An average of 15.6 million people watched the event in the United States, the NFL reported.

That is up 37 per cent from a year ago.

It was broadcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ABC and NFL Network.

The audience across all four networks peaked at 19.6 million viewers.

Owing to the pandemic and the social-distancing measures put in place to try and stop the spread of coronavirus, ESPN and NFL Network worked together on the same broadcast.

The NFL Draft was due to be held in Las Vegas, the city the Raiders franchise moved to following the conclusion of the 2019 season, before circumstances made that impossible.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell instead announced selections from his basement, while prospects and teams' head coaches and general managers set up cameras in their homes so viewers could see them react to picks.

Joe Burrow, the quarterback from Louisiana State University who last season won the Heisman Trophy - awarded to college football's most outstanding player - was chosen first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The three-day, seven-round event will see 255 college players drafted by 32 NFL franchises, with the final four rounds taking place today.

All of the major sports leagues in the US are on hold as a result of the pandemic, so this event - and last week's Women's National Basketball Association Draft - while not featuring any action on the field or court, are the closest fans can get to live sport, and the viewing numbers show there is a healthy appetite for it.