Mel Kiper Jr. “Crashes Out” Over Shedeur Sanders Slide in 2025 NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft was full of surprises, but perhaps none more bizarre—or uncomfortable—than Mel Kiper Jr.’s on-air reaction to Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected draft-day slide. Once a respected pioneer of draft analysis, Kiper delivered what many viewers described as a passionate meltdown, launching into repeated rants about Sanders’ talent and tearing into NFL front offices for what he deemed “clueless” quarterback evaluations.

Kiper, visibly frustrated, used multiple segments to hammer home his belief that Sanders was the best quarterback in the class and accused the league of missing the mark entirely. His tirades became so persistent that even major draft moments—like the Giants trading up for Jaxson Dart—were overshadowed by Kiper’s continued campaigning for Sanders. Viewers watched in disbelief as Sanders highlight reels played while other prospects were being drafted, turning ESPN’s coverage into what some felt resembled a PR push for the Colorado QB.

Critics pointed out that this wasn’t just passionate analysis—it bordered on obsession. Kiper brought up how he was “right” about Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Joe Montana in an attempt to validate his stance, ignoring the many misses on his résumé. For someone who’s been covering the draft for decades, his unwillingness to engage in reasonable debate—or acknowledge the role his own hype plays in shaping quarterback evaluations—struck many as hypocritical.

Ironically, Kiper, who has long attacked analysts and fans for going against consensus evaluations, now finds himself doing just that—defending a Day 3 quarterback pick against actual league consensus. The ESPN coverage leaned so heavily into Sanders commentary that some fans began questioning the network’s objectivity. One viewer summed it up bluntly: “The Shedeur glazing was crazy.”

The spectacle was capped off by fellow ESPN analyst Louis Riddick comparing Sanders to Tom Brady—arguing that if Sanders ends up with a similar career arc, teams will have “a lot of questions to answer.” While technically true, the comparison felt like more hot air in what had become an emotionally charged, highly biased draft broadcast.

Mel Kiper Jr. is a legend in the world of draft coverage—no one disputes that. But his 2025 performance didn’t feel like the wisdom of a seasoned expert. It felt like it may have been the unraveling of one.