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How To Watch the NFL Draft Online Without Cable

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2021 NFL draft

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.

Table of Contents

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:

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.

Update: On September 1st, Locast lost a significant battle in court against the major broadcast networks. The Networks argued Locast "must secure the consent of the broadcasters to retransmit the broadcast signals." Locast defense claimed they qualified for a copyright-law exemption available to nonprofits. US District Court for the Southern District of New York found that Locast is not eligible for an exemption because it uses donations from viewers to fund its expansion into new TV markets. In response to the court loss, Locast said it was suspending its TV service on 9/2/2021.

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.

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 DIRECTV STREAM. 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

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars
  2. New York Jets
  3. San Francisco 49ers from Dolphins through Texans
  4. Atlanta Falcons
  5. Cincinnati Bengals
  6. Miami Dolphins from Eagles
  7. Detroit Lions
  8. Carolina Panthers
  9. Denver Broncos
  10. Dallas Cowboys
  11. New York Giants
  12. Philadelphia Eagles from Dolphins through 49ers
  13. Los Angeles Chargers
  14. Minnesota Vikings
  15. New England Patriots
  16. Arizona Cardinals
  17. Las Vegas Raiders
  18. Miami Dolphins
  19. Washington Football Team
  20. Chicago Bears
  21. Indianapolis Colts
  22. Tennessee Titans
  23. New York Jets from Seattle Seahawks
  24. Pittsburgh Steelers
  25. Jacksonville Jaguars from Los Angeles Rams
  26. Cleveland Browns
  27. Baltimore Ravens
  28. New Orleans Saints
  29. Green Bay Packers
  30. Buffalo Bills
  31. Baltimore Ravens from Kansas City Chiefs
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Round 2

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars
  2. New York Jets
  3. Atlanta Falcons
  4. Miami Dolphins from Houston Texans
  5. Philadelphia Eagles
  6. Cincinnati Bengals
  7. Carolina Panthers
  8. Denver Broncos
  9. Detroit Lions
  10. New York Giants
  11. San Francisco 49ers
  12. Dallas Cowboys
  13. Jacksonville Jaguars from Minnesota Vikings
  14. New England Patriots
  15. Los Angeles Chargers
  16. Las Vegas Raiders
  17. Arizona Cardinals
  18. Miami Dolphins
  19. Washington Football Team
  20. Chicago Bears
  21. Tennessee Titans
  22. Indianapolis Colts
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers
  24. Seattle Seahawks
  25. Los Angeles Rams
  26. Kansas City Chiefs from Baltimore Ravens
  27. Cleveland Browns
  28. New Orleans Saints
  29. Buffalo Bills
  30. Green Bay Packers
  31. Kansas City Chiefs
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Round 3

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars
  2. New York Jets
  3. Houston Texans
  4. Atlanta Falcons
  5. Cincinnati Bengals
  6. Philadelphia Eagles
  7. Denver Broncos
  8. Detroit Lions
  9. Carolina Panthers
  10. Washington Football Team from San Francisco 49ers
  11. Dallas Cowboys
  12. New York Giants
  13. New England Patriots (Choice Forfeited)
  14. Los Angeles Chargers
  15. Minnesota Vikings
  16. Las Vegas Raiders from Arizona Cardinals
  17. Las Vegas Raiders
  18. Miami Dolphins
  19. Washington Football Team
  20. Chicago Bears
  21. Philadelphia Eagles from Indianapolis Colts
  22. Tennessee Titans
  23. New York Jets from Seattle Seahawks
  24. Pittsburgh Steelers
  25. Los Angeles Rams
  26. Cleveland Browns
  27. Minnesota Vikings from Baltimore Ravens
  28. Cleveland Browns from New Orleans Saints
  29. Green Bay Packers
  30. Buffalo Bills
  31. Baltimore Ravens from Kansas City Chiefs
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  33. New England Patriots *
  34. Los Angeles Chargers *
  35. New Orleans Saints *
  36. Dallas Cowboys *
  37. Tennessee Titans *
  38. Detroit Lions from Los Angeles Rams *
  39. Miami Dolphins from San Francisco 49ers *
  40. Los Angeles Rams *
  41. Baltimore Ravens *
  42. New Orleans Saints *

Round 4

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars
  2. New York Jets
  3. Atlanta Falcons
  4. Houston Texans
  5. Cleveland Browns from Philadelphia Eagles
  6. Cincinnati Bengals
  7. Detroit Lions
  8. Carolina Panthers
  9. Denver Broncos
  10. Dallas Cowboys
  11. New York Giants
  12. San Francisco 49ers
  13. Los Angeles Chargers
  14. Minnesota Vikings
  15. New England Patriots
  16. Las Vegas Raiders
  17. New England Patriots from Arizona Cardinals through Houston Texans
  18. Philadelphia Eagles from Miami Dolphins
  19. Washington Football Team
  20. Minnesota Vikings from Chicago Bears
  21. Tennessee Titans
  22. Indianapolis Colts
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers
  24. Seattle Seahawks
  25. Jacksonville Jaguars from Los Angeles Rams
  26. Baltimore Ravens
  27. Cleveland Browns
  28. New Orleans Saints
  29. Minnesota Vikings from Buffalo Bills (Conditional)
  30. Green Bay Packers
  31. Baltimore Ravens from Kansas City Chiefs
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  33. Dallas Cowboys *
  34. New England Patriots *
  35. Pittsburgh Steelers *
  36. Los Angeles Rams *
  37. Green Bay Packers *
  38. Minnesota Vikings *
  39. Kansas City Chiefs *

