Bomani Jones to Mina Kimes: ranking the NFL’s best analysts

It has been 18 months since we updated our list of the top NFL analysts, journalists, and opinion-givers. Here’s how things stand before Tom Brady arrives in 2035.

In a field flooded with groupthink, Jones stands out as a unique voice. He is well known for his commentary on the intersection of sports, culture and race. When commenting in that sphere, Jones is unmatched.

But to put him in that box alone would be a disservice to his talent, displayed so well on his excellent podcast. Few chronicle the not-as-important but just-as-delightful intersection of stupidity and hilarity that helps push the NFL from a multibillion dollar sporting enterprise into something closing on performance art.

Jones toggles from commentary on sleaze to schemes with ease, as happy pointing out flaws in a quarterback as he is dismantling the draft system.

With his ESPN deal set to expire, Jones will become sports media’s most coveted free agent.

TV analyst. Podcaster. Painter. Walking Meme. Kimes is an integral part of ESPN’s operation.

NFL Live is comfortably the most informative, entertaining football vehicle currently on the network. Kimes, along with Dan Orlovsky, Marcus Spears, and Laura Rutledge, analyzes the game from all angles: The X’s & O’s, analytics, roster construction, locker-room dynamics, and everything in between. NFL Live offers the customary bombast and hot air blowing that dominates the sports media landscape but maintains space for subtlety and nuance. At the root of the show, there’s the desire to explain the “why” to the audience. And Kimes’ mastery of analytics, combined with with her fandom, makes her the ideal person to explain the why – why team X is doing Y, and why Y should/would/could upset a fanbase.

ESPN’s