Kiper vs. McShay: Head-to-head three-round mock draft

— -- For this one, it's not about whom we project -- 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.

Got it? Here are the picks:

ROUND 1

1. Los Angeles Rams*

Mel Kiper's pick:  Jared Goff, QB, Cal

Not overthinking this one. Goff is the best quarterback available on my board -- though not my top prospect, I should point out -- and the Rams have to place this bet.

*Acquired in trade with Titans

2. Philadelphia Eagles*

Todd McShay's pick:  Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

Perfect fit here. Assuming Philly doesn't trade Sam Bradford, Wentz will get time to make his transition from FCS to the NFL while learning under QB guru Doug Pederson. 

*Acquired in trade with Browns

3. San Diego Chargers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

The offensive line in San Diego has been a mess for a few years now, and arguably the best player in the draft, at a position of need, is available. Easy call.

4. Dallas Cowboys

Todd McShay's pick:  Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Dallas needs a pass-rusher, and Bosa has been the No. 1 player on my board since August. He put together the most consistent tape of any player in this class.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Mel Kiper's pick:  Myles Jack, LB, UCLA

I know there are questions around the knee, but if the Jags' medical staff has given the OK, I love the fit of Jack on this defense. Immediate starter, immediate impact.

6. Baltimore Ravens

Todd McShay's pick:  Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

Ramsey is still on the board and Baltimore needs a corner. ... How fast can the Ravens make this pick? Great value. One of the best overall athletes in the draft, Ramsey can play both corner and safety. 

7. San Francisco 49ers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

I've been a fan of Conklin's for a long time, and with a glaring need at right tackle I'm getting a really good one here. Sorry -- it's way too high to take a quarterback with the top two gone.

8. Cleveland Browns*

Todd McShay's pick:  DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon

Conklin would've been a great fit to play opposite of LT Joe Thomas on the right side. But with the Michigan State product off the board, Buckner fills a need, providing an impact guy up front who fits as a 3-4 DE. He plays with a great motor on tape.

*Acquired in trade with Eagles

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

The Bucs would be thrilled if Stanley is still available at this spot. They started a pair of rookies on the O-line here last season, and will want real competition to protect the franchise QB.

10. New York Giants

Todd McShay's pick:  Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Your last two picks haven't done me any favors, Mel. If I'm running this team, I'm taking Elliott here, bigger needs on the defense be damned. He's one of the 10 best players in this draft, and will be an every-down back from the get-go.

11. Chicago Bears

Mel Kiper's pick:  Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

There you go, going with a running back too early. The Bears benefit and get one of the high-upside pass-rushers in the draft. Chicago needs the edge help, and Floyd fits.

12. New Orleans Saints

Todd McShay's pick:  Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

Really like this pick. The Saints need another guy up front, and Rankins can play nose tackle or 3-technique for New Orleans. He's an exceptional run defender who also has upside as a pass-rusher.

13. Miami Dolphins*

Mel Kiper's pick:  Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida

There have been some questions about Hargreaves when it comes to length. He's 5-foot-10 with shorter arms. But the guy can flat-out cover and could have the quickest transition of any cornerback in the draft, including Ramsey.

*Acquired in trade with Eagles

14. Oakland Raiders

Todd McShay's pick:  Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State

I struggled with value vs. need here. This is high risk, but after solidifying the edge in the draft and free agency, the Raiders should want to get stronger up the middle. Jones has the tools to develop into a big-time difference-maker along the interior of the D-line.

15. Tennessee Titans*

Mel Kiper's pick:  Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

We're not making trades, but if that were the case, I'd be calling San Fran, Cleveland and Tampa to see what the cost would be to move up and grab either Stanley or Conklin. But I'll help my franchise QB in another way here by getting a potential future No. 1 wideout. 

*Acquired in trade with Rams

16. Detroit Lions

Todd McShay's pick:  Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

Tough to pass on an offensive tackle here, but I like the value of snagging Reed. An elite run-stuffer, he plays with a great motor and shows the ability to fight through double teams. 

