ESPN Plans 40+ Hours of Original NFL Draft Programming Beginning Today

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ESPN Plans 40+ Hours of Original NFL Draft Programming Beginning Today

Photos via ESPN Images

Beginning today, ESPN has more than 40 hours of original NFL programming in advance of the 2018 NFL Draft. New content includes SportsCenter Special: Mel and Todd’s Dueling Mocks, the ESPN original series We The Fans: Dallas, QB2QB with Russell Wilson, and more. Details:

  • Inside The EA SPORTS Madden Ultimate League (April 3: 10 p.m., ESPN2): This new limited weekly series takes fans behind the scenes of the biggest NFL esports competition – Madden NFL 18 Ultimate League. Get to know the top competitors vying for a chance to be crowned the first-ever Ultimate League champion, and to take home a hefty share of the $500,000 prize.
  • SportsCenter Special: Mel and Todd’s Dueling Mocks (April 4: 7 p.m., ESPN2): In this hour-long special, NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay go head-to-head with their dueling mock drafts. Suzy Kolber hosts while Adam Schefter offers an NFL Insider’s perspective. Kiper’s and McShay’s selections for Rounds 1 and 2 will be available on ESPN.com.
  • Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL (April 10: 8:30 p.m., ESPN2): Projected first-round draft picks Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb headline this NFL Films-produced four-part series that follows the soon-to-be NFL rookies through their final days in college football, to their hometowns, the NFL Scouting Combine, their Pro Days and the 2018 NFL Draft.
  • We the Fans: Dallas (April 12: 7 p.m., ESPN): This four-part series chronicles the lives of a dozen Cowboys fans during the 2017 NFL season. The hour-long episodes will be available for replay via the ESPN App and ESPN Video on Demand.
  • SportsCenter Special: QB2QB with Russell Wilson (April 17: 7 p.m., ESPN): In a new iteration of Jon Gruden’s popular QB Camp series, the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson mentors four top draft prospects – quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma), Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State) and J.T. Barrett (Ohio State), and running back Saquon Barkley (Penn State).
  • SportsCenter Special: You’ve Got Mel & Todd (April 17: 10 p.m., ESPN): Host Wendi Nix and NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay engage with fans during this social media hour, fielding draft-related questions submitted via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #AskMelandTodd.
  • NFL Matchup: Draft Special (April 18: 8:30 p.m., ESPN2): In two 30-minute specials, host Sal Paolantonio, analyst Greg Cosell and NFL Front Office Insider Louis Riddick analyze the game tape of current draft prospects and examine whose skills translate best to the NFL.
  • SportsCenter Special: Mel & Todd’s Mock Draft (April 19: 8 p.m., ESPN): In this 90-minute special, NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay play GM and alternate making Round 1 selections as if they run the draft room for all 32 teams. Wendi Nix hosts with NFL Insiders Adam Schefter and Louis Riddick adding analysis. Kiper and McShay’s selections for Rounds 2 and 3 will be available on ESPN.com.
  • SportsCenter Special: NFL Nation Mock Draft (April 24: 7 p.m., ESPN): Wendi Nix hosts this 90-minute special where ESPN NFL Nation reporters make Round 1 selections for the teams they cover. NFL Front Office Insider Bill Polian and NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay offer analysis. The NFL Nation Mock Draft will be available on ESPN.com following the show.
  • College GameDay (April 26: 5 p.m., ESPN): Rece Davis hosts the first of two special editions of College GameDay with Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack from the NFL Draft Experience outside AT&T Stadium.
  • NFL Draft Countdown (April 26: 7 p.m., ESPN): NFL Draft host Trey Wingo anchors an hour-long Countdown leading into Round 1 with Kirk Herbstreit, Mel Kiper Jr., Louis Riddick, Todd McShay, Chris Mortensen, Adam Schefter and Suzy Kolber. Wingo also hosts NFL Draft Countdown on Friday, April 27, leading into Round 2.
  • SportsCenter Special: Draft Grades (April 29: 8 p.m., ESPN2): Jac Collinsworth hosts this two-hour draft review with NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, NFL analyst Tedy Bruschi and national NFL insider Dan Graziano. Coinciding with the show, Kiper’s 2018 NFL Draft Grades and McShay’s Best Picks will be available on ESPN.com.

