ESPN’s hurry-up offense is struggling to keep up with the new pace of the NFL Draft.
With the league trimming the time between first-round picks from 10 minutes to eight, the Worldwide Leader lagged behind during its opening-night coverage on Thursday from Pittsburgh. As a consequence, the network anchors were frequently caught interviewing earlier draft picks as another selection was being revealed by Commissioner Roger Goodell.
‘ESPN is so far behind on picks,’ former Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz wrote on X. ‘They’re going to have to figure this 8 min thing out because they can’t be 10+ min behind real time.’
Many others agreed with the four-time Pro Bowl selection.
‘With 2-3 min commercials between picks, and the announcements, and interviews,’ another added, ‘there’s zero room for analysis.’
Others just poked fun at ESPN.
Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected 15th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night in Pittsburgh
‘Watching now… Seahawks just took Rick Mirer,’ one fan joked, referring to Seattle’s first-round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft.
But not everyone was so light hearted.
‘ESPN royally f***ing up this draft coverage the picks getting leaked like 5 minutes before we even see them on TV lol,’ one critic complained.
‘It’s like the TV producers slept thru the meeting where the NFL changed the time between picks to 8 minutes,’ another added. ‘These guys are WAY behind and the draft just started. Absolutely embarrassing display.’
And as several others noticed, social media was revealing draft picks 10 and 12 minutes before the names were being read on ESPN.
‘Twitter is currently 13 minutes ahead,’ one fan wrote on X.
The rule change was announced in December, leading to criticism from Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan this week.
‘I’d love to have 10 minutes, but, hey, it’s the same for everybody else, so eight minutes, it is what is,’ Khan said Monday.
Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk walks through the crowd after being chosen by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night in Pittsburgh
The Steelers were seen calling USC receiver Makai Lemon (pictured) before taking him at No. 21 only to discover the Philadelphia Eagles had already traded up to grab him at No. 20
That truncated time between picks may have played a factor on Thursday as the Steelers were seen calling USC receiver Makai Lemon before taking him at No. 21 only to discover the Philadelphia Eagles had already traded up to grab him at No. 20.
As a result, the Steelers had to quickly pivot to another player: Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.
Pittsburgh sports radio personality Andrew Fillipponi followed that awkward moment with a reported quote from a team insider, who indicated the Steelers were caught off guard.
‘You know when the clock runs out on you in a fantasy football draft [and] it auto picks a guy you don’t want,’ read the reported quote from the Steelers insider. ‘That’s what happened to the Steelers tonight.’
NFL teams will have seven minutes between picks during the second round on Friday, while rounds 3 through 7 will see five minutes between selections.
