DETROIT — The first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night averaged 12.1 million viewers on television and digital platforms, a 6% increase over last year.
It is the highest day one viewership since 2021, when there was an average audience of 12.6 million.
ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes and the league’s digital channels aired Thursday’s coverage. The league and Nielsen said that 34.3 million viewers tuned in at some point to watch the first round.