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Todd McShay Reveals His No. 1 Issue With ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Mar 19, 2025 3:31 PM ET

For years, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay were colleagues, part of ESPN's 1-2 punch for the NFL Draft.

McShay was laid off by the Worldwide Leader a couple of years ago, but he's still providing draft analysis on his YouTube show and all over social media. He also makes guest appearances, like he did on Dan Dakich's "Don't @ Me" for OutKick on Wednesday.

At one point the show, Dakich asked about Kiper's staunch belief in Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, which the long-time draft guru talked about on ESPN this week.

McShay responded by saying one of the only complaints he ever had while working with Kiper was his colleague's lack of conviction on quarterbacks, which leaves McShay frustrated that he can't go back and forth with Kiper on Sanders now that he actually took a stand.

Todd McShay wishes he could still combat Mel Kiper Jr. on television after Kiper Jr.'s EMPHATIC stamp of approval of Shedeur Sanders.

"My biggest frustration with Mel was he never planted a flag with a Quarterback... he never would have a stance that went against the grain..… pic.twitter.com/qqAQTfe6HF
— OutKick (@Outkick) March 19, 2025

"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 told Dakich.

"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."

McShay added that it would have been "a lot of fun" to discuss Sanders with Kiper and trade takes.

While Kiper is more sure about the Colorado signal caller, McShay still has some doubts.

KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 29: ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. during the third day of the NFL Draft on April 29, 2023 at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

"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 told Dakich. "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."

It should be noted that Kiper also has Ward going No. 1 overall, as pretty much every prognosticator expects the Miami QB to be the top pick.

Interestingly, both men have mentioned that the Cleveland Browns, who pick second, and the New York Giants, who own the third pick, would be qualify landing spots for Sanders.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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