Mel Kiper, Jr.

Mel Kiper Jr. (born July 25, 1960 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American football analyst for the ESPN television channel. 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.

Career
With the emergence of ESPN2 and ESPN.com, Kiper's visibility increased. Kiper has said that Ernie Accorsi, the general manager of the then-Baltimore Colts, encouraged him to become a draft analyst. He says that Accorsi told him that there was a market for draft information and that Kiper should convert his expertise into a business. Kiper and fellow draft analyst Todd McShay are often featured together and compare their mock drafts on ESPN programs.

Big Board
Perhaps what Mel Kiper is most well known for his "big board" for which he ranks the top 25 players every week. During the ESPN draft coverage, Kiper's big board appears on the ticker, and updates automatically once a player is selected.

Video game appearances

 * Kiper lent his voice to the videogame, ESPN NFL 2K5, as the NFL Draft expert in season mode, and also is "unlockable" as a Free Agent long-snapper in the game.
 * Kiper appears in NFL Head Coach as the NFL Draft expert.
 * Kiper appears in Madden NFL 07-08 during the college draft workout period in the offseason.