Read in Browser [[link removed]]

Morning Edition

April 24, 2025

POWERED BY

Thursday night, ESPN will televise its 46th NFL Draft. While the league is negotiating with multiple companies, FOS can report the network and league are close to a deal on an extension for media rights to the event.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]], Michael McCarthy [[link removed]], Amanda Christovich [[link removed]], and Eric Fisher [[link removed]]

ESPN Nears Draft Rights Extension Amid NFL-Disney Talks [[link removed]]

Green Bay Press-Gazette

When commissioner Roger Goodell does what many draft pundits expect and announces that the Titans have selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick on Thursday night, ESPN will be leading NFL Draft TV coverage for the 46th consecutive year.

However, a 47th year of ESPN televising the draft is not yet fully guaranteed, as the NFL has not yet signed media rights for the 2026 edition of the event and beyond.

Despite the uncertainty, sources tell Front Office Sports that ESPN is confident this is not the last time it will be covering the NFL Draft, and that it’s close to an extension to retain rights after this week’s showcase. That’s in line with multiple other reports on the topic that emerged this week.

NFL Network is also expected to retain its draft rights, sources say. This comes as the NFL remains in talks with Disney about an equity deal that would see ESPN take over operations of some league-owned media assets like NFL Network.

Additionally, YouTube is in pole position to pick up international streaming rights, sources say. Netflix previously declined to bid on draft rights [[link removed]], sources told FOS, although the streamer has since been keeping its options open.

The More the Merrier

The NFL has always been a proponent of a multipronged draft TV strategy.

NFL Network has broadcast its own draft coverage since 2006, less than three years after the league-owned cable channel launched. In 2018, NFL Network produced a joint feed with Fox that was simulcast on both channels.

Once again, on Thursday night, ESPN is just one of many places to watch the first round, though. ABC and NFL Network also have broadcasts, and ESPN Deportes has Spanish-language coverage.

Meanwhile, The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular will stream live from Green Bay after ESPN’s $85 million man initially said his draft special would broadcast remotely [[link removed]] from its studio in Indianapolis due to a beef with the NFL around the Scouting Combine. ESPN+, the ESPN app, YouTube, and TikTok will all carry McAfee’s draft coverage.

Ratings Report

In 2024, complete seven-round NFL Draft TV ratings across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and NFL Network dropped slightly to an average of 5.9 million viewers (down from 6 million in 2023), despite 12.1 million viewers tuning in to Round 1 coverage [[link removed]], as a record six quarterbacks were selected [[link removed]] on the first night of the draft.

This year, after Ward at No. 1, opinions among draft experts vary on how many other quarterbacks could be taken Thursday night. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart are the next two biggest names.

SPONSORED BY E*TRADE FROM MORGAN STANLEY

Logan Ryan’s Playbook After Football

In Episode 3 of Portfolio Players [[link removed]], presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, two-time Super Bowl champ and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins FOS editor-in-chief Dan Roberts to talk life after football—and the smart moves shaping his second act.

From nearly investing in a French soccer club to betting early on OpenAI, Ryan breaks down how athletes can build generational wealth and back game-changing ventures. He also weighs in on NIL and why today’s players shouldn’t leave money on the table.

Catch the full episode [[link removed]] to see how Ryan is connecting his on-field discipline to a high-upside portfolio—and why AI, athlete equity, and global ownership are just the beginning.

Watch now on YouTube [[link removed]].

Judge Threatens to Reject $2.8 Billion House v. NCAA Settlement

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, Northern District of California Judge Claudia Wilken threatened to reject the landmark House v. NCAA settlement after months of deliberation [[link removed]] and a lengthy objection process over the issue of roster limits. She said that the parties have 14 days to figure out how to ensure athletes don’t lose roster spots as a result of the settlement—or else.

The settlement would allow each Division I school to pay players an aggregate of up to $20.5 million this year for the first time in NCAA history. But it imposed other restrictions that Wilken ultimately saw as too cumbersome.

“Objectors have shown that the immediate implementation of the roster limits provisions of the settlement agreement has resulted or will result in harm to a significant number of members of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Class,” she wrote, referencing how players would lose their opportunity to play for D-I teams if roster limits were imposed.

The settlement proposal consolidated three federal antitrust cases—House v. NCAA, Carter v. NCAA, and Hubbard v. NCAA. House v. NCAA was filed in 2020 against the NCAA and former Power 5 conferences, arguing that players deserved damages for being prohibited from earning NIL (name, image, and likeness) payments before the NCAA changed its rules in 2021. It also argued that the definition of NIL should be expanded to include things like broadcast television rights fees.