 

Debut Episodes:

Date Time (ET) Show Network(s)
Tue, Apr 3 10 p.m. Inside The EA SPORTS Madden Ultimate League: The Long Hustle ESPN2
Wed, Apr 4 7 p.m. SportsCenter Special: Mel and Todd’s Dueling Mocks ESPN2
Tue, Apr 10 8:30 p.m. Hey Rookie: Welcome to the NFL (Episode 1) ESPN2
10 p.m. Inside The EA SPORTS Madden Ultimate League: Strategy & Stick Work ESPN2
Thu, Apr 12 7 p.m. We the Fans: Dallas presented by Meguiar’s (Episode 1) ESPN
8 p.m. We the Fans: Dallas presented by Meguiar’s (Episode 2) ESPN
9 p.m. We the Fans: Dallas presented by Meguiar’s (Episode 3) ESPN
10 p.m. We the Fans: Dallas presented by Meguiar’s (Episode 4) ESPN
Tue, Apr 17 7 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: QB2QB with Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield ESPN
7:30 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: QB2QB with Russell Wilson and J.T. Barrett ESPN
8 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: QB2QB with Russell Wilson and Mason Rudolph ESPN
8:30 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: QB2RB with Russell Wilson and Saquon Barkley ESPN
9:30 p.m. Hey Rookie: Welcome to the NFL (Episode 2) ESPN
10 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: You’ve Got Mel and Todd ESPN
10 p.m. Inside The EA SPORTS Madden Ultimate League: Game On Lock ESPN2
Wed, Apr 18 8:30 p.m. NFL Matchup: Draft Special (Episode 1) ESPN2
Thu, Apr 19 8 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: Mel and Todd’s Mock Draft ESPN
Tue, Apr 24 7 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: NFL Nation Mock Draft ESPN
9:30 p.m. Hey Rookie: Welcome to the NFL (Episode 3) ESPN
10 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: Best of QB2QB with Russell Wilson ESPN
10 p.m. Inside The EA SPORTS Madden Ultimate League: 4th & Inches ESPN2
10:30 p.m. NFL Matchup: Draft Special (Episode 2) ESPN2
Thu, Apr 26 6 a.m. Golic and Wingo ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS*
3 p.m. NFL Live presented by Corona Extra ESPN
5 p.m. College GameDay Built by The Home Depot ESPN
7 p.m. NFL Draft Countdown presented by ZipRecruiter ESPN
8 p.m. 2018 NFL Draft presented by Courtyard (Round 1) ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes
8 p.m. College Football Primetime at The NFL Draft presented by Courtyard (Round 1) ESPN2
Fri, Apr 27 6 a.m. Golic and Wingo ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS*
3 p.m. NFL Live presented by Corona Extra ESPN
5 p.m. College GameDay Built by The Home Depot ESPN
6 p.m. NFL Draft Countdown presented by ZipRecruiter ESPN
7 p.m. 2018 NFL Draft presented by Courtyard (Rounds 2-3) ESPN/ESPN2,

ESPN Radio, ESPN3 (in Spanish)

Sat, Apr 28 12 p.m. 2018 NFL Draft presented by Courtyard (Rounds 4-7) ESPN, ABC
7 p.m. EA Sports Madden NFL 18 Ultimate League Championship ESPN2
Sun, Apr 29 8 p.m. SportsCenter Special presented by Maui Jim: Draft Grades ESPN2
Tue, May 1 8:30 p.m. Hey Rookie: Welcome to the NFL (Episode 4) ESPN

*Golic and Wingo will also be simulcast on ESPN2 from 6-7 a.m.

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Allie Stoneberg

I advance ESPN’s communications and publicity efforts for NFL studio programming, Monday Night Football, the NFL Draft and our coverage of the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League. I enjoy meeting journalists in person at games and events and delight in showing them around our Bristol, Conn., campus.
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