Anyone who has ever sat through the NFL draft thinking, “I could do a better job than those GMs,” finally has a chance to prove it—thanks to the 2025 mock draft simulators that let you take control of any team. With the 2025 draft class generating rare depth, these tools update prospect ratings weekly, making every mock a fresh test of your scouting instincts. This guide walks you through the best free simulators, how to use them step by step, and what to expect when you start trading picks.

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Draft picks simulated per minute on top sites: Over 500,000 ·
Number of free simulators with trades: 6 ·
Average user rating for PFF Mock Draft Simulator: 4.6/5

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact user count for each simulator remains unpublished.
  • Frequency of prospect rating updates is not consistently disclosed.
3Key features
  • All major free simulators support trades.
  • Simulators offer up to 7 rounds of mock drafting.
  • Accessible via mobile web browsers on phones.
4What happens next
  • Prospect rankings will be finalized after the Super Bowl (early February 2025).
  • After the 2025 draft, simulators will pivot to 2026 prospects.

Among the three confirmed free simulators, a clear pattern emerges: each emphasizes different trade logic. Pro Football Network (established football outlet) offers User-Sim, Sim-Sim, and Sim-User trades; StickToTheModel (independent draft simulation site) uses a value-based trade calculator; and MockDraftRunner (dedicated simulator) relies on CPU-controlled teams with real trade logic.

Feature Pro Football Network StickToTheModel MockDraftRunner
Price Free (source) Free, no account (source) Free, no account (source)
Maximum rounds 7 7 (source) 7 (source)
Trade functionality Three trade modes (source) Value-based calculator (source) Real trade logic, CPU-controlled (source)
Prospect pool Hundreds with scouting reports (source) Unlimited mock drafts, 7 rounds (source) Full 7-round mock (source)
Account required No No (source) No (source)
Mobile browser support Yes Yes Yes

The comparison shows that all three tools are free and mobile-friendly, but their trade mechanisms differ significantly.

How do I use an NFL mock draft 2025 simulator?

  • Most simulators start by asking you to choose a controlling team.
  • Picks are made from a ranked list of available prospects, often updated weekly.
  • Trade proposals are evaluated by the simulator’s AI or a built-in value chart.

Selecting your team

When you open any of the three free simulators, the first step is picking a franchise to control. On MockDraftRunner (free simulator), you click “Start Mock Draft” and then choose your team from a drop-down. StickToTheModel (independent draft site) uses the same model: pick a team and the rest of the first round plays out automatically until your pick arrives.

The trade-off

Picking a team early lets you evaluate prospects through that team’s lens, but it also locks you into one perspective for the whole draft. If you want to test multiple strategies, most simulators let you run unlimited mocks and switch teams each time.

Making your first pick

Once your team is selected, the simulator presents a ranked list of available prospects. On Pro Football Network (football analysis site), each prospect includes a scouting report and a positional grade so you can compare options. The order of the draft picks is based on the official NFL draft order for 2025, which NFL.com (official league site) published before Round 1. You simply select the player you want and confirm the pick.

Using the trade function

All three simulators let you propose trades during the draft. On StickToTheModel (draft simulation tool), you click a “Trade” button, choose the team you want to deal with, and see a value-based trade calculator that evaluates whether the deal is fair. On Pro Football Network, you can initiate a trade offer and the simulator’s AI will either accept, counter, or reject based on team needs and draft value charts. MockDraftRunner (free tool) uses CPU-controlled teams that respond to trades based on league tendencies.

What to watch

Each simulator uses a different trade logic algorithm, so the same trade proposal might be accepted in one tool and rejected in another. This means your “GM skills” can look very different depending on which simulator you choose—prospect rating updates only compound that variability.

The pattern is clear: trade behavior is not standardized across simulators, so your strategy must adapt to each tool’s logic.

Which NFL mock draft simulator is the best for 2025?

  • Pro Football Network gives the most detailed prospect data.
  • StickToTheModel offers the simplest no-frills experience with deep trade options.
  • MockDraftRunner balances realism and speed with CPU trade logic.

Pro Football Network

PFN’s simulator includes hundreds of prospects with scouting reports and grades. It supports three trade modes (Sim-User, Sim-Sim, User-Sim) and is free of charge. The interface is slightly more data-heavy than the others, which suits fans who want to dig into prospect analysis. According to Pro Football Network (football analysis site), the tool is “100 percent free” with no paywall for trades or extra rounds.

The upshot

If you value scouting reports and multiple trade structures, Pro Football Network gives the most GM-like experience—but the extra data may slow you down if you just want quick mocks.

StickToTheModel

StickToTheModel is a bare-bones simulator that focuses on speed and flexibility. It runs all 7 rounds, allows complex multi-pick trades, and uses a value-based trade calculator. No account is required, so you can start a mock in under a minute. As StickToTheModel (independent draft tool) states, the simulator is “100% free with no account required,” and users can run unlimited mocks.

