You could see the war room lean forward. Calen Bullock at the 88th overall pick is the sort of fall that does not happen, except it just did. It nets out to a B-, which feels about right.
They are betting Wright proves the room right and everyone else wrong. That edge rusher hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. The Packers indulged a want in Hicks while a need in edge rusher, quarterback and other spots stayed open.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but edge rusher.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Brock Bowers
· TE
· rank 6
Taking Brock Bowers in slot 25 is close to grand larceny; a tight end that good had no business lasting this long. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Jackson Powers-Johnson
· C
· rank 51
They paid a round early for Jackson Powers-Johnson in pick 41, more than the board wanted. It fills a real need, too.
R2.25
· Pick 57
· Graham Barton
· OT
· rank 50
They did well to land Graham Barton in Round 2, Pick 25, just ahead of his grade. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Calen Bullock
· S
· rank 46
The board fumbled Calen Bullock all the way to the 88th overall pick, and they scooped it up. A minor need, but a need all the same.
R3.28
· Pick 91
· Jaden Hicks
· S
· rank 107
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Jaden Hicks adds a safety and leaves edge rusher, quarterback and other spots untouched.
R4.26
· Pick 126
· Jaylen Wright
· RB
· rank 163
They left a pile of value on the table to take Jaylen Wright this early at No. 126. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R5.32
· Pick 168
· Andru Phillips
· CB
· rank 176
They liked Andru Phillips enough to skip the value, taking him in the Round 5 slot. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
R6.28
· Pick 203
· Javon Baker
· WR
· rank 186
Value with a capital V on Javon Baker in pick No. 203, a genuine coup. The roster fit checks out.
R6.41
· Pick 216
· JD Bertrand
· LB
· rank 205
JD Bertrand slipping to Round 6, Pick 41 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
R7.23
· Pick 243
· Nathaniel Watson
· LB
· rank 259
Nathaniel Watson at slot 243 is a clear overpay, with better names still on the board. A want more than a need, though you can never have too many.
R7.31
· Pick 251
· Isaac Guerendo
· RB
· rank 275
They talked themselves into Isaac Guerendo at the 251st pick, and the board did not agree. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.