Despite Controversies, NFL Draft Draws Record Numbers

The NFL claims more than 600,000 fans attended the three-day event in Nashville

Signage seen during the NFL Draft. (Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images)
Signage seen during the NFL Draft. (Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images)
Getty Images

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The NFL, in the eyes of viewers, can do no wrong.

Despite myriad controversies both large and small, the NFL Draft in Nashville drew a record number of attendees and TV viewers, according to the league.

The NFL claims more than 600,000 fans attended the three-day event in Nashville, surpassing the 250,000 that came to the event two years ago in Philadelphia.

At any point during the seven-round draft — which was broadcast on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network — there were 6.1 million viewers tuned in to watch, Nielsen reported. The draft averaged 5.5 million viewers last year.

“By every metric — from the hundreds of thousands of fans who filled the streets of Nashville to the record-breaking ratings and viewership — this event was an unqualified success,” said NFL executive VP for club business and league events Peter O’Reilly.

In the draft itself, Kyler Murray out of Oklahoma went No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. He should be the starting quarterback for the club as the Cardinals traded Josh Rosen to the Miami Dolphins.

Next year’s draft is slated to take place in the new home of the Oakland Raiders, Las Vegas.

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