Skip to main content

NFL Draft 2023 Fallout: Fan Anticipation vs. Fan Reaction

James Bisson

Last Updated: May 16, 2023 10:29 AM EDT • 4 min 28 sec read.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 25: Houston Texans fans cheer during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Quinn Harris/Getty Images/AFP

Things are bigger in Texas – including optimism over Houston's NFL Draft performance. Snagging a pair of top-three picks has buoyed Texans fans, who showed the biggest improvement in overall optimism from pre-draft to post-draft in a recent SBR poll.

With the dust settled from the 2023 NFL Draft, fans across the country now face an anxious wait until September.

But which fanbases have been buoyed most by their franchise’s moves in this years’ draft? And which fanbases are furious over their future?

Here at SBR, we surveyed 3,000 fans ahead of the annual event, asking them: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you think your team will draft?”

With the draft now in the books, We got in touch with the same 3,000 fans to gauge how their reaction to the draft differed to their anticipation by asking them: “On a scale from 10, how well do you think your team drafted?”

A look at the 16 biggest improvements in overall optimism from pre-draft to post-draft.

Texans the most pleasantly surprised fanbase

Despite heading into the 2023 draft with an array of draft capital, Texans fans still weren’t confident. Houston was the fifth-most pessimistic fanbase on our initial survey pre-draft – but things have changed dramatically.

Picking up Ohio State QB C.J Stroud at No. 2, then trading up to snag elite Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr third overall, sent shockwaves through the Texans fanbase. Their optimism average leapt from just 5.28 pre-draft up to a whopping 7.44 post-draft – easily the biggest positive difference in the entire survey.

Houston scored an impressive B in ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's post-draft grades, which certainly adds fuel to Texans fans' fire.

The Las Vegas Raiders rank second on the anticipation vs. reaction side of the survey, having seen a jump of 1.76 points (from 41.2 to 5.88). Raiders fans scored the lowest on the pre-draft optimism scale but were at least buoyed by the addition of Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson with the seventh overall pick and standout Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer at No. 35.

Widely regarded as the winners of the 2023 draft, Philadelphia Eagles fans are third when it comes to fan anticipation vs. fan reaction (+1.39), followed by the Washington Commanders (+0.95) and New York Giants (+0.79).

Eagles fans happiest in the league

Super Bowl loss aside, it's good to be a Philadelphia Eagles supporter these days.

The Eagles smashed the draft in most experts' opinions, and justly earned the highest optimism score of any fanbase with a whopping 8.04 out of 10. Philadelphia's impressive 2023 draft haul is highlighted by the selection of DE Jalen Carter – whom many analysts had as the top prospect available – with the No. 9 pick.

Meanwhile, grabbing the top defensive back and consensus No. 1 wide receiver off the board in the first 20 picks has gone down well incredibly well with Seattle fans.

They rank second among most optimistic fanbases across the entire league, scoring an average rating of 7.67 after landing CB Devon Witherspoon (No. 5) and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (No. 20) to lead a strong draft class.

The Pittsburgh Steelers cap an impressive outburst of optimism in the state of Pennsylvania, ranking as the third-happiest post-draft fanbase with an average score of 7.48. The Steelers had one of the most impressive Day 2 showings of any team, adding CB Joey Porter Jr. (32nd), DT Keeanu Benton (49th) and TE Darnell Washington (93rd).

A look at the 16 biggest drops in overall optimism from pre-draft to post-draft.

Jaguars go in reverse despite strong draft grade

Quantity doesn't necessarily translate to quality – at least in the eyes of Jacksonville fans.

Jaguars supporters saw the biggest decrease in their pre-draft-to-post-draft assessment, dipping 0.57 points despite general manager Trent Baalke using a pair of first-round trade-downs to add three picks to the mix.

Jacksonville finished with an absurd 13 picks in the 2023 draft and still got to pick in the first round, selecting OT Anton Harrison 27th overall and landing a B grade from Kiper. But that wasn't good enough for Jags fans, who might be a bit spoiled with their team finally boasting decent Super Bowl odds at most of the best sports betting sites.

The defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs were one of the biggest negative surprises in the survey, with their fan optimism dipping by an average of 0.47 points. Chiefs fans have seen their team master the draft in recent years, but the reigning champs had a bit of a hum-drum draft – and that didn't sit well with supporters.

Denver fans down in the dumps despite moving up

Hope for this year’s draft among Denver fans was forfeited when the Broncos completed a mega-trade for ill-performing quarterback Russell Wilson last season.

That made it unlikely that the Broncos could do enough in the draft to curry much favor – and so it's no surprise that Denver supporters tied for the least enthused of any fanbase, assessing an average score of 5.34 for their team's draft performance.

That left them level with Cleveland Browns fans, who are not in agreement with pundits over their franchise’s draft en route to an identical 5.34 post-draft tally.

Atlanta Falcons were next-lowest with an average score of 5.63, a grade no doubt influenced by the decision to draft running back Bijan Robinson eighth overall. Robinson has significant upside, but at a position where the Falcons were already deep.

Minnesota Vikings fans are fourth unhappiest with a score of 5.79, despite grabbing highly touted wide receiver Jordian Addison to compliment Justin Jefferson on offence.

Rounding out the top five unhappiest fanbases, San Francisco 49ers fans apparently do not agree with their franchise’s bizarre decision to use a third-round pick on kicker Jake Moody.

Methodology: We surveyed 3,000 NFL fans in both the United States and Canada and asked them to score their optimism rating on their NFL team drafting, out of 10.


Kentucky bettors, where's your optimism?

Are you ready to put your bet where your optimism lies? Kentucky sportsbooks will launch soon. The best sportsbook promotions and bonuses in Kentucky will be available with pre-launch offers never seen before. Check out the top legal Kentucky sportsbook apps today!

21+ and present in KY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER


Here are our best NFL betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related pages

Written By:
James Bisson
James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief of Sportsbook Review. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications across North America. His first book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles. James has also been quoted as a sports betting expert in USA Today and Sports Illustrated.