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NFL Draft 2023: These Cable-Free Streaming Services Will Let You Watch It Live

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The NFL is holding a supplemental draft on July 11! We assume it will air live on NFL Network (Details to come!) and you can watch it on FuboTV with a free 7-day trial!

The 2024 NFL Draft runs Thu Apr 25th through Sat Apr 27th this year and you can watch it all without cable. Learn your options below.

In a hurry? The NFL Draft will air on NFL Network, ESPN, and ABC (simulcast on ESPN3). Get them all with these services:

  • Fubo: The best streaming service for international sports also provides 150+ well-selected channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
  • Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save 50% on Sling TV now.
  • Hulu + Live TV: This total entertainment streaming service provides a great on-demand selection and all the essential live TV channels.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.

In a hurry? Unfortunately, we don’t know a streaming service in that offers this TV channel/sport. But if you’ve already paid for the right service, and just can’t watch because of your location, there is an easy way to get the sports, movies, and TV you deserve. You need a VPN, like one of the following.

ExpressVPN

1. ExpressVPN: Established VPN provider in 105 countries. Smart DNS, a built-in ad-blocker, and unlimited bandwidth. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access

3. Private Internet Access: The only no-logs VPN with a location for every US state. Get 82% off + 2 months free.

If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, you’ll find all the answers in our full VPN guide.

See our NFL Viewer’s Guide for all you need to watch the entire season.

The NFL Draft, now in its 89th year, takes place on Thursday April 25th through Saturday April 27th. The purpose is to allow the NFL to select the newest eligible players. There are seven rounds and all of the teams compete to sign and sometimes trade new players for the upcoming season. The draft will take place at the Kansas City Union Station. And you can watch the entire NFL Draft online.

Watching sports may seem impossible without cable, but it’s not. In fact, if you keep reading you can learn about all the services like Fubo (free trial) that will allow you to watch the NFL Draft online without cable!

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Get prepared to watch the whole upcoming season with our NFL Out-of-Market Game Guide.

NFL Draft on TV

You can watch the NFL Draft online without cable, but you’re going to need a few channels to do it. Luckily, the Draft will air on a variety of channels each day that it’s happening, so you’ll have plenty of ways to watch.

The 2023 NFL Draft will air live from Thursday, April 27th to Saturday, April 29th on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. The first round starts at . All times EDT.

NFL Network

  • Thursday, April 25: : NFL Draft Kickoff
  • Thursday, April 25: : NFL Draft
  • Friday, April 26: : NFL Draft Kickoff
  • Friday, April 26: : NFL Draft
  • Saturday, April 27: : NFL Draft Kickoff
  • Saturday, April 27: : NFL Draft

ABC

  • Thursday, April 25: : NFL Draft
  • Friday, April 26: : NFL Draft
  • Saturday, April 27: : NFL Draft

ESPN

  • Thursday, April 25: : NFL Draft Countdown
  • Thursday, April 25 : NFL Draft
  • Friday, April 26: : NFL Draft Kickoff
  • Friday, April 26: : NFL Draft †
  • Saturday, April 27: : NFL Draft

† ESPN will cut away from the NFL Draft at Friday night to air an NBA playoff game. NFL Draft coverage will continue on ESPN2 from to .

NFL Network will provide the best overall coverage but all the options will allow you to see the event itself.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

NFL Pro Bowl
NFL Pro Bowl image via Piqsels.

Unblock Your Favorite Events & Teams With a VPN

If you can’t watch your favorite events or teams because of your location, a VPN will allow you to get the access you are entitled to, plus extra security and unequaled privacy. Check out our VPN Guide for everything you need to know, including our top pick ExpressVPN.

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Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

Watch NFL Draft Without Cable: At a Glance

While it can be difficult watching events over multiple channels, the NFL Draft should be easy to get without cable. It is available on numerous channels, but coverage is aired over five networks, so as long as you have one of these networks, you should be able to watch daily coverage without any trouble. Check out these two options and if you want more to choose from, you’ll find more options later in this guide.

Fubo (formerly FuboTV) is a great bet for NFL Network draft coverage, as it offers NFL Network, ABC, and ESPN in the base package. This $79.99/mo package offers over 110 sports-heavy channels. And it comes with 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage and streaming on up to 10 devices at home and 2 away. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

Hulu + Live TV provides over 85 live channels and much more. The plan is built on Hulu’s outstanding on-demand service. And it adds Disney+ and ESPN+ — all for $76.99/mo. Included in its channel lineup are ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, so you are set to watch all of the NFL Draft.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Using Streaming Services

If you don’t want to be restricted to ABC and a digital antenna, you’ve got two legal options to watch the NFL Draft live stream. You can use cable, or you can use a streaming service. Cable and streaming services both provide a set of channels for an agreed upon price. From there, the services can be pretty different. So, let’s look at the difference between these options.

