Who Is The Best NFL Draft Analyst?

There is no one definitive answer to this question. However, there are a few NFL draft analysts who are highly respected and considered to be experts in the field. These analysts include Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, and Daniel Jeremiah.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has been the best NFL Draft analyst for years. He is able to break down each prospect and tell you everything you need to know about them. He is also able to predict where they will be drafted and how they will perform in the NFL.

Pros

Melvin “Mel” Kiper Jr. (born August 8, 1961) is an American football analyst for ESPN. He has served as an analyst and commentator on ESPN’s annual NFL draft telecast since 1984, providing in-depth information on the country’s future professional football players. He is also a regular contributor on SportsCenter, College GameDay and other ESPN programs.

Kiper was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Franklin Square. His father, Mel Kiper Sr., was once a running back for the semi-professional Baltimore Colts (not to be confused with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts). Kiper Jr. attended Essex Community College before graduating from Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland in 1979.

Cons

Even the biggest ESPN NFL Draft fans have to admit that Mel Kiper Jr. has some drawbacks as a draft analyst.

For one thing, he’s been doing it for so long (he started in 1984) that it’s easy to become burned out on his commentary. It also doesn’t help that he often seems more interested in hearing himself talk than in actually providing analysis.

And then there are the infamous “hair plugs” jokes. Yes, Kiper’s hair is…unique, to say the least. But it shouldn’t be a defining feature of his draft coverage.

At the end of the day, Kiper is still one of the best NFL Draft analysts out there. But even he has his flaws.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock

Mike Mayock has been the NFL Network’s lead draft analyst since 2004. He is a former safety who was drafted in the 10th round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played college football at Boston College. He was a four-year starter and was team captain his senior year. He was named All-East and All-New England.

Pros

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock is widely respected for his in-depth knowledge of college football players and his expertise on the NFL Draft. He is a former NFL player and scout, and he has been working as a draft analyst since 1997.

Mayock is known for his thorough and meticulous preparation, as well as his willingness to change his mind about prospects based on new information. He is also respected for his willingness to criticize players he previously thought highly of, even if it means going against the grain.

Cons

Mike Mayock is one of draft analysts for the NFL Network. He is a former college and professional football player. He was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played two seasons with the team before being released. After his release, Mayock worked as a sportscaster for WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh. In 1997, he joined the NFL Network as a guest analyst on their draft coverage.

Mayock became a full-time analyst for the NFL Network in 2006. He currently serves as the lead analyst for their draft coverage, having replaced Mel Kiper Jr. in that role.

Mayock is widely respected for his knowledge of football, but he has come under fire from some fans and media members for his analysis. Some have accused him of being too negative, while others have said that he is too positive. There have also been complaints about his lack of objectivity when it comes to certain players and teams.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller

In a recent article, Matt Miller from Bleacher Report was named the best NFL draft analyst by NFL.com’s Gil Brandt. In the article, Brandt cites Miller’s “years of experience, knowledge of the game, and [his] attention to detail” as reasons why he is the best in the business. Brandt also mentions that Miller’s “ability to communicate [his] thoughts clearly” is another reason why he is the best NFL draft analyst.

Pros

Miller is one of the best in the business at identifying talent and his reports are almost always accurate. He’s also very good at providing analysis and breaking down complex topics so that even the casual fan can understand them.

Cons

Some people feel that Matt Miller is too negative when it comes to NFL draft analysis. He has been known to be critical of prospects, and some feel that he is too quick to write them off.

CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler

Dane Brugler is the NFL draft analyst for CBS Sports. He is a former NFL scout with the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks. Brugler is a member of the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) and the author of two books on the NFL draft.

Pros

Dane Brugler is one of the most respected NFL draft analysts in the business. He’s been writing about the draft for CBS Sports since 2014, and he knows his stuff.

Brugler is especially good at breaking down each prospects strengths and weaknesses, and he does a great job of projecting how they’ll fit into an NFL scheme. He also does an excellent job of keeping up with the latest news and rumors surrounding the NFL draft.

If you’re looking for a well-informed and thoughtful take on the NFL draft, Dane Brugler is your man.

Cons

Brugler is often criticized for being too high on small-school prospects and players from non-traditional football powers. He also tends to value quarterbacks and receivers higher than most other draft analysts.

SI.com’s Chris Burke

SI.com’s Chris Burke is the best NFL draft analyst because he has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. He’s also able to break down the most complex concepts in a way that’s easy to understand.

Pros

Chris Burke is one of the best NFL draft analysts out there. He’s been doing it for years, and he really knows his stuff. He’s also a great writer, which makes him even more enjoyable to read.

Cons

There are a few notable cons to Burke’s analysis. First, he is very high on “workout warriors” and players who had good pre-draft workouts. This has led him to be very high on players like Darrius Heyward-Bey and Vernon Gholston in recent years, who both ended up being busts in the NFL.

Second, Burke sometimes buys into the hype surrounding certain players and reaches on them in his mock drafts. This was the case with Johnny Manziel in 2014, as Burke had him going No. 4 overall to the Browns (he eventually went No. 22 to the Browns).

Finally, Burke has been known to be a bit of a homer when it comes to his mock drafts. In 2016, he had five different Alabama players going in the first round of his mock draft (none of them ended up going in the first round).