Round 5

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars
  2. New York Jets
  3. Houston Texans
  4. Atlanta Falcons
  5. Cincinnati Bengals
  6. Philadelphia Eagles
  7. Carolina Panthers
  8. Denver Broncos
  9. Detroit Lions
  10. New York Jets from New York Giants
  11. San Francisco 49ers
  12. Miamia Dolphins from Philadelphia Eagles through Dallas Cowboys
  13. Minnesota Vikings
  14. Houston Texans from New England Patriots
  15. Los Angeles Chargers
  16. Arizona Cardinals
  17. Buffalo Bills from Las Vegas Raiders
  18. Las Vegas Raiders from Miami Dolphins
  19. Washington Football Team
  20. Chicago Bears
  21. Indianapolis Colts
  22. Tennessee Titans
  23. Las Vegas Raiders from Seattle Seahawks
  24. Minnesota Vikings from Pittsburgh Steelers through Baltimore Ravens
  25. Cleveland Browns from Los Angeles Rams
  26. Jacksonville Jaguars from Cleveland Browns
  27. Baltimore Ravens
  28. San Francisco 49ers from New Orleans Saints
  29. Green Bay Packers
  30. Buffalo Bills
  31. Kansas City Chiefs
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  33. New England Patriots *
  34. Green Bay Packers *
  35. Dallas Cowboys *
  36. San Francisco 49ers *
  37. Kansas City Chiefs *
  38. Atlanta Falcons *
  39. Atlanta Falcons *
  40. Baltimore Ravens *

Round 6

  1. Los Angeles Chargers from Jacksonville Jaguars through Tennessee Titans
  2. New York Jets
  3. Atlanta Falcons
  4. New England Patriots from Houston Texans
  5. Philadelphia Eagles
  6. Cincinnati Bengals
  7. Denver Broncos
  8. Dallas Cowboys from Detroit Lions
  9. Carolina Panthers
  10. San Francisco 49ers
  11. Houston Texans from Dallas Cowboys through New England Patriots
  12. New York Giants
  13. New England Patriots
  14. Los Angeles Chargers
  15. Minnesota Vikings
  16. Las Vegas Raiders
  17. New York Giants from Arizona Cardinals
  18. Cincinnati Bengals from Miami Dolphins through Houston Texans
  19. Houston Texans from Washington Football Team through Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins
  20. Chicago Bears
  21. Tennessee Titans
  22. Indianapolis Colts
  23. Kansas City Chiefs from Pittsburgh Steelers through Miami Dolphins
  24. Chicago Bears from Seattle Seahawks through Miami Dolphins (Conditional)
  25. Los Angeles Rams
  26. Baltimore Ravens
  27. Cleveland Browns
  28. Houston Texans from New Orleans Saints
  29. Buffalo Bills
  30. Green Bay Packers
  31. Tennessee Titans from Kansas City Chiefs
  32. Pittsburgh Steelers from Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers *
  34. New Orleans Saints *
  35. Atlanta Falcons *
  36. Green Bay Packers *
  37. Chicago Bears *
  38. Carolina Panthers *
  39. Minnesota Vikings *
  40. Philadelphia Eagles *
  41. Philadelphia Eagles *
  42. Carolina Panthers *
  43. Dallas Cowboys *
  44. Chicago Bears *

Round 7

  1. New Orleans Saints from Jacksonville Jaguars
  2. San Francisco from New York Jets
  3. Miami Dolphins from Houston Texans
  4. Tennessee Titans from Atlanta Falcons through Miami Dolphins
  5. Houston Texans from Cincinnati Bengals
  6. Philadelphia Eagles
  7. Cincinnati Bengals from Detroit Lions through Seattle Seahawks
  8. Buffalo Bills from Carolina Panthers
  9. Denver Broncos
  10. Dallas Cowboys
  11. Denver Broncos from New York Giants
  12. Philadelphia Eagles from San Francisco 49ers
  13. Los Angeles Chargers
  14. Minnesota Vikings (Choice Forfeited)
  15. New England Patriots
  16. Arizona Cardinals
  17. Washington Football Team from Las Vegas Raiders
  18. Pittsburgh Steelers from Miami Dolphins
  19. Washington Football Team
  20. Arizona Cardinals from Chicago Bears through Las Vegas Raiders
  21. Indianapolis Colts
  22. Jacksonville Jaguars from Tennessee Titans
  23. Seattle Seahawks
  24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Pittsburgh Steelers
  25. Los Angeles Rams
  26. Denver Broncos from Cleveland Browns
  27. Pittsburgh Steelers from Baltimore Ravens
  28. New Orleans Saints
  29. Green Bay Packers
  30. Cleveland Browns from Buffalo Bills
  31. Miami Dolphins from Kansas City Chiefs
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

* = Compensatory Pick

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