The settlement would offer $2.8 billion in damages, as well as allow all D-I schools to offer up to $20.5 million to all the current players in its athletic department (a number that increases incrementally over a period of 10 years, during the lifetime of the settlement).

To read about why athletes and parents are protesting the House v. NCAA settlement and what Judge Wilken says needs to happen next, you can check out Amanda Christovich’s full story here [[link removed]].

EXCLUSIVE

ESPN Executive Editor Out After HR Investigation

ESPN executive editor Cristina Daglas is no longer with the company, sources told Front Office Sports. Daglas was the second-ranking editor for ESPN’s digital properties but had been on leave after multiple HR complaints. You can read Ryan Glasspiegel’s full story on this departure and other turnover at ESPN here [[link removed]].

For all of our sports media news, insights, and interviews, you can subscribe to the twice-weekly Tuned In newsletter here [[link removed]].

Rays See Sharp Attendance Drop in Temporary Home Amid Uncertainty [[link removed]]

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Much like the vast majority of situations surrounding the Rays, the Major League Baseball club’s stay thus far at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa [[link removed]] is veering toward the extremes.

The Rays have played 19 games at the spring training home of the Yankees—nearly a quarter of their home schedule for 2025 in a situation created by the extreme damage last fall from Hurricane Milton [[link removed]]. The tenure to date has created a wide array of both positives and negatives.

On the plus side, both the Rays and Yankees have been praised for their extensive efforts to upgrade the stadium’s amenities where possible, particularly given the time constraints involved, as well as install Rays-oriented branding around the ballpark. The situation also compares favorably to the embattled stadium operations [[link removed]] for the A’s in Sacramento.

The far smaller capacity of Steinbrenner Field, however, has helped fuel a 36% drop in attendance compared to the team’s draw last year at Tropicana Field to an average of 10,046 per game, the lowest in the league. A still-glaring difference between some components common to most MLB ballparks and what’s at Steinbrenner Field, such as the 30-foot foul poles that barely meet the big league standard, also helped lead to situations like on Sunday, when a seemingly fair drive from Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was called a foul ball [[link removed]].

“It’s tough when you’re in a situation like this in a minor league park where the foul poles aren’t as high,” Judge said. “I think everybody is kind of scratching their head, but [there’s] nothing I can do about it. They missed it, and I’ve just got to move on.”

The games at Steinbrenner Field, meanwhile, are continuing while the team’s long-term status remains decidedly unknown. The Rays last month walked away from a deal [[link removed]] with St. Petersburg, Fla., and Pinellas County to build a $1.3 billion ballpark, citing increased costs in the project.

That move, despite MLB’s continued support for the No. 11 U.S. media market, continues to draw repeated criticism, particularly from outspoken local politicians such as county commissioner Chris Latvala. He recently took aim at Rays owner Stu Sternberg and the club’s move to sell hurricane-damaged pieces of the Tropicana Field roof [[link removed]] for $15 each. St. Petersburg officials recently approved a plan to begin repairs [[link removed]] to that roof.

“Since Stu will sell literal garbage for $$$, how long before he tries to gut the place to make a dollar for himself?” said Latvala in a social media post [[link removed]]. The county commissioner has made public attacks on Sternberg a near-daily ritual.

Conversation Starters Flau’jae Johnson told FOS that she will return to LSU for her final season of eligibility. Watch the women’s basketball star explain her decision [[link removed]]. Ole Miss women’s basketball coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin broke down how she’s adapting to the new era of college sports on the latest episode of NILOSOPHY with Deja Kelly. Check it out [[link removed]]. MLB’s first-ever game in Tennessee will be hosted at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. Take a look [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks SafeSport Fires CEO Amid Scandal [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Ju’Riese Colón was hired in 2019, two years after the agency’s founding. PWHL Picks Vancouver for First Expansion Team [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]More than 19,000 fans attended a game in Vancouver in January. Everton Accelerates Rebound With Addition of Texans Minority Owner [[link removed]]by Ben Horney [[link removed]]Friedkin acquired Everton in December after a prolonged sale process. Question of the Day

How will you watch the NFL Draft this year?

ESPN/ABC [[link removed]] NFL Network [[link removed]] ESPN Deportes [[link removed]] Pat McAfee Show [[link removed]] Not watching [[link removed]]

Wednesday’s result: 54% of respondents think ​​New York should limit daily sports betting to address problem gambling.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Michael McCarthy [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], Annie Costabile [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here [[link removed]].

Update your preferences [link removed] / Unsubscribe [link removed]

Copyright © 2025 Front Office Sports. All rights reserved.

460 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor, New York NY, 10016