ESPN is “leaving well enough alone” for its coverage of the NFL Draft, as the company is allowing NFL Network “to deliver the same draft coverage, with the same announcers” as in past years despite acquiring ownership of the outlet. Rich Eisen will once again anchor the main set, flanked by Daniel Jeremiah, Charles Davis, Joel Klatt and Kurt Warner. Meanwhile, ESPN and NFL Network both will have reporters covering the Raiders, Jets, Giants and Cowboys, which “seems a poor use of resources … to double down on four different teams” instead of starting the “inevitable cross-over integration of reporters from both network.” Laura Rutledge and Taylor McGregor are the only ESPN personalities “scheduled to appear on NFL Network” (MIAMI HERALD, 4/23).
NFL Network VP & Exec Producer/Content Production Charlie Yook, who oversees the net’s draft coverage, will have “more toys at his disposal than he has ever had, including three drones and augmented reality graphics.” He said that Jeremiah’s analysis “will be the focus of NFL Network’s coverage.” Yook: “You’re gonna learn something about every player. The guy’s an animal, and I mean that in the best way” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/23).
