The 2023 NFL Draft is only hours away and fans of the Chicago Bears will finally learn which players will be joining the team after months of speculation.
Perhaps more importantly, they will be able to put down their mock draft simulators for the foreseeable future. But judging by data released from Pro Football Focus (PFF), that could prove to be difficult.
On Wednesday, PFF released data from their mock draft simulator showing which teams were most used this draft cycle. To the surprise of no one, the Bears were far and away No. 1 on the list with a relative frequency of just under 9%. The Detroit Lions came in second, while teams with no first-round picks such as the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers all were at the bottom.
Which fanbases have been mock drafting the most? đź‘€
Be the GM for your team: https://t.co/YXqHIJgiyj pic.twitter.com/ouCFwv2gb1
— PFF (@PFF) April 26, 2023
Mock draft simulators have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Fans can play the role of general manager by making selections and even trades to build their ideal draft class. Since the Bears spent much of the year with one of the worst records in the league, coupled with the fact they had a first-round pick for just the second time in five years, it’s not shocking to see the team at the top of the list.
Since the 2022 season ended, the Bears held the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and fans went wild with different scenarios, whether it was trading the pick or selecting the top player on the board. When the team traded out of that spot with the Carolina Panthers in early March, moving down to No. 9 for a plethora of future picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore, it presented another fun challenge for fans to try and determine what the team should do. Whether it’s selecting an offensive lineman, defensive tackle, or even a wide receiver, almost every possible scenario has been dreamt up in a simulator.
But now that the draft is finally approaching, those mock drafts will dissipate for the time being when the actual picks begin rolling in. But it’s only a matter of time until the 2024 draft mock drafts start coming out. Hopefully the team is competitive enough where making mock drafts won’t be more entertaining than watching the final few games of the season.
Follow The Bears Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=417188052]
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbve7kb6he6scwe player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]