The 2021 NFL draft starts Thursday, April 29, at 8 p.m. Eastern and runs through Saturday, May 1. Thursday night will air the complete first round. Rounds 2 and 3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, and the remaining rounds start on Saturday at noon ET.
ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network will be carrying every round of the Draft, so there are three channels where you can watch. The details of each day and where to watch are as follows:
- Round 1: Thursday, April 29 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Each team will have 10 minutes to take their pick.
- Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 30 at 7:00 PM ET on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Each team will have 7 minutes to take their pick.
- Rounds 4-7: Saturday, May 1 at Noon ET on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. Each team will have 4 minutes to take their pick.
Best Way to Watch: You can watch The NFL Draft live using a 1-week free trial to fuboTV.
Watch The 2021 NFL Draft Free
There are quite a few ways to watch the NFL draft live and for free this year. I list each below.
Use a Streaming Service’s Free Trial
Quite a few streaming services carry ABC, ESPN, and/or NFL Network and offer a free trial long enough to watch all 3 days of the 2021 NFL draft without spending any money. I recommend these options first because they all include a cloud DVR allowing you to record, pause, and playback any part of the draft. You can even record the whole event and watch it later.
There is no commitment with any of the trials as long as you cancel before the trial is over. Otherwise, you will pay the subscription for the first month. These services charge monthly, and there is no long-term contract required, so if you keep the service, you can cancel at any time. The service that offers free trials where you can watch the NFL draft are:
- fuboTV – Offers a 1-week free trial and carries ESPN, NFL Network, and ABC in most parts of the country. See my review of fuboTV for more details.
- Hulu Live TV carries ESPN and ABC in their channel lineup and offers a 7-day free trial to Hulu Live TV. See our review of Hulu for more details.
- YouTube TV – offers a 1-week free trial and carries ESPN, NFL Network, and ABC in most parts of the country. See our review of YouTube TV for more details.
All three of these services work on iOS and Android smart devices, Roku, Fire TV, Smart TVs, and more. All you need to do is use one of the free trials in the list above to sign up for an account to the service, download the services app to your mobile, streaming device, or smart TV, then watch the draft through the app on one of the channels carrying the draft (ESPN, ABC, NFL Network)
Watch The NFL Draft on Locast
Locast is a free streaming service that streams local networks, including ABC, live in over 50% of households, and it is 100% free. Using Locast, you can stream the NFL Draft live on ABC. You can even watch Locast using a streaming device. Locast supports Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV.
While Locast is technically free, the service does interrupt its broadcast every 15 minutes or so to ask for a donation of $5. If you decide to donate, then the message is removed, and you can watch without solicitation from Locast for donations. Please, note that the service also subject to a pending lawsuit from the major broadcast networks, so while the service is currently legal, it is unknown how long that status will last.
Locast is available in the following 33 TV markets:
- Atlanta, GA
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Cleveland, OH
- Chicago, IL
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Los Angeles, CA
- Madison, WI
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Puerto Rico
- Rapid City, SD
- Raleigh-Durham, NC
- Sacramento, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Scranton, PA
- Seattle, WA
- Sioux City, IA
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Tampa Bay, FL
- Tri-Cities (TN, KY, and VA)
- Washington, D.C
- West Palm Beach, FL
You can read more in our review of Locast. You can try their service by downloading Locast to your favorite supported streaming device or on their website.
Watch The Draft Using an Antenna
Generally, if you live in a city or the suburbs, you can watch the NFL Draft on ABC using something as simple as this $25 Flat TV antenna. The free return policy makes it no risk. If it doesn’t get the channels you want, you can return it for your money back.
You can see if ABC is available over the air using this FCC page. If the flat antenna doesn’t perform to your expectations, then check out the following instructional guides for more details on over the air TV.
- Learn How to Choose a TV Antenna
- Learn How to Use One Antenna for Multiple TVs
- Learn How to Ground a TV Antenna
- Learn how to Improve Antenna TV Reception
- Record from your Antenna with an Over the Air DVR
Other Ways to Watch the NFL Draft
With the draft airing on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network you can watch the NFL Draft on any of the following streaming services: Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, Vidgo, YouTube TV, and AT&T TV. You can also refer to any of the articles below for information on watching any of the channels that carry the 2021 NFL Draft:
2021 NFL Draft Order
Below is the order of the entire 2021 NFL draft to give you an idea of when your favorite teams will be drafting.
