- Chicago Bears fans prefer Will Anderson: With the first overall pick, Bears fans appear to prefer the dominant Alabama edge defender to improve the team's pass rush and overall line-of-scrimmage play on defense.
- Houston Texans fans prefer Bryce Young: With a couple of different options at QB, Texans fans have their sights set on the Alabama signal-caller.
- Paris Johnson is a popular target: The Ohio State product is the preferred target for five different teams in this exercise.
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
PFF’s mock draft simulator gives you the opportunity to fix your favorite team, whether that's selecting and trading for players or moving up and down the draft to secure future capital. As we reach the middle of January, we took a dive into the data to see which players each fanbase is targeting most often when using the tool.
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Chicago Bears
- First pick: No.1
Most selected player: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
The Bears landing the first overall pick gives them the opportunity to accumulate a huge haul with a trade down, but if they stand pat, their fans seem to be targeting a standout on the defensive line. Anderson, who has produced an 83.0-plus PFF pass-rush grade in each of the past two seasons, just edges Georgia’s Jalen Carter, with the duo combining to go to the Bears just over 50% of the time.
Houston Texans
- First picks: Nos. 2 and 12
Most selected player at No.2: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
The Texans no longer have the No. 1 overall pick, but Young is the player fans have selected 60.3% of the time. Texans fans know they are in desperate need of an upgrade at the quarterback position, with C.J. Stroud finishing as their second-ranked player and their preferred selection 13.4% of the time.
Most selected player at No. 12: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Whomever the Texans wind up with at quarterback, fans want them to add a top target with the 12th overall pick. Addison has been the choice 24.2% of the time, and while his 2022 season wasn’t as impressive as 2021, he still produced an 82.4 PFF receiving grade this season.
Arizona Cardinals
- First pick: No. 3
Most selected player: Jalen Carter, DI, Georgia
Cardinals fans have jumped at the chance to select Carter if he’s there at number three overall, selecting him 25.4% of the time. The Georgia standout produced a 91.2 PFF run defense grade and 89.1 PFF pass-rushing grade in an incredibly dominant season for the national champions.
Indianapolis Colts
- First pick: No. 4
Most selected player: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
After seeing Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan at quarterback over the past two seasons, Colts fans are desperate for a new signal-caller. We’ve seen them trade up for Young, but even when they stay where they are, quarterback is still the pick. Stroud has landed in Indianapolis 45.6% of the time, with quarterbacks making up 84.7% of the team's selections.
Seattle Seahawks
- First picks: Nos. 5 and 20
Most selected player at No. 5: Jalen Carter, DI, Georgia
Hopeful Seahawks fans will likely be a little bit disappointed at No. 5, with both Carter and Anderson, who make up over 50% of the picks here, both likely to be off the board. They still clearly want help along the defensive line here, though, with Clemson's Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy the next most selected players.
Most selected player at No. 20: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Verse will be dropping out of the Mock Draft Simulator very soon due to the news that he is returning to school. Simpson is currently the No. 1 linebacker on Mike Renner’s big board. The Clemson standout allowed just 353 yards from 66 targets in coverage.
Detroit Lions
- First picks: Nos. 6 and 18
Most selected player at No.6: Jalen Carter, DI, Georgia
It’s wishful thinking for the Lions to land Carter at No. 6 overall, but like Seahawks fans, they opt for Bresee and Murphy as fallback options. Murphy’s highest graded season at Clemson was in 2020, but his PFF pass-rush grade has improved every year, ending 2022 at 78.5 with 34 total pressures from 356 pass-rushing snaps.
Most selected player at No. 18: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
Pick No. 18 sees more defensive help for the Lions, with Jones as the top selection. On the field for 278 coverage snaps, Jones allowed just 10 receptions for 94 yards — none of which resulted in a touchdown — over the course of the season.
Las Vegas Raiders
- First pick: No. 7
Most selected player: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Stroud is the top choice with the seventh pick by Raiders fans, but it’s interesting to note that when he is off the board, they have opted for Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski as the next best option. Coming off a monster year, Skoronski produced a 93.0 PFF pass-blocking grade and an 81.7 PFF run-blocking grade.
Atlanta Falcons
- First pick: No. 8
Most selected player: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
An edge defender is selected by the Falcons in over 45% of drafts, and when Murphy is off the board, fans are turning to Georgia’s Nolan Smith, who has been productive as a pass-rusher in college, racking up 84 total pressures on 623 pass-rushing snaps in his time at Georgia.
