The rest of the league will want that one back. Mitchell Evans tumbling to the Cowboys in the 199th overall pick is a gift they did not have to think twice about. The bottom line is a respectable B.
They are betting Conner proves the room right and everyone else wrong. The quarterback spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. A modest surplus at the table, banked quietly.
All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.20
· Pick 20
· Luther Burden III
· WR
· rank 13
Luther Burden III at No. 20 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
R2.12
· Pick 44
· Kaleb Johnson
· RB
· rank 41
They did well to land Kaleb Johnson in pick No. 44, just ahead of his grade. The roster fit checks out.
R2.19
· Pick 51
· Jihaad Campbell
· LB
· rank 40
A quiet steal in slot 51: Jihaad Campbell for less than the market said. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R3.12
· Pick 76
· Devin Neal
· RB
· rank 84
The board had cheaper options than Devin Neal at the 76th pick, and it noticed. It fills a real need, too.
R3.21
· Pick 85
· Deone Walker
· DT
· rank 67
They will replay Deone Walker at the Round 3 slot for years; that is how good the value is. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
R5.11
· Pick 150
· Lathan Ransom
· S
· rank 110
The board fumbled Lathan Ransom all the way to Round 5, Pick 11, and they scooped it up. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
R5.31
· Pick 170
· Dorian Strong
· CB
· rank 174
A straight-up fair deal on Dorian Strong at pick 170, value and slot in agreement. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
R5.33
· Pick 172
· Pat Bryant
· WR
· rank 147
Pat Bryant in the 172nd overall pick is a gift, value that borders on unfair. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
R5.35
· Pick 174
· Ollie Gordon II
· RB
· rank 175
They took Ollie Gordon II at par in No. 174, which is nothing to complain about. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
R6.12
· Pick 190
· Hayden Conner
· OG
· rank 213
Hayden Conner in the 190th pick is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R6.21
· Pick 199
· Mitchell Evans
· TE
· rank 154
Steal is underselling it; Mitchell Evans at pick 199 is a heist with the alarm still ringing. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R6.33
· Pick 211
· Jaylen Reed
· S
· rank 188
Jaylen Reed in the Round 6 slot is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.
R7.31
· Pick 249
· Ty Hamilton
· DT
· rank 242
Fair-plus on Ty Hamilton, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A need, and now a little less of one.