MockDraftRunner

MockDraftRunner offers a similar free, no-account experience but emphasizes CPU trade logic that mimics NFL team behavior. According to MockDraftRunner (dedicated simulator), the tool is “free to run full NFL mock draft simulations with real trade logic and CPU-controlled teams.” It supports up to 7 rounds and requires no registration.

Why this matters

The “best” simulator depends on your priority: prospect depth (PFN), speed and simplicity (StickToTheModel), or AI trade realism (MockDraftRunner). No single tool dominates across all three metrics.

The catch: your choice should match what you value most in a mock draft experience.

Can I trade picks in a 2025 NFL mock draft simulator?

  • All three major free simulators include trade functionality.
  • Trade logic is based on NFL team tendencies and draft value charts.
  • Some simulators allow trading future picks and complex multi-pick deals.

Understanding trade value charts

Every serious simulator uses a variant of the standard NFL draft value chart, where each pick slot has a point value. StickToTheModel (independent draft site) displays this chart in real time when you propose a trade, so you can see whether the points are balanced. Pro Football Network (football analysis site) uses a proprietary algorithm that also factors in team needs and tier breaks, which PFN says makes the simulator feel more realistic.

How to propose a trade

On each simulator, the process is similar: during your pick window, click “Trade” or “Propose Trade,” select the team you want to trade with, and choose which picks or players to offer. On MockDraftRunner (free tool), the CPU will respond after evaluating the offer based on its team-building logic. StickToTheModel even lets you trade future draft picks, adding a strategic layer that mirrors real NFL front-office decisions.

Bottom line: All three simulators let you trade picks without spending a dime. If you want the most realistic trade negotiations, Pro Football Network’s three trade modes give you the most control. If you prefer quick, value-based trades, StickToTheModel’s calculator is the fastest.

The pattern: trading is universal across these tools, but the depth and realism vary considerably.

Latest on the 2025 NFL draft cycle

  • Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft began on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET (NFL.com).
  • Rounds 2 and 3 began on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET (NFL.com).
  • Rounds 4–7 began on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at noon ET (NFL.com).

For a complete list of trades made before and during the draft, both NFL.com (official league site) and USA Today (major news outlet) published trade trackers that cover every move since the start of the new league year.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

What’s confirmed

  • Pro Football Network, StickToTheModel, and MockDraftRunner offer free 2025 mock draft simulators with trade functionality (PFN, StickToTheModel, MockDraftRunner).
  • Trading picks is a standard feature across all of these simulators.
  • All three are accessible on mobile web browsers.

What’s unclear

  • Exact user count for each platform remains undisclosed.
  • How often prospect grades are updated by each platform is not consistently published.

“Our mock draft simulator with trades is 100 percent free of charge, and it includes Sim-User, Sim-Sim, and User-Sim trades.”

Pro Football Network (football analysis site)

“Our NFL mock draft simulator is 100% free with no account required, and you can make trades using a value-based trade calculator.”

StickToTheModel (independent draft simulation site)

The 2025 draft class depth means simulators must update prospect ratings more frequently than ever. This weekly churn forces users to adapt their strategy between mock runs—a dynamic that sets 2025 apart from earlier years. For any fan wanting the full GM experience without spending a dime, the choice is clear: start with StickToTheModel for speed, or Pro Football Network for deeper trade options. The 2025 draft class depth makes every pick a learning moment.

Additional sources

nfl.com, mockdrafter.thedraftzone.com, nfldraftbuzz.com, sticktothemodel.com, espn.com, bigboardlab.com

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Frequently asked questions

What makes a good NFL mock draft simulator?

A good simulator offers realistic trade logic, up-to-date prospect rankings, and a clean interface. Free access and mobile compatibility are also key, as most users run mocks on phones.

Can I use the simulator for the 2026 NFL draft?

Most simulators shift to the next draft class after the current draft concludes. StickToTheModel and Pro Football Network typically offer multi-year databases, though 2026 data may not be available until post-2025 draft.

Do I need to create an account to use a simulator?

No. All three simulators covered in this guide (StickToTheModel, MockDraftRunner, Pro Football Network) are free and require no account registration.

How often are player ratings updated?

The update frequency varies. Pro Football Network updates its prospect database periodically during the season, while StickToTheModel updates based on public rankings. Exact intervals are not publicly disclosed.

Can I draft for multiple teams at once?

Not directly. Most simulators let you control only one team per mock draft. However, you can run multiple mocks controlling different teams each time, which is equivalent to multi-team analysis.

Is there a mobile app for NFL mock draft simulators?

No dedicated app exists from any of the three simulators. All three are fully functional through mobile web browsers, so you can simulate on your phone without downloading anything.

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