The Packers looked at the value chart, folded it up, and took Donovan Jennings at pick No. 255 regardless, 36 picks early. No fireworks, but a solid B-.
They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it. The Means pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch. They went 5 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.
The phones were busy but the ledger stayed level.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.27
· Pick 27
· Tyler Guyton
· OT
· rank 31
In slot 27 they get a plug-and-play piece up front at fair value. A real need, handled.
R2.5
· Pick 37
· Darius Robinson
· DL-EDGE
· rank 36
They paid sticker price for Darius Robinson in the Round 2 slot, and that is fine. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Devontez Walker
· WR
· rank 86
Devontez Walker in the 88th pick is fair value, right on his grade. The roster fit checks out.
R3.27
· Pick 90
· Maason Smith
· DT
· rank 104
Maason Smith in Round 3, Pick 27 is early enough to raise a brow, if not a full objection. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R3.28
· Pick 91
· Cole Bishop
· S
· rank 92
Cole Bishop at No. 91 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
R3.32
· Pick 95
· Roger Rosengarten
· OT
· rank 97
Roger Rosengarten in pick 95 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R4.26
· Pick 126
· Elijah Jones
· CB
· rank 139
A conviction pick on Elijah Jones at Round 4, Pick 26 that the board grades a round light. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
R4.31
· Pick 131
· Cedric Gray
· LB
· rank 119
Cedric Gray at pick No. 131 is money in the bank, a linebacker taken below his worth. It adds depth where they could use a little.
R5.4
· Pick 140
· Tanor Bortolini
· C
· rank 154
They paid a round early for Tanor Bortolini in the 140th pick, more than the board wanted. It fills a real need, too.
R6.20
· Pick 195
· Dominique Hampton
· S
· rank 186
Dominique Hampton is a better player than the 195th overall pick suggests; smart patience, rewarded. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
R6.27
· Pick 202
· Curtis Jacobs
· LB
· rank 189
Curtis Jacobs slipping to slot 202 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
R7.25
· Pick 245
· Bub Means
· WR
· rank 228
Bub Means in No. 245 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R7.35
· Pick 255
· Donovan Jennings
· OT
· rank 291
Donovan Jennings in pick 255 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.