At this point, it’s become clear that the NFL is welcoming the streaming era with open arms.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that as the league negotiates its next media rights deal for the NFL Draft, there is likely to be a strong digital component.

Appearing at the Sports Business Journal‘s Media Innovators conference earlier this week, NFL Chief Media and Business Officer Brian Rolapp was asked about the role that reach plays in such deals. And while Rolapp conceded that reaching as many eyeballs as possible is a significant factor, he also noted that there are multiple methods that can be used to achieve that goal.

“The reach aspect of it matters, but there’s different ways to get reach,” Rolapp said. “And we’re going to lean much more into the digital aspects of that as well.”

While the NFL Draft has aired on ESPN’s airwaves since it first became a televised event in 1980, the NFL’s deal with Disney for the product is set to expire after 2025. And while the Worldwide Leader is obviously interested in retaining its rights, it faces competition from the likes of Fox and YouTube TV, with Amazon and NBC also reportedly having expressing interest.

Obviously, where the draft lands will likely be a matter of dollars and sense. But if the NFL is intent on there being a significant digital component, that would seemingly rule out Fox, which is the only suitor to not currently possess a streaming service.

It is, however, possible that the NFL could divide its draft rights, as it currently does with ESPN providing the primary broadcast and the NFL Network adding a secondary feed. So in a world where Fox does take over the linear rights, the league could theoretically add a streaming component via a second partner. Or, as a more extreme option, the NFL could make the annual selection show exclusive to streaming.

Considering ESPN’s 45-year track record with the draft and versatility as a broadcaster — its standalone streaming service is scheduled to launch next fall — one would imagine that the Worldwide Leader has the inside track here. Ultimately, we shouldn’t be waiting too long to find out what decision the NFL makes, with Rolapp telling SBJ that a deal is likely to be announced “probably pretty soon.”

[Sports Business Journal]