Mel Kiper Jr.

About

Mel Kiper Jr. ( KY-pər; born July 25, 1960) is an American analyst covering football for ESPN. Kiper has appeared on ESPN’s annual NFL draft coverage since 1984. He has been widely credited for establishing mock drafting and is regarded as one of the first draftniks alongside Joel Buchsbaum.

Kiper said that he approached Ernie Accorsi, then-assistant general manager of the Baltimore Colts, with draft reports while still a student in high school. Accorsi told him that there was a market for draft information and suggested that Kiper convert his analysis into a business. The original contract he signed with ESPN in 1984 was for $400.
Kiper and fellow draft analyst Todd McShay were often featured together and compared their mock drafts on ESPN programs. Kiper compiles a “big board”, on which he ranks his top 25 players every week.
One of the best known moments of Kiper’s career was during the 1994 NFL draft, when he butted heads with Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Tobin. Kiper, then relatively unknown as an analyst, derided the Colts for passing on Trent Dilfer after trading up to the fifth pick. Tobin retorted in an interview, “Who the hell is Mel Kiper?” and noted…