It’s early April, and that means sports fans are on a path—one that leads to the NFL Draft beginning April 23.
For fans, players, and the media, the draft is really just the end of a long journey, so why not take a look at a program that reflects that idea: NFL Network’s Path to the Draft.
If variety is truly the spice of life, then Path to the Draft is an entire rack with extra paprika. The show, in its various incarnations, features many NFL Network personalities, along with interviews, stats, analysis, rumors, and insider viewpoints.
Potential player positions and pick prognostications seem to change weekly as we approach the draft in Pittsburgh. But while each of the three rivers remain frigid, the pre-draft chatter is white-hot.
I caught Path to the Draft this week with hosts Rhett Lewis and Cynthia Frelund, and I really liked this combination. With their shared enthusiasm and effervescence, Lewis and Frelund could easily be morning show hosts, yet both are football to the core.
With his square jaw and deep voice, Lewis looks the part of a Hollywood leading man, and he fills that role on NFL Network. Across a number of shows and alongside various analysts, he comes across as comfortable, articulate, and welcoming.
Meanwhile, Frelund has become an unlikely trailblazer in sports media. As NFL Network’s resident analytics expert, she focuses on trends, tendencies, and statistics, but she brings more than just numbers. She has developed into a talented on-air personality who stays in her lane while also veering left or right when warranted.
Path to the Draft began with quick video flashes of some of the top players, paired with broadcast sound from this past season’s games. Like the show itself, the open had depth. It wasn’t just about expected top pick Fernando Mendoza and other quarterbacks; it also featured other offensive players and defensive prospects.
Lewis opened the conversation with a look at the New York Giants, who hold the fifth overall pick in the 2026 draft. An informative graphic showed what several draft experts think the Giants will do with that pick. Among the possibilities were linebacker Sonny Styles from Ohio State, his teammates wideout Carnell Tate and safety Caleb Downs, as well as Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
A timely graphic also displayed an X post from ESPN’s Adam Schefter stating that Giants All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade, which could influence the team’s decision.
Deserved applause goes to the Path to the Draft production team. A subsequent video montage featured highlights of Jayden Daniels, who, in his rookie season of 2024, led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. Because of injury, Daniels was nearly invisible last year, but he is healthy now, and the video reminded viewers of the excitement he brings to the field. Another strong graphic showed the significant statistical drop the Commanders experienced in 2025.
Lewis did a nice job guiding the show’s content. He played to Frelund’s strengths with her numbers and projections while also engaging in solid repartee with analyst Brian Baldinger, who joined remotely.
A former NFL offensive lineman, Baldinger was a rough-and-tumble player who brings that same edge to his analysis. He is old school, in the mold of guys like Paul Maguire, Mike Ditka, and the late Art Donovan—big personalities who filled up the screen both literally and conversationally.
During a discussion of the Eagles and what they should do with the 23rd overall pick, Frelund suggested that Philadelphia could consider drafting a quarterback—not necessarily to replace Jalen Hurts, but to create potential trade value later.
Path to the Draft is not just a group of draftniks nerding out; rather, it blends team and player analysis with sound from decision-makers such as Giants head coach John Harbaugh and Raiders GM John Spytek.
Breaking news is also part of the show. Another X graphic, this one from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, reported that Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was visiting the Carolina Panthers. That development is intriguing, especially considering the strides Carolina QB Bryce Young has made over the past couple of seasons.
Path to the Draft taps into the inherent intrigue that defines the NFL Draft. With rumors, innuendo, and endless possibilities, this is one of the few areas in sports journalism where opinion truly rules. No media personality fully understands how every team evaluates players, but both fans and media enjoy the speculation.
The show embraces that uncertainty and explores nearly every possible scenario. Lewis and Frelund contribute to that energy, and their upbeat approach makes them supremely watchable.
Later in the show, Baldinger and Frelund engaged in a strong back-and-forth about whether the Raiders should start presumed No. 1 overall pick Mendoza or newly acquired veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in Week 1. After a break, new Titans head coach Robert Saleh praised his running back room, led by Tony Pollard. That discussion transitioned into whether Tennessee should consider drafting Notre Dame’s Love with the fourth overall pick.
While Baldinger acknowledged that Love would benefit any team, he argued that the Titans should resist the temptation and instead address the offensive line early. He understands the importance of trench strength, having spent 11 seasons in the NFL as a guard and center in Dallas, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.
In an entertaining segment, Lewis, Frelund, and Baldinger offered three-word evaluations of some of the top running backs.
Baldinger described Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price as “fresh, sudden, and violent.” Frelund labeled Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson “hands, explosive, and elusive,” while Lewis used “frame, speed, and next” for Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. The 2026 draft is also rich in wide receivers, and Lewis projected six to go in the first round of his mock draft.
Following a lively discussion on that group, Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell joined the show remotely for an interview. Terrell, a 2025 Third Team AP All-American and the brother of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., discussed having an offensive mindset as a defender—always looking to create turnovers and attack the ball.
The show also featured Baldinger’s signature segment, #BaldysBigBoys. In this installment, he highlighted Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, jokingly calling him a “human eclipse” because he is so large that he “blocks out the sun.”
In the crowded landscape of pre-draft programming, Path to the Draft stands out for its variety and insight. The show doesn’t just tell viewers about the draft; it shows them through stats, sound, and substance. If the journey to the NFL Draft is a path, then Path to the Draft is clearly the route to follow.
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John Molori is a weekly columnist for Barrett Sports Media. He has previously contributed to ESPNW, Patriots Football Weekly, Golf Content Network, Methuen Life Magazine, and wrote a syndicated Media Blitz column in the New England region, which was published by numerous outlets including The Boston Metro, Providence Journal, Lowell Sun, and the Eagle-Tribune. His career also includes fourteen years in television as a News and Sports Reporter, Host, Producer working for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T. He can be reached on Twitter @MoloriMedia.
