NFL DRAFT NEWS

NFL: 2018 Draft most watched ever

The Sports Xchange

April 29, 2018 at 3:18 pm.

Apr 26, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Saquon Barkley (Penn State) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number two overall pick to the New York Giants in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium.  Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 26, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; Saquon Barkley (Penn State) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number two overall pick to the New York Giants in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium. Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The 2018 NFL Draft was the most watched ever, the league announced Sunday.

The NFL said that the three-day draft had an average viewership of 5.5 million at any given time. It was the first time the draft was televised on network television.

Thursday’s first round averaged 11.2 million before declining on each of the next two days. Saturday’s coverage of rounds four through seven drew an average of 2.9 million viewers, the best Day 3 ever.

NFL Network’s coverage on Thursday and Friday nights were simulcast on FOX, while Saturday’s coverage by ESPN was simulcast on ABC in most markets.

TV viewership of NFL games has declined the last two seasons.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA