Melvin Adam Kiper Jr. (; born July 25, 1960) is a football analyst for ESPN. Kiper said that Ernie Accorsi, general manager of the then-Baltimore Colts, encouraged him to become a draft analyst. Accorsi told him that there was a market for draft information and suggested that Kiper convert his analysis into a business.
Kiper and fellow draft analyst Todd McShay are often featured together and compare their mock drafts on ESPN programs. He has appeared on ESPN's annual NFL draft coverage since 1984, providing in-depth information on the nation's potential draft picks. Kiper creates what he calls his "big board", on which he ranks the top 25 players every week. During ESPN draft coverage, Kiper's big board appears on the ticker and updates automatically once a player is selected. Kiper voices a draft expert in ESPN NFL 2K5 and is "unlockable" as a free agent longsnapper. Kiper appears in NFL Head Coach as a draft expert. Kiper appears in Madden NFL 07 and 08 during the pre-draft workout period.
Kiper has been married since 1989 to Kim, who assists him in running Mel Kiper Enterprises from their Baltimore home. They have one daughter together.