NFL Media exec: Daniel Jeremiah can go ‘toe-to-toe’ with Mel Kiper Jr.

Even though Mel Kiper Jr. may not own a cellphone, the NFL Draft may not be the network television event it is without him.

The longtime NFL Draft analyst for ESPN has helped others find their niche in a three-day event that’s become a year-long interest for fans across the league. The draft and the coverage around it offer hope for teams with fanbases that see their season over by September. And it’s people like Kiper who have helped turn that market into one of the top events of the year.

And with that, Kiper has paved the way for analysts like Jordan Reid and Matt Miller at ESPN (also Todd McShay) and Daniel Jeremiah at NFL Network, opening the door for a new generation of sports commentators.

Jeremiah honed his scouting skills for nearly a decade before becoming a key part of NFL Network’s draft coverage. From 2003-12, he worked his way up through personnel departments in the NFL, spending time with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles. He held various roles that included West Coast and national scout and personal assistant.

His rise through the ranks has been lauded by his own network executives, who believe he deserves to stand on the same stage as Kiper. And while support from your own network isn’t out of the ordinary per se and receiving a public endorsement from NFL Media executive producer (and leader of their draft coverage) Charlie Yook may not change Jeremiah’s position significantly, it suggests that NFL Media views him as a true peer to Kiper and not just another analyst.

“[Daniel’s] one of the best, if not the best, draft analysts, with respect to Mel. We all love Mel Kiper. He’s a household name and an institution. But Daniel can go toe-to-toe with Mel,” Yook told Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy. “All these guys are tape mavens. They’ve been watching the All-22 tape as much as they can. I think perspective is a great thing. Who is this player? Who do they remind us of? We’ll have a tape on that; we’ll have a graphic on that.”

Last year, Jeremiah impressively predicted the Texans’ draft day maneuvers, including their selection of Will Anderson at No. 2 and the trade-up for Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 3. Jeremiah’s accuracy shone through as he correctly predicted six out of the 31 first-round picks, compared to Kiper’s one.

While having five more accurate guesses than Kiper in one first round doesn’t definitively crown Jeremiah the new king of draft experts, it undeniably cements his place among the most respected figures in the field. And that’s what Yook is getting at, even if it’s a slightly rose-colored comment from a network executive.

[FOS]