Each year when millions across the nation get diagnosed with a heavy case of ‘Draft Fever’, I like to use the most popular event of the NFL’s off-season to relate it to the world of sports radio. Given the differences in cost, style, geography, and the varying tastes in each program director, we have no way of knowing whether or not sports radio’s top personalities would have success in other locations.
But it’s fun to ponder the possibilities.
Imagine if an annual draft took place and every single talk show host was up for grabs. Would Mike Francesa have the same impact in Chicago or San Francisco? How much of a difference maker would Dan Patrick be in a local market? Which personality would slip to the later rounds and become the sports talk format’s version of Tom Brady?
It’s fun to play the “what if” game, but the truth is we will never be able to answer these questions. However, since this is draft day, and the best and brightest NFL front office executives have as much of a shot at being right with their selections, as a talk show host does with their opinions, I figure, let’s roll the dice and have some fun.
This is the third year I’m conducting this exercise and although I’ve enjoyed producing the 2015 and 2016 Sports Radio Draft’s with the help of the nation’s top program director’s, I felt it was time to shake things up. Since many on-air personalities feel they can identify talent better than their bosses, I decided to give them the opportunity to prove it.
You’ll find that this year’s cast is comprised of thirty two on-air personalities who are well known either on a local or national level. Each host was given the freedom to select any sports talk personality that they wanted. The only conditions were that they couldn’t pick themselves, or anyone who was taken before them.
While we certainly won’t change the world with this exercise, I hope you’ll enjoy it and remember that when it comes to the world of sports radio, everything is subjective, and anything can happen.
Now here are the results of the 2017 Sports Radio Draft (the hosts who were involved drafting are on the left, the personalities they selected are on the right).
| Order | Drafting Host/Station | Drafted Host/Station |
| 1. | Ken Carman, 92.3 The Fan-Cleveland | Mike Francesa-WFAN |
| 2. | John Lund-KNBR-San Francisco | Colin Cowherd-Fox Sports Radio |
| 3. | David Kaplan-ESPN 1000-Chicago | Tom Waddle-ESPN 1000 |
| 4. | Matt Jones-Kentucky Sports Radio-Lexington | Bomani Jones-ESPN Radio |
| 5. | Jason Fitz,-102.5 The Game-Nashville | Dan Patrick-Fox Sports Radio |
| 6. | Brandon Tierney-CBS Sports Radio | Stephen A. Smith-ESPN NY/LA |
| 7. | Mark Willard-XTRA Sports 1360-San Diego | Tony Kornheiser-DGital Media |
| 8. | Chris Kroeger-102.5/610 The Fan-Charlotte | Dan Le Batard-ESPN Radio |
| 9. | Mo Egger-ESPN 1530-Cincinnati | Ryen Russillo-ESPN Radio |
| 10. | Evan Cohen-SiriusXM | Chris “Mad Dog” Russo-SiriusXM |
| 11. | Matt Moscona-104.5 ESPN-Baton Rouge | Jim Rome-CBS Sports Radio |
| 12. | Nick Wright-FOX Sports Radio | Danny Parkins-670 The Score |
| 13. | Doug Franz-Arizona Sports 98.7-Phoenix | Brock Huard-710 ESPN Seattle |
| 14. | Chris Carlin-Sports Radio WIP-Philadelphia | Adam Schein-SiriusXM |
| 15. | Kent Sterling-CBS Sports 1430-Indianapolis | Clay Travis-FOX Sports Radio |
| 16. | Freddie Coleman-ESPN Radio | Damon Amendolara-CBS Sports Radio |
| 17. | Steve Czaban-ESPN 980-Washington D.C. | Nick Wright-FOX Sports Radio |
| 18. | Jorge Sedano-ESPN LA 710-Los Angeles | Evan Cohen-SiriusXM |
| 19. | Marc James-CBS Sports Radio | Mike Valenti-97.1 The Ticket |
| 20. | Darren McKee-104.3 The Fan-Denver | Craig Carton-WFAN |
| 21. | Gregg Henson-1130 WDFN-Detroit | Mike Rhyner-Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket |
| 22. | Marc Hochman-WQAM-Miami | Marc Silverman-ESPN 1000 |
| 23. | Gregg Giannotti-CBS Sports Radio | Josh Innes-SportsTalk 790 |
| 24. | Joe Fortenbaugh-95.7 The Game-San Francisco | Greg Papa-95.7 The Game |
| 25. | Sean Pendergast-Sports Radio 610-Houston | Chris Vernon-The Ringer |
| 26. | Adam Schein-SiriusXM | Mike Greenberg-ESPN Radio |
| 27. | Bob Fescoe-610 Sports-Kansas City | Ben Maller-FOX Sports Radio |
| 28. | Shan Shariff-105.3 The Fan-Dallas | Jeff Cavanaugh-105.3 The Fan |
| 29. | Steve “Sparky” Fifer-105.7 The Fan-Milwaukee | Jonathan Hood-ESPN 1000 |
| 30. | Chris Mueller-93.7 The Fan-Pittsburgh | Gregg Giannotti-CBS Sports Radio |
| 31. | Carl Dukes-92.9 The Game-Atlanta | Fred Toucher-98.5 The Sports Hub |
| 32. | Andy Gresh-WPRO-Providence | Rich Shertenlieb-98.5 The Sports Hub |
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.
