NFL teams won’t be the only ones evaluating certain aspects of their performance from NFL Draft 2020.
While ESPN smashed ratings records and pulled off a largely seamless broadcast of the first fully virtual NFL draft, the network also faced criticism for including a line in the graphic of many new draftees’ bio about a tragedy the player or their family endured.
“I heard [the criticism],” ESPN executive Seth Markman told NBC Sports’ Peter King. “It’s not unfair. It’s something we should self-scout for the future. It’s something we can examine. We didn’t want to be Debbie Downer, but we wanted to show how some of the players overcame major issues in their lives. Maybe how Javon Kinlaw drew inspiration from growing up homeless, or a player overcoming a father’s suicide to achieve his dream.”
ESPN’s widely criticized NFL Draft graphic detailing the drug addiction of Tee Higgins’ mother.ESPN graphicThe example that drew the most ire from fans was Tee Higgins. After the Cincinnati Bengals drafted the Clemson wide receiver with the first pick of the second round Friday night, the graphic on the screen noted that his mother, Camilla, battled a drug addiction for 16 years.
ESPN has since apologized for airing the graphic and noted that it didn’t have enough context. Higgins, for one, didn’t have a problem with its inclusion and tweeted that he was proud of his mom.
But many others, including 2018 draft pick and Broncos pass rusher Bradley Chubb, could have done without it.
“I understand everybody has a story & motivation, but ESPN doesn’t have to highlight the worst moment that happens in some of these folks lives,” Chubb tweeted Friday, shortly after Higgins was picked. “Am I tripping?”


