Mel Kiper
Mel Kiper
Melvin Adam "Mel" Kiper Jr.is an American football analyst for ESPN. He has served as an analyst for ESPN's annual NFL draft coverage since 1984, providing in-depth information on the nation's potential draft picks...
ProfessionSportscaster
Date of Birth25 July 1960
backs drop late nice pick running
Historically running backs drop and you can get some bargains. Gerald Riggs Jr. I think would be a nice pick very late in the draft.
perfect scheme type
I think that makes a lot of sense. For the type of scheme they play, he would be perfect for what they need.
analytical aspect days decided draft free improve junior love market scouting team type year
I decided in my junior year that there was a market for this type of thing. I love the analytical and scouting aspect of it. Back in those days before full-fledged free agency, the draft was the only way a team could improve from one year to the next.
ability blocking needs
He's very much like a Shannon Sharpe-type of player. When you look at his pass-catching ability, it's unbelievable. But now, blocking is something that he needs to develop.
class deep draft factor good key shaping whether
I think this is a pretty good draft class overall. It's really shaping up that way because of the underclassmen. Usually, they're the key factor in whether a draft is good or not. It's very deep at a lot of positions.
kid mediocre pick running
This kid is unique. If he was just a running back who had mediocre hands, then he wouldn't be the No. 1 pick. He's the No. 1 pick because he's a superlative runner.
ability ask dice grades guy huge impact inside point productive rolling round second somebody
At one point in time, I thought he'd be a first-round pick. He's not productive enough, he's up and down, he flashes. He's got that huge frame. I put him in the second round to Oakland. Somebody in the second round is rolling the dice. If you ask me where he grades out, he doesn't grade out that high. Because you want that guy inside that makes more plays, makes more of an impact and maximizes that ability on a game-to-game basis. That's not a Gabe Watson. I'd say second round and a roll of the dice pick.