Round 1
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- San Francisco 49ers from Dolphins through Texans
- Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins from Eagles
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles from Dolphins through 49ers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Chicago Bears
- Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets from Seattle Seahawks
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jacksonville Jaguars from Los Angeles Rams
- Cleveland Browns
- Baltimore Ravens
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills
- Baltimore Ravens from Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 2
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
- Miami Dolphins from Houston Texans
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- New York Giants
- San Francisco 49ers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Jacksonville Jaguars from Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Arizona Cardinals
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Chicago Bears
- Tennessee Titans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams
- Kansas City Chiefs from Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- New Orleans Saints
- Buffalo Bills
- Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 3
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- Houston Texans
- Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- Washington Football Team from San Francisco 49ers
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- New England Patriots (Choice Forfeited)
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Las Vegas Raiders from Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Chicago Bears
- Philadelphia Eagles from Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets from Seattle Seahawks
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Cleveland Browns
- Minnesota Vikings from Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns from New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills
- Baltimore Ravens from Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots *
- Los Angeles Chargers *
- New Orleans Saints *
- Dallas Cowboys *
- Tennessee Titans *
- Detroit Lions from Los Angeles Rams *
- Miami Dolphins from San Francisco 49ers *
- Los Angeles Rams *
- Baltimore Ravens *
- New Orleans Saints *
Round 4
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
- Houston Texans
- Cleveland Browns from Philadelphia Eagles
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New England Patriots from Arizona Cardinals through Houston Texans
- Philadelphia Eagles from Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Minnesota Vikings from Chicago Bears
- Tennessee Titans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Jacksonville Jaguars from Los Angeles Rams
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- New Orleans Saints
- Minnesota Vikings from Buffalo Bills (Conditional)
- Green Bay Packers
- Baltimore Ravens from Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Dallas Cowboys *
- New England Patriots *
- Pittsburgh Steelers *
- Los Angeles Rams *
- Green Bay Packers *
- Minnesota Vikings *
- Kansas City Chiefs *
Round 5
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Jets
- Houston Texans
- Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- New York Jets from New York Giants
- San Francisco 49ers
- Miamia Dolphins from Philadelphia Eagles through Dallas Cowboys
- Minnesota Vikings
- Houston Texans from New England Patriots
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Buffalo Bills from Las Vegas Raiders
- Las Vegas Raiders from Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Chicago Bears
- Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- Las Vegas Raiders from Seattle Seahawks
- Minnesota Vikings from Pittsburgh Steelers through Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns from Los Angeles Rams
- Jacksonville Jaguars from Cleveland Browns
- Baltimore Ravens
- San Francisco 49ers from New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots *
- Green Bay Packers *
- Dallas Cowboys *
- San Francisco 49ers *
- Kansas City Chiefs *
- Atlanta Falcons *
- Atlanta Falcons *
- Baltimore Ravens *
Round 6
- Los Angeles Chargers from Jacksonville Jaguars through Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
- New England Patriots from Houston Texans
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Denver Broncos
- Dallas Cowboys from Detroit Lions
- Carolina Panthers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Houston Texans from Dallas Cowboys through New England Patriots
- New York Giants
- New England Patriots
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Giants from Arizona Cardinals
- Cincinnati Bengals from Miami Dolphins through Houston Texans
- Houston Texans from Washington Football Team through Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins
- Chicago Bears
- Tennessee Titans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Kansas City Chiefs from Pittsburgh Steelers through Miami Dolphins
- Chicago Bears from Seattle Seahawks through Miami Dolphins (Conditional)
- Los Angeles Rams
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Houston Texans from New Orleans Saints
- Buffalo Bills
- Green Bay Packers
- Tennessee Titans from Kansas City Chiefs
- Pittsburgh Steelers from Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers *
- New Orleans Saints *
- Atlanta Falcons *
- Green Bay Packers *
- Chicago Bears *
- Carolina Panthers *
- Minnesota Vikings *
- Philadelphia Eagles *
- Philadelphia Eagles *
- Carolina Panthers *
- Dallas Cowboys *
- Chicago Bears *
Round 7
- New Orleans Saints from Jacksonville Jaguars
- San Francisco from New York Jets
- Miami Dolphins from Houston Texans
- Tennessee Titans from Atlanta Falcons through Miami Dolphins
- Houston Texans from Cincinnati Bengals
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Cincinnati Bengals from Detroit Lions through Seattle Seahawks
- Buffalo Bills from Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Dallas Cowboys
- Denver Broncos from New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles from San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings (Choice Forfeited)
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Washington Football Team from Las Vegas Raiders
- Pittsburgh Steelers from Miami Dolphins
- Washington Football Team
- Arizona Cardinals from Chicago Bears through Las Vegas Raiders
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars from Tennessee Titans
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Denver Broncos from Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers from Baltimore Ravens
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Cleveland Browns from Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins from Kansas City Chiefs
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* = Compensatory Pick
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