Carolina Panthers
- First pick: No. 9
Most selected player: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Quarterback is high on the agenda for Panthers fans, with Stroud earning the selection 21.0% of the time. However, while fans turn to Florida’s Anthony Richardson 10.7% of the time and Kentucky’s Will Levis in 7.4% of drafts, TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston is the next most drafted player after Stroud for the Panthers.
Philadelphia Eagles
- First picks: Nos. 10 and 31
Most selected player at No. 10: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
Eagles fans clearly sense the opportunity to get a top edge rusher with a top-10 pick, selecting a player at the position 46.9% of the time. When Murphy is off the board, they have been turning to Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson, who is coming off his most productive season as a pass-rusher in college, registering eight sacks, 10 hits and 32 hurries from 261 pass-rushing snaps.
Most selected at No. 31: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Fans are pretty split on two specific players at No. 31 for the Eagles. Porter, who allowed just 15 receptions from 275 coverage snaps this season, has been the selection in 18.1% of drafts. This is also one of the spots where fans get excited about Texas running back Bijan Robinson, as he is right behind Porter Jr., at 17.9% here.
Tennessee Titans
- First pick: No. 11
Most selected player: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Titans fans want two things early in this draft — help at wide receiver and a new offensive tackle. Johnson appears to be the preferred option coming off an incredibly stingy season where he allowed just 14 total pressures from 449 pass-blocking snaps.
New York Jets
- First pick: No. 13
Most selected player: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Jets fans will be disappointed if Johnson goes off the board to the Titans, but they haven’t shifted away from the offensive line for their fallback option. Georgia’s Broderick Jones has been the other tackle they have targeted, and while Johnson had a better overall PFF grade, Jones was the better pass protector, finishing with an 84.1 PFF pass-blocking grade and just nine total pressures allowed from 470 pass-blocking snaps.
New England Patriots
- First pick: No. 14
Most selected player: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
The Patriots are another fanbase enamored with Johnson, but they have also looked for help at the wide receiver position. When missing out on Johnson, they have turned their attention to a wide receiver from the same school in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Injuries limited his 2022 season, but a year ago, he was a prolific deep threat, pulling in 424 yards and five touchdowns from 13 receptions 20-plus yards downfield.
Green Bay Packers
- First pick: No. 15
Most selected player: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Packers fans want playmakers on offense, and Addison is their preferred choice. While wide receivers make up 33.4% of their selections, Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer is right behind Addison as their top choice. His safe hands would be welcome in Green Bay, with just three drops from 74 catchable targets.
Washington Commanders
- First pick: No. 16
Most selected player: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
Commanders fans are split here, as 11.6% want the dependability of an offensive tackle in Johnson while 10.8% want the excitement of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. He was electric in college football this year, forcing 39 missed tackles from 65 rushing attempts.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- First pick: No. 17
Most selected player: Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
If we’ve learned anything from this, it’s that more than a few fanbases will be disappointed to not land Johnson in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Steelers fans have also turned their attention to cornerback when Johnson is unavailable, with Georgia’s Kelee Ringo another popular choice. Dependable on the back end for the Bulldogs, Ringo has produced 70.0-plus PFF coverage grades in each of the past two seasons.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- First pick: No. 19
Most selected player: Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
With Tom Brady out of contract at the end of this season, Buccaneers fans are looking to the future at the quarterback positions. Richardson gets a lot of attention, being the pick 12.2% of the time, but he’s just edged out by McKee at 13.7%. McKee posted a 75.2 PFF passing grade in 2022, posting 15 big-time throws and eight turnover-worthy plays.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- First pick: No. 21
Most selected player: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Playmakers in the passing game on offense and defense are what the Jaguars fans are after, and while they might be unlikely to get the player they are selecting 11.0% of the time in Johnston, they may have a better chance at landing their No. 2 choice in South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith. He’s had an up-and-down college career but 2021, where he posted an 89.7 PFF coverage grade, highlights just how good he can be if he puts it all together.
New York Giants
- First pick: No. 22
Most selected player: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The Giants have seen huge improvement under head coach Brian Daboll in 2022, and now their fans want more playmakers at the wide receiver position. Their fanbase loves Smith-Njigba, selecting him in 27.9% of their draft, while North Carolina’s Josh Downs is their favorite fallback option, drafting him 6.6% of the time.
