Sports

5 Questions for Mel Kiper Jr.

ESPN’s NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. talks Jets and Giants possibilities, the event’s popularity and his rivalry with Todd McShay with The Post’s Justin Terranova.

Q: You’ve had LSU’s Barkevious Mingo slotted to the Jets at No. 9 consistently. What do you like about him?

A: He’s potentially a great pass-rusher, which is what Rex (Ryan) needs. He didn’t have the sack total you thought he would have, but he has great pass rush instincts, tremendous speed, the size and the growth potential that you look for. He’s a good kid, he works hard.

Q: If the Jets do trade Revis to the Buccaneers and get the No. 13 pick, where could they potentially go there?

A: Geno Smith if he is still available. Or maybe a Jonathan Cooper or a Chance Warmack. You could take a tight end like Tyler Eifert. Really the best player. They have so many need areas they don’t have to force anything. Take the best player on the board.

Q: What about the Giants at No. 19?

A: They are a tough team to figure. Jerry Reese always does a nice job of lining things up. They don’t force needs, either. They can go in a number of ways: cornerback, linebacker, defensive lineman. There’s a lot of areas they could address at that particular point. Desmond Trufant, D.J. Fluker, Manti Te’o and Alec Ogletree are all possibilities.

Q: Have you seen a lot more criticism since the interest has grown in the draft?

A: I love it. After 35 years of putting out a report to see the interest and people care about this, and websites, and blogs, and people gearing up, it’s a monster event. To see this get to this point is amazing to me. To see where it started out and people questioning and wondering, ‘Kiper, why is he doing this?’ Now to see every one doing it is kind of like vindication.

Q; You and Todd McShay seem to have a nice on-air rivalry. What’s that relationship like?

A: We are separate and independent. I consider Todd a good friend and help him and support him, but we are completely different. We are polar opposites from the standpoint that Todd’s a lot younger. … Nothing is contrived, pre-planned, everything is spontaneous. I don’t know what he’s thinking, he doesn’t know what I am thinking. We do enough shows together you get a better handle on that. I respect his opinion and that’s why we go at it so hard. There’s a mutual respect there.