Try Before You Buy! – Perhaps the biggest difference between cable and streaming service is the free trial options. Many streaming services offer some form of free trial. Some services even offer a month free. Cable doesn’t offer a chance to cash in on buyer’s remorse. It’s also worth noting that you can cancel the streaming service during the trial, and you won’t have to pay anything. This means that you could technically have a free, legal way to watch the NFL Draft without cable!

The Contracts – Cable companies often rope people into contracts. In the beginning, this seems like a deal because it often gets you promotional pricing. However, it forces you to keep cable for the length of your contract. What’s worse is that when the contract is up, so is the promotional pricing. This means that the package that you once paid one price for goes up, for essentially no reason. With streaming you pay the same price that you did when you signed up unless the entire price goes up for everyone. And, as there are no contracts you can cancel whenever you want.

Cancellation Hassles – Cable requires equipment. In most cases, it’s just something simple like a cable box. When you cancel, after a phone conversation with a customer service agent that tries to convince you not to cancel, you have to either return the cable equipment in person or through the mail. So, even when you cancel, you’re not done with them until they have acknowledged receipt of their equipment. Streaming services don’t have these hassles. First off, you stream on streaming devices (streaming devices guide) that you own, so there’s nothing to return. And when it comes to canceling, most services allow you to do it right through your online portal. You don’t have to talk to anyone. You just click some buttons and you’re done.

The Fees – One of the biggest differences between streaming and cable comes down to money. With a streaming service, you pay the cost for the plan you get and tax. If you don’t upgrade or add a movie channel, that’s what you pay and that’s it. With cable, you pay for the package, a variety of taxes, the equipment rental for the cable box you need to use the service, and any upgraded or special fees. When you sign up, you’re given a price and that often ends up being much different than what you end up paying once you finally get a bill. With streaming, there are no surprises. Everything is labeled honestly and the only fee other than the main price and any upgrades is tax.

Recap:

  • Streaming services give you the chance to watch the channels you want for less money
  • There aren’t any hidden fees – You know what you get and what you’re paying for it
  • You’re not tethered to your TV – streaming is possible on many devices
  • Free trials allow you to try a full streaming service before you pay anything

Now let’s learn about how you can watch NFL Draft online without cable!

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Live TV Streaming Services

Most live TV streaming services will allow you to watch the NFL Draft on at least one of the key channels.

Fubo

fubotv logo

Fubo is a great option if you love sports and you want one of the largest starting packages in streaming. Here you’re offered 110+ channels, which includes over 35 that are focused on sports for $79.99/mo. And when it comes to the NFL Draft you’ll have your choice of streaming on ABC, ESPN (or ESPN2), and NFL Network.

Additionally, sports fans will get more regional coverage here than any other streaming service other than DIRECTV STREAM. And when it comes to international sports coverage (and soccer in particular), no service even comes close.

Here are the major highlights:

  • 110+ Live TV channels
  • Outstanding coverage of local affiliates including Spanish-language channels
  • Cloud DVR (1000 hours)
  • Ten Simultaneous streams (2 outside home)
  • Watch on most devices including smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, iOS devices, Android mobile, Xbox One, and more
  • $79.99/mo

Fubo is the best choice for diehard sports fans. They specialize in regional and international sports channels that you may not find with other services.

Standard features include everything from 3-Day Replay in the on-demand library to a large (never-deleted) cloud-DVR and streaming on up to ten devices at once.

Our fubo review is filled with more details.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Sling TV

Sling TV Logo (2021 100x50)

Sling TV is the cheapest option when it comes to sports streaming. You can’t generally find a multi-channel streaming service for $40.00/mo, but that’s just what Sling TV does. You have two options: Sling Orange (30+ channels including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3) and Sling Blue (40+ channels including NFL Network, NBC, and Fox). For $55.00/mo, you can get the two plans combined.

Several add-on options are available, which allow you to create the package you want. Sling Blue allows you to stream on up to 3 devices but Sling Orange is limited to one. Both plans come with 50 hours of cloud DVR.

Here is more on Sling TV:

  • 30+ Live TV channels
  • Cloud DVR (50 hours)
  • Three simultaneous streams with Sling Blue
  • Watch on most devices including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, iOS devices, smart TVs, Android mobile, Xbox One, Oculus, and more
  • $40.00/mo

Budgeting cord-cutters may not be able to resist the great prices at Sling TV. This package may cost less, but it doesn’t lack in terms of content. You have a small, but robust package, with plenty of room for add-ons.