Baltimore Ravens
- First pick: No. 23
Most selected player: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Ravens fans know what they want, and it’s another first-round wide receiver. A receiver has been the player to come off the board for the Ravens' first pick in 32.8% of drafts so far this year, with the Ohio State standout as the choice 13.7% of the time. They also drafted Kansas State edge defender Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who had a down year in 2022 but produced an 89.9 PFF pass-rush grade in 2021.
Los Angeles Chargers
- First pick: No. 24
Most selected player: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Perhaps an indication that they are happy overall with the roster, the top four selections by the Chargers all play different positions. Like many teams in this area, the fanbase loves Smith-Njigba, with only Jones being drafted ahead of him, but Anudike-Uzomah and Trenton Simpson are all within a percentage point of Jones, too.
Dallas Cowboys
- First pick: No. 25
Most selected player: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
Cowboys fans would be happiest to see Johnson come off the board here. As the No. 2 safety on Mike Renner’s big board, his ability to have a screen-erasing role from the slot thanks to his 26 tackles that resulted in a defensive stop in coverage this season would be a boon for Dallas' defense.
Cincinnati Bengals
- First pick: No. 26
Most selected player: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Bengals fans want to add another offensive tackle early this year, with 15.0% of them selecting Harrison. He fits the bill as a pass protector to help quarterback Joe Burrow, allowing just nine total pressures from 447 pass-blocking snaps this season.
Minnesota Vikings
- First pick: No. 27
Most selected player: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
A cornerback comes off the board 33.5% of the time for the Vikings and at 13.2%, Gonzalez has been the choice. The 32nd-ranked player on the PFF big board right now, Gonzalez allowed 39 receptions from 441 coverage snaps this season, producing an 81.4 PFF grade.
Denver Broncos
- First pick: No. 28
Most selected player: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
The Broncos are another fanbase that covets Oklahoma’s Harrison, with offensive tackle being the position they target most often. Edge defender is right behind, though, and Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey has been the pick in 10.3% of drafts. He produced a 73.1 PFF pass-rushing grade this season, registering 12 sacks, three hits and 18 hurries from 314 pass-rushing snaps.
Buffalo Bills
- First pick: No. 29
Most selected player: Bijan Robinson, HB, Texas
The Bills' roster is loaded, so it’s not a huge surprise to see them opt for Robinson to add more big plays to that offense. He has been the choice in 28.8% of drafts in a season where he forced 104 missed tackles on 257 carries.
Kansas City Chiefs
- First pick: No. 30
Most selected player: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
Chiefs fans have selected an edge defender in the first round of 35.5% of drafts so far this year, with LSU’s BJ Ojulari being the selection 13.6% of the time. His 81.5 PFF pass-rushing grade in 2022 was a college career-high, registering nine sacks, 14 hits and 26 hurries from 346 pass-rushing snaps.
Los Angeles Rams
- First pick: No. 37
Most selected player: Andrew Vorhees, G, USC
The Rams don’t have a first-round selection this year, and their fans are opting to address the interior offensive line 30.4% of the time when it gets to their pick in the second round. Their top choice has been Vorhees, who is currently the 41st-ranked player on the PFF big board.
New Orleans Saints
- First pick: No. 41
Most selected player: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
The Arkansas linebacker has been the top selection for Saints fans in the second round and is currently the second-ranked linebacker on the PFF big board. He’s coming off a season where he posted a career-high 77.9 PFF grade. Interestingly, this is a spot where we’ve seen Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker come off the board 5.4% of the time.
Miami Dolphins
- First pick: No. 53
Most selected player: Blake Corum, HB, Michigan
Dolphins fans will have been disappointed to see Corum return to school, selecting him with their first pick in 16.5% of drafts. Their second-highest choice has been Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, who produced an 89.3 PFF coverage grade in a season that saw him pick off six passes.
San Francisco 49ers
- First pick: No. 149
Most selected position: Offensive Tackle
The 49ers' first pick comes so late in the draft (currently pick 149) that there is no clear pick for their fans' favorite player. However, we can see which positions they are targeting. An offensive tackle is the pick 26.0% of the time, with safety (21.3%), cornerback (18.2%) and linebacker (10.1%) rounding out the top four.
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