With the bulk of free agency over and the 2023 NFL Draft just over four weeks away, it's time to fire up the PFF mock draft simulator to fill the remaining needs for all 32 NFL teams.
Today, we'll focus on the AFC South to see how the first three rounds could shake out. Want to see how you'd do as the general manager of your favorite team? Try PFF's mock draft simulator — you can trade players and picks and mock all seven rounds. Click here to start drafting!
Note: Each team's mock draft was run independently, so some players may appear twice, as these picks are simply what I would do in the given situation.
Houston Texans
Round 1: QB Bryce Young, Alabama; DI Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
Round 2: WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Round 3: EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, USC; CB Darius Rush, South Carolina
With the Carolina Panthers expected to draft Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud with the first overall pick, things work out nicely for the Texans, as Young is available at No. 2 overall. Young’s 91.3 PFF passing grade was the best in college football a year ago.
Taking a swing on a big play threat like Hyatt at the top of the second round is really intriguing, as his 677 yards on 20-plus-yard receptions were the most of any player in 2022.
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1: QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Round 2: G Steve Avila, TCU
Round 3: WR Rashee Rice, SMU
If reports of Levis sliding are accurate, perhaps this wouldn’t be the pick. The Colts need a franchise quarterback, and Levis’ 2021 season saw him produce a 90.6 PFF grade, albeit despite generating just 15 big-time throws that season.
Rice was incredibly productive at SMU a year ago, averaging 3.05 yards per route run, which was tied for eighth among all receivers to see 70-plus targets in college football.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1: OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Round 2: C Luke Wypler, Ohio State
Round 3: EDGE Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
It might not be too exciting to draft offensive linemen with their first two picks, but it would make sense given the Jaguars roster. Harrison produced 80.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grades in each of the past two seasons and allowed just nine total pressures on 447 pass-blocking snaps last year.
Wypler allowed just 16 total pressures on 967 pass-blocking snaps over the past two seasons at Ohio State and produced 80.0-plus PFF run-blocking grades in both of those seasons too.
Tennessee Titans
Round 1: WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
Round 2: EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
Round 3: QB Tanner McKee, Stanford
If the Titans miss out on one of the top quarterbacks with the 11th pick, landing a talent like Johnston could soothe that pain. He forced 19 missed tackles on 60 receptions last season and would help the continued rebuild of the Titans wide receiver group after the Treylon Burks addition in the first round last year.
McKee is currently the 32nd-ranked player on the PFF big board, so the value in the third round was too much to turn down. He produced a 75.2 PFF passing grade in 2022, with 15 big-time throws and eight turnover-worthy plays.
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