ESPNs Rece Davis speaks out on tense Shedeur Sanders debate with Mel Kiper during NFL draft

Mel Kiper’s consistent harping on Shedeur Sanders’ slide during the 2025 NFL Draft ticked some viewers off.It also ticked off Rece Davis, who said yelling into the void about the league is a meaningless act, and tried to bring Kiper back to what was at hand on the ESPN broadcast.However, Davis, who hosted the network’s coverage of Rounds 4-7 after doing ABC for Rounds 1-3 on Thursday and Friday, insists there is no animosity between the coworkers during a recent appearance on OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich.”“It’s fine.I didn’t even know there was an issue until I started getting texts like you were saying,” Davis said.

“It’s sort of part and parcel of what we do.Sometimes, for the analyst’s own good and for the good of the show, you challenge their position.

Mel’s great.I love working with Mel.

And he’s the reason the draft is what it is, in my opinion.”During the second day of the draft, ESPN’s lead analyst couldn’t comprehend the slide of the polarizing former Colorado quarterback.“I think it’s disgusting,” Kiper said.“I don’t understand what the heck’s going on with this.

Fifth player on my board, it’s never happened in 47 years where a player that high has dropped this far into the fourth round at quarterback.”And even after Sanders finally was selected by the Browns during the fifth round as the No.144 overall pick, Kiper still couldn’t come back down to earth, calling the NFL “clueless.”“The NFL has been clueless for 50 years when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks! Clueless!..” Kiper said.Louis Reddick chimed in, concluding his argument against Kiper with: “The draft has spoken.”Davis then said, “That’s the key, Mel.

It’s not putting a value judgement on whether those picks were right or wrong…Whether you like it or you don’t like it.Whether they are fair or unfair, you have to deal with it.

And now Shedeur Sanders has to deal with it….And I think yelling at the NF...