ESPN Media Zone has confirmed the broadcast plans for ESPN’s coverage of the 2016 NFL Draft which airs on Thursday, April 28, at 8p ET. Rounds 1-3 (Thursday and Friday) will be presented in primetime from Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Rounds 4-7 (Saturday) will originate from ESPN’s outdoor set in nearby Grant Park. For the fifth year in a row, the first hour of Round 1 will be presented with limited commercial interruption.
Covering his 36th draft, Chris Berman will host Round 1 with veteran NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. (his 33rd), Monday Night Football analyst and Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden, and NFL Front Office Insider Louis Riddick. Riddick made his NFL Draft television debut in 2015 and will appear on ESPN’s main set for the entirety of the event.
Also, NFL Insider Adam Schefter will provide reports and NFL host Suzy Kolber will interview draftees. ESPN bureau reporters Josina Anderson, Bob Holtzman, Britt McHenry, Sal Paolantonio, Shelley Smith and Ed Werder will contribute to the telecast reporting from team sites.
On Friday and Saturday, April 29-30, Trey Wingo will host Rounds 2-7 with Kiper, Riddick, Schefter and NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay.
Additionally, ESPN Radio will broadcast Rounds 1-3 with host Dari Nowkhah, NFL Front Office Insider Bill Polian and NFL Insider John Clayton. Freddie Coleman and Ian Fitzsimmons will provide post-draft analysis Thursday and Friday at 11:30 p.m.
Surrounding the NFL Draft telecast, editions of SportsCenter, NFL Insiders, NFL Live, Mike & Mike and First Take will originate from Chicago beginning Thursday, April 28.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
