The PFF mock draft simulator is a tool in which you can go through the draft, make all the decisions for your favorite team, and then be graded based on PFF’s models how good of a job you did. PFF doesn’t just give a grade for every pick, but they also average those grades to give an overall draft grade. Because of this, it’s really hard to get an A+ grade, especially with the picks the Eagles have. But nonetheless, after a few hours of grinding, I found the one situation where PFF can give an A+ overall draft grade to the Eagles.
PFF marks three positional needs for the Eagles (G, C, WR) and also has their own rankings of prospects they particularly love. In taking these two things into account and also by picking the best players on the board, it’s possible to achieve an A+ grade.
Here’s what I picked in my A+ draft:
:
There are a few things to note here. First, PFF loves Quenton Johnston with the tenth pick which is funny because I wrote about how much a dynamic chess-piece player like him would benefit the Eagles’ offense back in October. The second is that it’s nearly impossible to get a positive grade with the 30th pick, because none of the top players on the board reflect the Eagles “needs”. All the picks in rounds 2 through 7 are not based on positional value, but rather are just players who were ranked much higher on the PFF big board than at the spot they were drafted at. Besides changing pick 30, I think this is probably the only combination of picks that gives the Eagles an A+ grade.
Obviously there are a few things wrong with PFF’s mock draft evaluations. For one, the Eagles don’t need a center even if Jason Kelce retires. If anything, they probably need an offensive tackle to draft and develop before Lane Johnson retires. There are just a ton of moves here that Howie Roseman wouldn’t make. There are no trades in this mock draft, and we all know Howie is going to make a few trades in this draft. There are also no offensive linemen taken either, which is pretty obviously not going to happen either. And I think Howie understands the Eagles need for a fourth receiving option just like PFF does, but he’s not going to draft two wide receivers in the first three rounds.
Overall, this is a really cool tool from PFF and I’m glad I could apply it to the Eagles’ draft and in the process learn a little more about the 2023 class. Are there any picks here that you guys disagree with or would love to see come draft day?