The ESPN NFL Draft set was never more animated than when the analysts began discussing quarterback prospect Russell Wilson.
Early in the third round, the only quarterback taken on the second day was Brock Osweiler. ESPN showed draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s quarterback board, and he said Wilson was more of a fourth-round prospect. Kiper’s big knock against Wilson is his size — he’s only 5’11″. That reasoning caused Jon Gruden to have a fit.
Gruden tore into Kiper for downgrading Wilson over a matter of an inch or two in height.
“You discriminate against guys who aren’t six feet!” Gruden told Kiper.
He then cited Ray Lewis, Wes Welker, Darren Sproles, and Maurice Jones-Drew as examples of undersized star players who Kiper would have downgraded.
The whole exchange was highly entertaining, and Gruden turned out to be correct in his prediction that Wilson would be taken that round; Seattle took him with the 12th pick in the third round, No. 75 overall.
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