17. Atlanta Falcons

Mel Kiper's pick:  Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

If Lee lives up to his physical talent, we might wonder at some point why he wasn't among the top 10 picks in this draft. Thing is, it's not like he's raw. He can play early in Atlanta.

18. Indianapolis Colts

Todd McShay's pick:  Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

He's the perfect fit for a team in dire need of a right tackle who can keep Andrew Luck's jersey clean. Decker has the skill set to be a solid NFL starter for the next decade.

19. Buffalo Bills

Mel Kiper's pick:  Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

I'm a little bit surprised Lawson is still here. Not sure what Todd is thinking by not grabbing him for the Lions. Mario Williams won't exactly be missed from a production standpoint, but the Bills need a pass-rusher, and this guy led college football in tackles for loss last year.

20. New York Jets

Todd McShay's pick:  William Jackson III, CB, Houston

No chance I'd be reaching for Paxton Lynch here. It'd be a huge mistake to take such a raw QB prospect at No. 20. Admittedly, this isn't my favorite pick, but Jackson had a productive senior year (FBS-leading 28 PBUs) and has elite speed (4.37 40). The Jets need to find a No. 2 CB at some point in this draft.

21. Washington Redskins

Mel Kiper's pick:  Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia

Interesting pick, McShay. I'll make an interesting one of my own, getting a safety who is rising on boards. Joseph can make plays all over the field, and he is a fearless tackler. He fits a need here.

22. Houston Texans

Todd McShay's pick:  Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

Laquon Treadwell is the No. 1 WR on my board, but I like Coleman's fit better within this offense. He has the sub-4.4 speed to be a complement to WR DeAndre Hopkins and the change-of-direction ability to be a lethal weapon in the open field.

23. Minnesota Vikings

Mel Kiper's pick: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

If I'm the Vikings, I'm thrilled if Treadwell is still here. The deep speed is a legit concern, but Treadwell is a beast on contested catches, and he creates space. Obvious need and my young QB will be thrilled as well.

24. Cincinnati Bengals

Todd McShay's pick:  Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor

With the top three receivers gone, Billings can be a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line. He has a rare combination of quickness, athleticism and power.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State

I'm going to follow a reach by McShay at No. 24 with a clear need fit and a solid value with Bell in this spot. Big reminder: Bell could also play cornerback. If it's help in the secondary, it's good for the Steelers.

26. Seattle Seahawks

Todd McShay's pick: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

Russell Wilson was running for his life far too often last season. Kelly, my highest-rated interior offensive lineman, is a building-block piece up front. He has the size and versatility to play guard, along with the quickness, toughness and football intelligence to be a starter from Day 1 in the NFL.

27. Green Bay Packers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

The addition of Ragland takes pressure off Clay Matthews. Now the Pack have a starting inside linebacker who can let Matthews rush the passer. This is a pick that makes the defense more dangerous.

28. Kansas City Chiefs

Todd McShay's pick:  Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

The Chiefs need a No. 2 corner to play opposite of defensive rookie of the year Marcus Peters after Sean Smith left for Oakland in free agency. Apple has the long frame (6-foot-1) that defensive coordinator Bob Sutton likes in his CBs. 

29. Arizona Cardinals

Mel Kiper's pick: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

A couple pass-rushers tempt me here, but I love the idea of handing the Cardinals' great head coach -- and master QB developer -- a big-armed (but raw) talent to work with. Do I need to remind anyone how important Carson Palmer's health has been? This isn't just a move for years down the line.

30. Carolina Panthers

Todd McShay's pick:  Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M

I'd love to get a corner after the Panthers rescinded Josh Norman's franchise tag Wednesday. But my top-four CBs are off the board, and I don't want to reach. I love Ifedi's length and upside. He would look great playing right tackle on the Panthers' O-line.

