The NFL draft is less than a week away, and if you’re a draft junkie there’s no better time of year. There’s plenty of draft coverage on networks like ESPN, but we all know that you have to suffer through a lot of hot takes as opposed to deep dives into the draft and scouting reports.
Podcasts offer an excellent alternative for fans who want real information and analysis from entertaining and engaging hosts, so we’ve put together this list to get you started.
The McShay Show
Todd McShay’s new solo venture with The Ringer is a fresh and surprisingly different listen from what fans might remember from his ESPN days. Freed from TV time constraints and the tightly structured format of studio segments, McShay sounds completely unleashed here. He’s more enthusiastic, more opinionated, and definitely more verbose—sometimes to a fault.
But that’s part of the charm. His deep passion for the NFL Draft shines through in every episode. Sure, he occasionally goes on too long about certain players or prospects, but it’s hard not to be won over by his energy. It’s clear he’s having fun with this podcast, and that makes it fun to listen to. If you’re into the nitty-gritty of scouting, mock drafts, and team fits, McShay delivers in spades. He’s a total draft nerd, and that’s what makes this show such a fun and informative listen.
Here you’ll find those deep dives that go well beyond the quick hits you’ll see on sports entertainment channels like ESPN. McShay and his co-host Steve Mench will go deep on player analysis and debate traits and weaknesses. Recently they spent over an hour going through offensive linemen. You’ll get s sense of how scout evaluate players by position, how they rank their boards and how that fits into overall team building and draft strategies. You can also watch on YouTube here. Also, McShay shared on this podcast that he uses DraftHistory.com to research old drafts, and frankly it’s a pretty impressive site.
First Draft
With ESPN you often get entertainment over real analysis, but this podcast provides a platform for Mel Kiper Jr. to present a deeper dive on players and rankings. With Field Yates now stepping in alongside Kiper in place of Todd McShay, the show still brings great insight and smart conversations. That said, the chemistry between McShay and Kiper is definitely missed—they just had a unique rhythm and banter that really worked. Still, Yates is a solid contributor who knows how to steer the conversation and ask the right questions. Yates is particularly good at explaining draft strategies as he evaluates where players might land.
Mike Greenberg mostly adds fluff and some humor as the host, but he does a decent job here and tones down some of his more annoying tendencies.
Kiper, of course, remains the godfather of draft analysis. He’s been the face of this space for four decades, and he hasn’t lost a step. His takes are sharp, informed, and rooted in a lifetime of studying prospects. First Draft may feel a little different these days, but it’s still a great listen during draft season. Find their YouTube playlist here.
Brett Kollmann
Brett’s NFL content lives on YouTube and he doesn’t have an RSS feed, though you’ll often hear him as a guest on other podcasts. We’re impressed with his NFL coverage along with his coverage during draft season. What sets Brett apart is his ability to explain scheme fits, player traits, and comparisons with more clarity and insight than many traditional TV analysts. He doesn’t just tell you a player is good—he shows you exactly why, using detailed examples from game tape.
The entertainment factor is high as well. His videos feature cinematic visuals, sharp editing, and a confident, witty delivery that keeps viewers engaged. He also makes excellent use of telestration and film cut-ups, helping even casual fans follow complex football concepts.
This channel is especially valuable for visual learners—those who want to not just hear about prospects, but truly understand what makes them successful on the field.
Locked On NFL Draft
This one is for hard core fans that can’t get enough. Hosted by Damian Parson and Keith Sanchez, this daily podcast dives into prospect profiles, team strategies, and draft trends. Parson’s scouting background and Sanchez’s experience with LSU’s championship team provide nuanced takes on player evaluations and NFL transitions. The hosts’ contrasting styles—Parson’s analytical depth and Sanchez’s passionate delivery—create lively discussions. Their daily format keeps content fresh, and they often inject humor into debates about controversial prospects. Find this podcast on YouTube here.
The Athletic Football Show
This show focuses on the NFL year-round and then dives into the draft during draft season. Here you’ll get expert analysis, insider insight, and a big-picture approach to roster building. Hosted by Robert Mays, the podcast consistently delivers thoughtful conversations that go beyond just rankings and mock drafts. Mays brings a journalist’s depth and a fan’s curiosity, making even the most technical discussions accessible and engaging.
A major strength of the show is the regular presence of draft analyst Dane Brugler, whose annual draft guide—The Beast—is widely respected as one of the most comprehensive resources in the industry. When Brugler joins the podcast, listeners get high-level scouting reports, underrated prospect names, and honest takes rooted in film study and real-world scouting.
The shows does a good job of tying draft coverage into the broader context of NFL team-building. Rather than just discussing who a team might pick, the show explores how that pick fits within a team’s scheme, culture, and long-term strategy. It’s an NFL-first lens on the draft that’s worth a listen. Find it on YouTube here.
Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson
Palazzolo and Monson started their own thing after leaving PFF, and they do an excellent job with this NFL podcast. As you might expect, they do deeps dives into the NFL draft at this time of year, and their backgrounds in data-driven analysis and player evaluation provide listeners with nuanced perspectives on draft prospects and team strategies. Find the show on YouTube here.
The PFF NFL Draft Show
PFF is all about analytics, and they’ve had quite an impact on how analysts and fans discuss football. With their focus on analytics-driven scouting combined with film study. PFF brings unique grading metrics into the draft discussion.
The Ringer NFL Draft Show
The Ringer consistently delivers excellent podcasts, and this one is no exception. Hosted by Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck, this season spinoff from their fantasy football show blends player analysis and mock drafts with engaging discussions, listener questions, and even trivia. Their chemistry and varied segments make it entertaining. Find their YouTube playlist here.
That Franchise Guy
Finally, we have another YouTube channel worth checking out. This channel dives deep into draft boards and prospect rankings, with a focus on team-building strategy. The creator’s detailed videos cover sleepers, bust risks, and trade scenarios, often projecting how players fit specific franchises. His content ramps up closer to draft season with mock drafts and scouting reports. His straightforward, no-nonsense style paired with occasional humor makes his long-form videos easy to binge. His passion for the draft process and fan interaction (like responding to comments) creates a community feel.
