Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. were once ESPN’s dynamic duo when it came to NFL Draft coverage. But even after McShay’s exit from the network, he’s still breaking down prospects – and throwing a few jabs at his old colleague.
During a recent appearance on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, McShay was asked about Kiper’s strong endorsement of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, which the veteran draft analyst recently reiterated on ESPN.
McShay didn’t hold back, expressing frustration that Kiper has finally taken a firm stance – now that they’re no longer working together.
“My biggest complaint, outside of the Notre Dame quarterbacks – which I still believe he had a tie with an agent and someone was in his pocket – outside of those guys, my biggest frustration with Mel was he never planted a flag with a quarterback,” McShay said.
“He always was like, you know, right down the middle of the fairway, 230 yards, nice and easy, hit the double, whatever you want to call it… He would never have a stance that kind of went against the grain a little bit.”
Now that Kiper has publicly backed Sanders, McShay admitted it’s frustrating not being able to challenge him head-on like in the past.
Although McShay doesn’t dislike Sanders as a prospect, he isn’t sold on him as the top quarterback in the draft – especially not over Miami’s Cam Ward.
“I like Shedeur, but I don’t know how, when you get done with your evaluation, you don’t see the traits and more upside with Cam Ward,” McShay continued.
“I think that’s what Tennessee’s kind of seeing right now. And I think a lot of people in the league are seeing. I think that’s why he’s the presumptive No. 1 pick.”
Ironically, Kiper also has Ward projected to go first overall, aligning with a growing consensus across mock drafts.
However, it’s Kiper’s vocal backing of Sanders – who has drawn intrigue from quarterback-needy teams like the Browns (No. 2 pick) and Giants (No. 3) – that sparked the back-and-forth.
Both analysts agree that Sanders would be a strong fit in either Cleveland or New York, but McShay still isn’t ready to elevate him above Ward.
For longtime NFL Draft fans, it’s a fascinating moment.
After years of measured, middle-of-the-road quarterback analysis from Kiper, he’s finally drawn a line in the sand – and McShay, now on the outside looking in, is ready to debate.
Unfortunately for us, the showdown is no longer happening under the bright lights of ESPN’s war room.
What are your thoughts on McShay’s comments? … More importantly, how do you feel about Kiper taking such a strong stance on Sanders???
