When a board-topper like Rasheen Ali slides to No. 217, you do not overthink it, and the Packers did not. More right than wrong, and a B to match.
The Packers indulged a want in Gray while a need in edge rusher, quarterback and other spots stayed open. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped edge rusher, which is a strange place to end up.
Job largely done: cornerback settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.
Good work on the whole, with edge rusher the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Terrion Arnold
· CB
· rank 20
In pick No. 25 they get a press-man option on the boundary. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Troy Fautanu
· OT
· rank 29
The board had Troy Fautanu higher than the 41st pick, and the offensive lineman fell to them anyway. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R2.25
· Pick 57
· Calen Bullock
· S
· rank 47
A slide stopped in Round 2, Pick 25, with Calen Bullock worth more than the price. A minor itch, scratched.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Payton Wilson
· LB
· rank 70
A top-tier linebacker at a bargain, Payton Wilson in pick 88, plain and simple. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
R3.28
· Pick 91
· Blake Corum
· RB
· rank 74
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Blake Corum in No. 91. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R4.25
· Pick 125
· Max Melton
· CB
· rank 111
A tidy bit of business in the Round 4 slot, where Max Melton graded well above the range. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
R4.35
· Pick 135
· Cedric Gray
· LB
· rank 135
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Cedric Gray adds a linebacker and leaves edge rusher, quarterback and other spots untouched.
R6.28
· Pick 203
· De'Corian Clark
· WR
· rank 200
A reasonable price with a little left over, De'Corian Clark in slot 203. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R6.42
· Pick 217
· Rasheen Ali
· RB
· rank 196
Circle this one: Rasheen Ali at pick No. 217 is a fall that decides a draft. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R6.44
· Pick 219
· Erick All
· TE
· rank 215
Fair-plus on Erick All, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
R7.26
· Pick 246
· Dylan McMahon
· C
· rank 243
Dylan McMahon at slot 246 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the offensive lineman. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.