Office Sports.

Despite the drop from 2025's three-day average of 7.5 million viewers, the 2026 version was the third-most-watched draft since 2010 when the league adopted a three-day format. The 2026 draft was broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network as well as on streaming services.

The 2020 draft, held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, has the record with 8.4 million viewers.

Ratings for the first round of the draft last Thursday were down 3% from 2025, with 13.2 million fans tuning in compared to 13.6 million last year.

While fewer people watched on TV, the event set a record for in-person attendance with a three-day total of 805,000 people on hand to watch in Pittsburgh. The previous in-person record was 775,000 set in Detroit in 2024.