ESPN starts Day 3 coverage noon ET
- ESPN, ABC and NFL Network carried the 2026 NFL Draft’s final day from Pittsburgh at noon Eastern on Saturday, covering rounds four through seven. - ESPN’s draft plans also included ESPN Deportes and a Patriots Unfiltered stream, while Day 3 delivered the bulk of the draft’s 257 selections. - Day 3 closes the three-day draft and typically fills rosters with depth, special teams and developmental players. (espnpressroom.com)
The 2026 National Football League Draft finished Saturday, April 25, with ESPN, ABC and NFL Network starting Day 3 coverage from Pittsburgh at noon Eastern. (espn.com) (usatoday.com) Day 3 covered rounds four through seven, the final 157 picks of the draft’s 257 total selections. ESPN’s April 13 guide said the network would air all three days and all 257 picks. (nytimes.com) (espn.com) ESPN’s press release said the company’s draft presentation ran across ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, the ESPN App, ESPN Radio and social platforms from April 23-25. It also said Disney+ and Hulu were streaming ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes telecasts during the event. (espnpressroom.com) The late rounds are where teams add backup linemen, special teams players and prospects who may need a year or two before competing for starting jobs. The Athletic’s Day 3 viewing guide described Saturday as the part of the draft where the majority of picks are made. (nytimes.com) That is why the coverage shifts from headline prospects to roster math: which teams still need a cornerback, a swing tackle or a returner. USA Today’s Day 3 guide paired the start time with a list of the best players still available before the final rounds began. (usatoday.com) The Patriots were one example of the local programming around the national telecast. Patriots.com ran a live Patriots Unfiltered draft show from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern and posted a Day 3 recap focused on New England’s fifth- through seventh-round picks. (patriots.com 1) (patriots.com 2) By Saturday night, the television story was over and the team-building phase began. The names called on Day 3 usually arrive with less fanfare, but they fill out the bottom half of 90-man offseason rosters and compete for jobs in training camp. (nytimes.com) (espn.com)
