ESPN’s in-house draft experts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper, Jr. are both well respected figures regarding the annual NFL Draft. However, their “mainstream” mantra can sometimes be their kryptonite. McShay and Kiper are often considered “gurus” within the industry, but never seem to take credit for their blatant mishaps when it comes to their analysis of the annual NFL Draft. In 2010, Mel Kiper considered then Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen a first-round selection. McShay slammed the table on national television to tell Kiper how absurdly wrong he was, and it became evidently uncomfortable for the broadcast team, as they realized the student was now tutoring the tutor.

Looking ahead to the 2013 NFL Draft, Kiper and McShay have it just as hard as us “underground” experts have it. However, they make it look awfully easy, and trivial with their decorated Draft Labs. McShay and Kiper will always get the credit from all of the mainstream media outlets, newspapers, etc. but will never have to face the wrath of the NFL fan community for their wrong doings. They’re protected by a major media outlet that will protect their flaws, and decorate them to look untouchable.

I’ll be the first to tell you, I respect Kiper and McShay just as much as the next guy in line, but I’m not oblivious to their flawed analysis, either. Kiper and McShay are both on record as saying West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is a “franchise” quarterback, and in my humble opinion, that is just absurd. Sure, Geno is the consensus top quarterback in the ’13 draft class, but he is by no means a cornerstone of a franchise behind center. Smith played in a gimmick offense that tailors to athleticism more than skill. He played in an Air-Raid type Spread offense that didn’t ask him to thoroughly breakdown a defense during the play. He relied more on his athletic skill-players to be in the right place at the right time, rather than escalate through his reads to find the right throw to the right player.

Geno also carries some sideline baggage. On more than one occasion on film, Geno can be seen acting what I like to call “Cutler-ish” in terms of his behavior towards his fellow teammates. He’s a hot-head who blows a gasket when he either doesn’t get his way, or things start to unravel for the offense. Skill rarely outweighs character in a locker room in the NFL. There’s no doubt in my mind that Geno has the skill-set to be team’s signal-caller for years to come, but his biggest flaw lies somewhere that no coach, General Manager, or atmosphere can change; his attitude. An attitude is a habitual pattern, formulated by the environment you’re exposed to and the people in said environment. Now add millions of dollars, fame, and the burning spotlight? It could get extremely messy for Geno and his respective future employer.

Kiper and McShay have and always will decorate the top prospects in the draft. In spite of what they feel are miniscule character or skill-set flaws, they’ll turn on the tunnel vision and go with the consensus. I will never sit here and discredit the countless hours both Mel and Todd put into their analysis, but I can’t sit here and pretend that they don’t overlook key components to a prospects overall game. A prospect is much, much more than what he is with a helmet and jersey on, and that’s clearly been overlooked with one of the top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft.