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ESPN is finalizing a deal to retain longtime NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, sources told Front Office Sports.
ESPN completed its acquisition of NFL Network in an equity deal with the NFL earlier this year. Following the transaction, ESPN absorbed all of NFL Network’s contracted talent, with Rapoport being the first to agree on a new deal.
ESPN is excited to have what the network feels are the two top league insiders in Rapoport and Adam Schefter under its umbrella, sources told FOS. The plan is for Rapoport to appear across ESPN platforms and continue on NFL Network coverage.
An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.
During the NFL Draft last week, Rapoport broke the news that USC wideout Makai Lemon was on the phone with the Steelers when the Eagles engineered a trade with their division-rival Cowboys to leapfrog Pittsburgh and select Lemon 20th overall. Rapoport and Schefter—two former longtime rivals—later had a dual byline scoop when the Vikings traded linebacker Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles for a third-round pick.
Rapoport first joined NFL Network in 2012 after covering the Patriots for the Boston Herald.