You can learn more in our Sling TV review and focused guide.

Save 50% on Sling TV Now

Hulu + Live TV

hulu logo

Hulu + Live TV is a great option for all kinds of streaming needs. This is because Hulu Live offers over 85 channels, including more local coverage than any other streaming service. This means you almost certainly have ABC. ESPN and ESPN2 are included, as well. And NFL Network rounds things out to allow you to watch the entire NFL Draft without cable.

Hulu Live also includes the Hulu on-demand, Disney+, and ESPN+ with this package. So, you’ll have plenty of live and on-demand content. That’s a lot for just $76.99/mo.

Here are some more highlights:

  • 85+ Live TV channels
  • Outstanding on-demand library
  • ESPN+ and Disney+ included
  • Excellent coverage of local affiliates ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC
  • A great choice for current Hulu on-demand subscribers
  • Unlimited Cloud DVR (9 month storage)
  • Two Simultaneous streams
  • Watch on iOS/Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation, and other devices
  • $76.99/mo with no contracts

Hulu Live is a great choice if you’ve cut the cord because it offers a variety of popular channels, which is going to make the transition to cord-cutting much easier.

The price is pretty close to average where streaming is concerned and it allows you to watch news, sports, movies, and most, if not all, of your favorite TV shows.

Our Hulu + Live TV review has more details.

Try Hulu + Live TV Today!

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) is probably the easiest way to transition from cable or satellite TV to a streaming service. They offer simple plans that provide everything you expect and all the add-ons you might want.

The base (Entertainment) plan is $79.99/mo for roughly 80 channels that include ABC and ESPN. But you might want to upgrade to the Choice plan for $108.99/mo, which provides access to the best selection of regional sports networks (RSNs) in the industry. They are essential for MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS fans.

Here are the major highlights:

  • 75+ live TV channels
  • Unsurpassed coverage of local network affiliates
  • Unlimited cloud DVR (90 day limit per item)
  • Twenty Simultaneous streams (3 outside home)
  • Available on most devices including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, iOS devices, and Android mobile
  • DIRECTV STREAM device also available
  • $79.99/mo

One downside of DIRECTV STREAM is that it does not offer NFL Network. But this is a minor omission and doesn’t matter for the NFL Draft.

All plans come with unlimited cloud DVR (online sign-up only) and streaming on unlimited devices at once.

For all the details, see our DIRECTV STREAM review.

Get DIRECTV STREAM Free for 5 Days

Vidgo

vidgo logo

Vidgo is another good option. If you’re looking for a way to stream the NFL Draft, you’ll have plenty of options here. Included in its base 100+ channel package are all the outlets that air the Draft: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and NFL Network. You get all that for $69.99/mo.

In a nutshell

  • 100+ Live TV channels
  • Three simultaneous streams
  • No cloud DVR in the base plan
  • Watch on most devices including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, iOS devices, and Android mobile
  • $69.99/mo

One downside of Vidgo is that it does not currently offer a cloud DVR. But it does allow you to stream on up to three devices at once. Find out more in our Vidgo review.

Try Vidgo Today!

YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers 85+ live TV channels including your local network affiliates (eg, ABC), the main ESPN channels, and NFL Network. It also comes with an unlimited cloud DVR and streaming on up to three devices at once.

Superpower Your Sports Streaming With a VPN

For the sake of privacy, security, and access, you should be using a VPN. They are low-cost and easy to use. We’ve been using them for years and our top pick is ExpressVPN. Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

i Our VPN Buyer’s Guide provides a complete introduction and all you need to know to choose the best VPN for your needs.

2023 NFL Draft Order

The draft consists of seven rounds. Each has a different order because of trading. Here is the first round order with the team that traded the slot in parentheses. The Miami Dolphins lost their first-round pick for “integrity of the game policy violations” by the team.

Wrapping Up

Any of the streaming services above will allow you to watch the NFL Draft online without cable. While not all services offer all the channels, they all offer the channels you will need to watch all of the NFL Draft online.

Fubo is our top choice for streaming the 2024 NFL Draft. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

FAQs

What is the mock draft?

The mock draft isn’t really a single thing. It refers to predictions made by sports analysts in the media and also those voted on by fans. They are also used as a kind of warm-up for fantasy football participants. None of it has much to do with the actual NFL draft, but you will see a lot of writing about it.

More Info on NFL Without Cable

If you still have questions, these resources should help:

Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord

  1. Pick the right streaming service
  2. Get the content you deserve with the best VPN.
  3. Supercharge your internet provider

That’s it — you’ll save money, take back control, and enjoy TV more!

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