Pat McAfee Show NFL Draft broadcast, explained: How ESPN is using host as part of 2026 draft coverage

Pat McAfee Show NFL Draft broadcast, explained: How ESPN is using host as part of 2026 draft coverage originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the third year in a row, football fans can watch Pat McAfee for coverage of the NFL Draft.

The former NFL punter and member of the 2009 NFL Draft class will have his own personal insights into the process in an on-site NFL Draft show. The program will have free coverage available to fans to catch the action.

This year’s draft has coverage across three English-speaking TV channels, as well as ESPN Deportes, but McAfee’s show provides a free outlet for fans to watch a different type of coverage.

Here are all of the important details to watch Pat McAfee’s coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Pat McAfee Show NFL Draft broadcast, explained

The NFL Draft is once again back on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network. But along with it is the same alternate coverage as the prior two drafts: “The Pat McAfee Show.”

McAfee’s program will once again be at the NFL Draft to cover the first day of festivities live. This means that McAfee and company will be in Pittsburgh, with their show being a free entry point for fans without access to cable networks that provide coverage.

For those wondering how this may differ from other live coverage, ESPN’s press release said that McAfee and team will analyze each pick in “McAfee’s signature style.”

“The Pat McAfee Show” will also air on ESPN, as well as YouTube, leading up to the selections, including from 12-2 p.m. ET Friday.

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How to watch Pat McAfee Show’s NFL Draft broadcast

Live Stream: YouTube | TikTok | X (formerly twitter) | ESPN+

Coverage of Pat McAfee’s show is free for fans, who can watch along on YouTube, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter). The live stream is also available through ESPN+, a paid streaming service.

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Where is The Pat McAfee Show filmed?

Most episodes of “The Pat McAfee Show” are filmed in Indianapolis, Ind, but the NFL Draft Coverage will be on-site.

This means that the alternative broadcast will be filmed from Pittsburgh, where this year’s draft takes place.

This is far from the first case of McAfee filming on site, as his crew does the same for “College Gameday,” and has been on-site for the last two NFL Drafts.