Why is Mel Kiper Jr. the NFL Draft Guru?
364013
He was one of the first media personnel to really study the NFL Draft, back in 1979 when he first did his work, no one really studied the draft, he did a good job with it when he was a kid out of college and then his scouting reports became more popular as his information was correct and teams actually paid for his info on college prospects, I believe he was even hired by the Baltimore Colts.  A few years later he was hired by ESPN.  He was the first expert of the NFL draft and he's been doing it the longest.  Some people have their specialty and when ESPN isn't focused on the draft Mel spends the rest of the year scouting talent and studying prospects. So that's why he's the Draft Expert.
21362
WAY too early to ask that question.  More top prospect QB's bust after the draft than make it big.
685908
Not a Bengals fan but the draft was full of "luxury" picks, meaning, the team is so good with so few holes, they can pick guys who are development projects who may be busts or huge successes.  So, the draft is "good" in the sense that the team is doing so well, they don't need to rely on rookies.  \n\nHOWEVER, I am amazed at how often these teams make the mistake of drafting warm weather kids to cold weather climates. Six out of the eight picks are kids from warm weather schools...when it's 20 degrees, how well do you think these kids will play when they've lived their whole lives in 70 degree weather?  What's even worse is teams like Tampa Bay constantly drafting kids from warm weather so year after year, they lose in cold weather because NO ONE on the team is used to it!  Mix in a "Penn State" or "Ohio State" kid once in a while, Gruden!
483385
No he went undrafted, but some team is sure to take a chance on him in free agency. Only time will tell if going undrafted has taught him anything, like he's not nearly as good as he thinks (when asked he rated himself as the second best QB in the draft, behind only Young)!
797555
Yep, he as the guy before me said, Marques Colston was drafted as a Tight End because they said he was too slow for the Wide Receiver position. He came from Hofstra University in New York and has blossomed for the Saints. I don't know why he is only listed as a TE, in my league he is a TE/WR. And I have Yahoo. Too bad I don't have him in my league. Everybody is too dang on smart!!
58861
he will probably go in the late rounds to a team with an established quarterback.  he has a lot to prove.  poor decision making in big games cost him this year.  not to mention that he only has one year of major college ball experience.
861930
Absolutely!!!  I have never seen a player who analyzes and dissects a defense like he does!! I've been watching NFL football for 33 years, and he's THE (not one of the but THE) best Quarterback I have ever seen (Yes, I believe he is better then Elway, Marino, Montana, Farve, Simms, Aikman, and Young).
564851
Poor Marcus didn't get drafted. I think there are two reasons for this:\n1) Character counts... run-ins with the law (numerous), spiking a player from the other team... his attitude, as well as his judgement seem about as bad as Oscar De Lahoya's music career.\n2) No team wanted to take a chance drafting a pretty overrated, overhyped quarterback. \nI just don't think he has the skills to play in the NFL. That combined with his poor attitude left Mr. Vick out in the cold.
74504
If I'm Houston, I take Reggie Bush for sure. He's a blazer with good hands, and you can't teach either of those skills. Drafting Vince Young might be tempting because of the Texas connection, but they should not  do it.\n\nYoung is an outstanding college quarterback, but he won't be able to have 200/200 games in the NFL. Texas runs their offense out of shotgun, which is not typical of NFL teams. He will have to learn a lot about dropping back before he can be any good in the pros.
476241
Obviously, the Trojan players were overrated. Reggie Bush went 2nd, Matt Leinart went 10th, and LenDale White went 45th. This shows that teams are finding faults in each player that NFL experts aren't finding. The ignorance of these faults makes each player look like they're amazing. But once teams start pointing out each little fault of each player, the player becomes less likely to be picked high in the draft. Each team's GM must have found something wrong in each player which is why they were picked a lot lower than expected.
107685
Expert picks happen all of the time in everywhere. Do you not see on the March Madness preview shows where people predict the winners? Do you not see draft boards of who gets picked where in any fantasy sport? Experts aren't always experts. They are just people who have succeeded before and who research the sport well. The experts aren't even reigning supreme in any sports for Yahoo this year. So they are not ruining the game, if you actually like the game and have a decent strategy you will win your league.
612520
Because they wanted to go out and draft a guy who didn't record a single sack against three division three schools.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  That's a number one pick?!!!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
362651
Erm, not sure what you mean about the Bills finally waking up, Moon? They did NOT conduct the greatest draft I've ever seen, though they did improve a bit on day two. Still, they made several reach picks and threw away a draft pick unnecessarily. They also passed up a chance to solve our quarterback problem by grabbing Matt Leinart when he dropped into their laps with the #8 overall pick. So, trust me, many of us in Bills country are pretty upset about this draft.\n\nAs to what I see happening next, well, the mini camp in May will introduce all the new draftees and hopefully begin the competition for quarterback (which will be settled in training camp and the preseason, assuming we can identify a starting QB at all). The Bills need a lot of work and I am still not happy with the decision to hire Dick Jauron over Mike Sherman as head coach, so this upcoming season (perhaps several seasons, alas) isn't looking too good. I'll keep you posted, ok? :)
659635
I like the Texans pick of Mario Williams. When you only sack the opposing Qb 29 times in 16 games there is something to be said about that. They need a pass rusher for sure. Reggie Bush have never face a defense like any of the ones he will see in the NFC South. Carolina, Tampa, and ATL....come on!!! Then he will have the pressure of being the best athlete in to enter the draft in what was it ten years. Yo Saints....Joe Horn is 34....why not trade the pick to Greenbay for Walker and the #5 pick.
1135597
There have been many great QBs but I find it hard to go past Joe Montana.\nHis stats weren't the greatest but 4 Superbowl rings is pretty hard to argue with and he always found a way to win. He was also one of those rare individuals who had this weird light around him I have only seen on two or three people. (It is called charisma.)
963079
What groove. Eli needs to get out of the 4th quarter hero mindset that he developed as a child.\nHe can be a better QB than what he is and yes, he does have a bit of maturing to do.\nBlame it on whoever it is that thinks all the good college QBs can enter the pro ranks and immediately contribute as the starting QB.\nI remember seeing rookies and even some vet QBs on the sideline holding clipboards and learning the position and system by watching it in play.\nWhile there is a lot to be said for sink or swim learning; having a clear cut example to learn from is an excellent method as well.\nPersonally, I don't think Eli will ever lead the Giants to a Super Bowl; however, I think Eli's pedigree maybe leads some of us to expect too much too soon of Eli.\nPatience.\nI'm a Giants fan.\nI hope he'll prove me wrong.
1009113
People like to throw out completion rating and TD stats when talking about the Greatest QB ever. The dude is the master of game management.  All that matters is The ring and he has three of them and should be in the top 5.  Just ask Peyton Manning or Dan Marino if he would trade all those stats for a ring.