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2025NFLWild Card Round

Everyone Wants ESPN’s Mel Kiper Fired Immediately

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Mel Kiper looking on.
Mel Kiper (Photo via ESPN)

Football fans want ESPN to fire Mel Kiper as soon as possible after one of his 2026 NFL Draft takes aged poorly.

On Friday, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza led Indiana to a blowout win over Oregon in the College Football playoff semi-final and Peach Bowl game. Mendoza threw for five touchdowns in a 56-22 victory.

Oregon QB Dante Moore had three turnovers in the humiliating loss. Moore and Mendoza are the consensus two best quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class, but the latter certainly strengthened his case as the superior signal-caller.

Before the Peach Bowl, however, Mel Kiper offered a hot take that hasn’t aged well. Specifically, he ranked Dante Moore as the No. 1 2026 draft prospect over Fernando Mendoza.

Thus, unhappy fans want ESPN to fire the legendary NFL draft analyst.

“Fire Mel Kiper,” a fan said.

“What does Mel Kiper have on ESPN to keep his job?” wrote another.

“Dude needs to retire and go golfing or some shit. NFL teams…do your own research. Kiper will lead you to bust,” said a fan.

“Mel Kiper Jr. looking real clownish right now when he said Dante Moore was better than Fernando Mendoza,” a user commented.

“Who has ever heeded Kiper’s advice?” asked a fan.

“Literally how could Mel be so off? It’s not even close?” another commented.

Only time will tell if the Las Vegas Raiders use the No. 1 pick on Mendoza or Moore. Barring any surprises, the New York Jets will take whichever one remains at No. 2.

Mel Kiper Has Already Updated His Big Board

Photo of Mel Kiper for article on Travis Hunter
Mel Kiper (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In Kiper’s defense, he wasted no time updating his 2026 NFL Draft big board at ESPN. He now has Mendoza ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the draft, followed by Moore.

Like every NFL analyst, Kiper is going to be completely right and dead wrong on some prospects. Remember, Kiper once said he was “done” if Jimmy Clausen didn’t have success in the NFL. Clausen proved to be a bust, but Kiper went nowhere.

But Kiper was also right on Patrick Mahomes, who wasn’t considered a “can’t-miss” QB back in 2017. Kiper sang Mahomes’ praises from the beginning, so don’t fault him for how he evaluates his 2026 prospects just yet.

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