NFL Draft News & Analysis

2023 NFL Draft: Top selections for every NFL team according to PFF's Mock Draft Simulator

Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson (5) runs for a touchdown during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

It is that time of the year. Everyone and their mother is putting out a 2023 NFL mock draft. But what do the fans want their teams to do? 

Luckily, the PFF Mock Draft Simulator allows us to break down the most popular picks for each fanbase.


1. Carolina Panthers

There’s only one position at the forefront of Panthers fans' minds: quarterback. Stroud has been the favorite option for both Carolina and Vegas in PFF's Mock Draft Simulator. When Carolina traded up to No. 1, Stroud's odds to be the first overall player drafted quickly shifted from +180 to -425.


2. Houston Texans

Texans fans are almost at an even split on which quarterback they want with the No. 2 overall pick in PFF's Mock Draft Simulator. They’ll be happy with either Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Young


3. Arizona Cardinals

If the Cardinals don’t trade back, Arizona fans overwhelmingly want Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. to help solidify the team's defensive line. Last season, the Cardinals ranked in the bottom third of the league in sacks and pass-rushing grade. During Anderson’s career at Alabama, no other player in college football recorded more pressures than him, making him a perfect fit in Arizona. 


4. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are in desperate need of a quarterback, and it seems they will miss out on both Stroud and Young, leaving them to choose between Anthony Richardson and Will Levis. Fans are betting on Richardson’s high upside, but they also likely wouldn’t mind bringing in a certain NFL MVP to cure their quarterback woes. 


5. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle is set up nicely with two first-round picks in this year’s draft to bolster a roster already talented enough to make the playoffs. Seattle fans want their team to attack the defensive line, whether that be inside with Jalen Carter or the edge with one of Will Anderson Jr. and Tyree Wilson.


6. Detroit Lions

Detroit’s defense was a significant reason the team missed the playoffs in 2022. The Lions finished 2022 with the lowest team coverage grade (48.8), but they did bolster their secondary in free agency by signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. This leaves Detroit with the opportunity to draft the best player available at No. 6. 


7. Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders fans are truly conflicted about what to do with the No. 7 pick. They either want secondary help or a quarterback to sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Ultimately, CB1 on PFF’s big board, Devon Witherspoon, is the top choice among those mock drafting for Las Vegas. Witherspoon recorded the highest coverage grade among FBS defensive backs in 2022 and is an elite man-coverage cornerback.


8. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons earned a “B” grade in free agency from Brad Spielberger after adding David Onyemata, Jessie Bates III and Kaden Elliss to help fill holes on defense. Atlanta fans were in lockstep with each other when continuing to attack the defense in the draft, overhwhelmingly selecting Texas Tech edge defender Tyree Wilson


9. Chicago Bears

Chicago stayed inside the top 10, secured a WR1 for quarterback Justin Fields in D.J. Moore and acquired another first-round pick in 2023 when trading the No. 1 pick to the Panthers. Bears fans are nearly split on who to draft with the No. 9 pick, but one thing is clear: They want to protect Fields at all costs. 


10. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles getting a top-10 pick after making the Super Bowl is a Howie Roseman masterclass. After the team lost C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Detroit in free agency, Philadelphia mock drafters are selecting Alabama’s Brian Branch, who earned a career-high 89.5 PFF grade in his final college season.


11. Tennessee Titans

Reports indicate the Titans potentially want to move up in the draft, but if they are staying at No. 11, fans want to bolster the team's offensive line or get quarterback Ryan Tannehill a weapon to go along with Derrick Henry and Treylon Burks.


12. Houston Texans

If the Texans can grab both Bryce Young and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, then they will walk away as draft winners. PFF's Sam Monson has this scenario as the perfect first round for Houston


13. New York Jets

The Aaron Rodgers situation with the Jets and Packers trudges on, with no end in sight. We aren’t sure what the deal will be when or if Rodgers is traded to the Jets, but if they keep the No. 13 pick, fans want to protect him by selecting an offensive lineman.


14. New England Patriots

Patriots fans not having a wide receiver as a top preference was surprising to see. Instead, adding to the defensive line with Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness or the secondary with Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. took priority.


15. Green Bay Packers

Get Jordan Love (maybe) some weapons. That is the mentality for Packers fans.


16. Washington Commanders

Washington fans seem content with Sam Howell or Jacoby Brissett as their QB1 heading into next season, and so they attack the secondary with either Porter or Branch.


17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Porter is a hot commodity in the middle of the first round. The Penn State defensive back didn't allow a touchdown across more than 550 coverage snaps to close his college career and would be a big boost to Pittsburgh’s secondary.


18. Detroit Lions

Calijah Kancey earned himself a lot of money at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine by putting up numbers reminiscent of another undersized Pittsburgh defensive tackle. 


19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers signing Baker Mayfield made it clear they were not going to roll over after Tom Brady retired. The NFC South is ripe for the taking, and giving Mayfield the TE1 on the PFF big board can help Tampa take the crown for a third straight season. 


20. Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks fans again want to attack the defensive line, this time with either Calijah Kancey or Nolan Smith. The Georgia defensive star ran an absurd 4.39-second 40-yard dash and recorded a 41.5-inch vertical at the combine.


21. Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers fans are enamored with providing weapons for quarterback Justin Herbert. Any of these three players qualify.


22. Baltimore Ravens

What Baltimore does at No. 22 rests on the Lamar Jackson situation. For now, Ravens fans try their luck with another first-round wide receiver. 


23. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings' defense was abysmal in 2022. They were one of three teams to allow more than 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards. Either pick here would satisfy Minnesota fans. 


24. Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and wide receiver Calvin Ridley will lead the way for Jacksonville's offense, so adding to the secondary is a top priority for fans.


25. New York Giants

The Giants added an elite weapon for quarterback Daniel Jones by trading for tight end Darren Waller. Adding Flowers or Addison would fill out their offense nicely.


26. Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott is out of Dallas. Enter, Bijan Robinson. Cowboys fans want college football's most elusive running back since PFF began grading in 2014. 


27. Buffalo Bills

Bills fans still want Robinson even after signing Damien Harris and drafting James Cook last season. A smaller contingent of Bills Mafia wants to add to an offensive line that was a serious problem in 2022.


28. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals added Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency, but the fans want another tackle, preferably Dawand Jones. Protecting Joe Burrow is priority Nos. 1 and 2 for Cincinnati fans.


29. New Orleans Saints

The Saints should field a decent offense in 2023, but after losing some pieces in free agency on the defensive side of the ball, they look to fill those holes in the draft with Michigan’s Mazi Smith


30. Philadelphia Eagles

This is the third time Bijan Robinson ends up as the top-selected player among a fanbase. If the Eagles land him, then they would likely again field the NFL's best rushing offense.


31. Kansas City Chiefs

The defending champions need to replace two-time Super Bowl champion Frank Clark, making Will McDonald IV the top choice among Chiefs fans. 

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