Todd McShay is one of the leading draft analysts for ESPN and, along with partner Mel Kiper Jr., has become almost synonymous with the NFL Draft with their coverage of the event and their highly popular mock drafts. But who is McShay, and how did he become one of the biggest names in the industry?
How did Todd McShay become a draft analyst?
Todd McShay got his first taste of scouting in the summer of 1998. Aged just 21, he took the opportunity to intern for The War Room, a scouting publication founded by former NFL scout Gary Horton. Horton spent 10 years in the NFL, working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns.
McShay obviously impressed, as he was hired full-time by The War Room in 1999, remaining with the organization until ESPN acquired them in 2006. While no longer independent, McShay continued working for The War Room, rebranded as Scouts Inc. It was at ESPN that he began working with fellow draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
By the time McShay arrived at ESPN, Kiper had appeared on their draft coverage for over 20 years. McShay quickly joined him, and the two men became the most well-known double-act in the draft industry. They regularly appear together on several ESPN programs, including SportsCenter, NFL Live, College Football Live, and ESPN Radio.
What does McShay do for ESPN?
McShay is the director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc. In this role, he’s one of the leading voices for prospect evaluations at the network, giving his opinion on players who either have declared or are likely to declare for the NFL Draft in the future.
McShay publishes multiple mock drafts as part of the pre-draft process. McShay and Kiper also use their podcast and video show First Draft to construct collaborative mock drafts. Their disagreements on the rankings of prospects can get heated but often draw a large audience of fans keen to tune into a passionate debate.
As with all draft analysts, McShay has had his share of both hits and misses. His early support of Tom Brady, who he gave a third-round grade, may not sound impressive in 2021, but he was much higher than the consensus on the seven-time Super Bowl champion, who famously fell all the way to the sixth round and pick 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft.
McShay’s evaluation of journeyman backup Blaine Gabbert — who the Jacksonville Jaguars took 10th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft — as a better quarterback than future MVP Cam Newton, doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. He’s generally a good evaluator, though, and there’s a reason he’s been one of the faces of draft coverage for as long as he has.
Additionally, McShay has worked as a college football field analyst since 2014. Between 2016 and 2019, he joined Steve Levy and Brian Griese to cover Saturday afternoon college football games. In 2020, he worked with Sean McDonough and Todd Blackledge on ESPN Saturday Night Primetime.
Who are Todd McShay’s top prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Todd McShay recently released his final big board for the 2021 NFL Draft. His top five prospects are Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, Florida TE Kyle Pitts, LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase, BYU QB Zach Wilson, and Oregon OT Penei Sewell.
Did McShay play football?
McShay attended Swampscott High School in Massachusetts, where he played quarterback. Upon graduating in 1995, he enrolled at the University of Richmond. He joined the football team, the Richmond Spiders, as a walk-on and served as the scout-team quarterback until a back injury forced him to retire.
While his football career may not have taken off, he was still able to complete his degree. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies from the university’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
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