What Is a Mock Draft?

A mock draft is a prediction of how an upcoming NFL Draft will unfold. Analysts, fans, and media members create mock drafts to project which players will be selected by which teams and in what order. Mock drafts are one of the most popular forms of NFL offseason content.

How Mock Drafts Work

Mock draft creators analyze several factors to make their predictions:

• Team needs — Which positions each team needs to address
• Prospect rankings — How draft-eligible players stack up against each other
• Team history — Draft tendencies and positional preferences of each front office
• Insider information — Reports from combines, pro days, and private workouts
• Trade speculation — Potential draft-day trades that could reshuffle the order

Most mock drafts cover the first round (32 picks), though some extend through all seven rounds. They are updated frequently as new information emerges between January and late April.

Why Fans Love Mock Drafts

Mock drafts are popular because they turn the NFL offseason into an ongoing strategy conversation:

• They let fans play armchair GM and debate picks before they happen
• They build anticipation for draft day — the most unpredictable event in football
• They give fans a reason to learn about college players they might not otherwise follow
• They are inherently debatable — no two mock drafts agree, and that is the fun

Mock Draft vs Football GM Simulator

A mock draft is a one-time prediction exercise. A football GM simulator takes the draft experience further by letting you actually make the picks and live with the consequences across multiple seasons.

In a GM simulator like BS Football, you do not just predict picks — you scout prospects, invest scouting resources to learn more about them, and then draft players who join your roster and develop (or bust) over their careers. The draft is not the end of the story — it is the beginning.

Try a Draft Right Now

If you love mock drafts, you will love running your own draft in BS Football. Scout the class with a 3-tier scouting system, make your picks across all seven rounds, and then watch your rookies develop over multiple seasons. It is free and runs in your browser.

Run Your Own Draft — Play BS Football Free