31. Denver Broncos

Mel Kiper's pick:  A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

I can't believe Robinson is still available here. Denver gets back a great presence on the interior of the defensive line after facing some losses in free agency.

* There will be only 31 picks in the first round in 2016, with New England's first-round pick forfeited.

ROUND 2

32. Cleveland Browns

Todd McShay's pick:  Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

A true vertical burner with 4.32 speed, Fuller is a big play waiting to happen. The Browns are in dire need of more offensive weapons.

33. Tennessee Titans

Mel Kiper's pick:  Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana

Marcus Mariota is going to send me a gift basket, McShay. I got him a great wide receiver and now add help at tackle.

34. Dallas Cowboys

Todd McShay's pick:  Artie Burns, CB, Miami (FL)

After taking Bosa at No. 4, Burns fills the Cowboys' biggest remaining need. He has the length (33¼-inch arms) and ball skills to be a good CB outside the numbers.

35. San Diego Chargers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois

Ward is a 3-4 defensive end who could easily come off the board in Round 1, so I'm a fan at this spot in a need area for the Chargers.

36. Baltimore Ravens

Todd McShay's pick:  Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

Dodd fits the Ravens' system well. He's a versatile outside rusher, and they need more of those -- Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil are both in their 30s.

37. San Francisco 49ers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma

One of my favorite players in the entire draft. I don't know who the QB will be, but the pass-catching situation just got better.

38. Jacksonville Jaguars

Todd McShay's pick:  Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech

The Jaguars got faster at the second level with Jack in Round 1; now it's time to get tougher up front on defense. Butler has flashes of  Muhammad Wilkerson in his game.

39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mel Kiper's pick:  Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech

Steal. Fuller dealt with an injury in 2015 but provides immediate help at a need area. The Bucs are 2-for-2 (two Kiper picks) so far.

40. New York Giants

Todd McShay's pick:  Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State

The Giants need to continue to stockpile pass-rushers, and Correa had 19 sacks and five forced fumbles in his final two seasons at Boise State.

41. Chicago Bears

Mel Kiper's pick:  Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas

With Martellus Bennett gone and Zach Miller now the top tight end on the roster, I'm not passing on the best tight end in the draft for Mr. Cutler at 41.

42. Miami Dolphins

Todd McShay's pick:  Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford

A physical and powerful run-blocker, Garnett would be a big boost to whoever ends up starting at RB for us.

43. Tennessee Titans*

Mel Kiper's pick:  Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State

The Titans are on fire if the board breaks this way. Ogbah gives us a needed pass-rusher, and we've already hit WR and OT.

*Acquired in trade with Rams

44. Oakland Raiders

Todd McShay's pick:  Keanu Neal, S, Florida

Neal shows adequate range in coverage and explosive power as a run-defender. He has the skill set to develop quickly into a starter.

45. Tennessee Titans*

Mel Kiper's pick:  Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

Like I said: On. Fire. Cornerback is a need in Tennessee, and the Titans get a real talent in Alexander. It was tough to throw at this kid last season.

*Acquired in trade with Rams

46. Detroit Lions

Todd McShay's pick: Deion Jones, OLB, LSU

An undersized linebacker with a lot of athleticism, Jones has value as sub-package linebacker and core special-teams contributor.

47. New Orleans Saints

Mel Kiper's pick:  Noah Spence, OLB, Eastern Kentucky

You grabbed Rankins for the Saints in Round 1, and I'm going to double down on disruptive defenders. Can't add enough here.

48. Indianapolis Colts

Todd McShay's pick:  Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford

After addressing our massive hole at right tackle in Round 1, it makes sense to grab a TE with good size and potential. Hooper has the raw tools to out-play this draft slot. 

49. Buffalo Bills

Mel Kiper's pick:  Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State

Thomas has strong hands and a big frame; he can take some pressure off my clear No. 1. 

50. Atlanta Falcons