Kiper and McShay Head-to-Head: Bears Mock

With draft frenzy continuing to serve as the focus of the football world, established draft gurus Mel Kiper, jr and Todd McShay are in the middle of their busiest season. Today they released their own “head-to-head” draft. For those who aren’t familiar with this style of mock, the two men alternate picks.

Here is their own description of the process:

For this 2017 NFL mock draft, it's not about whom we project to each team -- it's about which player we would take at each slot.

Thing is, because we have to alternate picks, we won't always get the player who seems like the best fit for each slot, because that player could be taken with an earlier pick. The ground rules are simple: alternate picks; no trades; no deals that say "I won't take Player X if you don't take Player Y." It's just "This is whom I'd take" at every slot on the board for three full rounds.

This is an interesting exercise, and it’s worth checking out in its entirety (here), just be forewarned that it’s Insider content, meaning that it’s behind a paywall. However, we are going to share with you the picks made for the Chicago Bears.

#3: Jamal Adams, LSU (S)

Kiper was making the pick for the Bears, and he went with a familiar face to many studying the Bears’ choices at the top of the draft. He based this selection on his observation that the secondary was the biggest need the Bears had last season. It might be worth pointing out (without giving anything specific away) that all picks in the top five were defensive players, indicating where these two felt the strength comes from in this year’s class.

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

#36: Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech (QB)

When McShay was up for the Bears, he secured a man that Lance Zierlein of NFL (and others) compared to Jay Cutler. In fact, McShay cited Mahomes’ elite arm as the reason he picked the Texas Tech playmaker. Our own EJ Snyder calls Mahomes “a streetball legend”.

#67: Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado (CB)

When Kiper was back up for the Bears in Round 3, he went back to the secondary (it seems he was serious about seeing it as a need). In this case, while he showed concern for Witherspoon’s ball skills, he was full of praise for his size and speed.

I like this pick, and I think it represents a “Pace-like” selection as well.

You tell us, WCG—how would you feel about this draft class?