The Sam Hartman selection is the head-turner. The Packers reached 40 spots for him, and it will define how this weekend is remembered. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B-.
They banked enough surplus on Knight to cover a lot of smaller sins. With cornerback, wide receiver and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on safety is the choice that costs them. For all the activity, cornerback went untouched, which is hard to explain.
A tidy weekend of work that should hold up just fine.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Tyler Guyton
· OT
· rank 27
A market-rate offensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Tyler Guyton. It fills a real need, too.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Tyler Nubin
· S
· rank 39
Tyler Nubin in the 41st overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
R2.26
· Pick 58
· T'Vondre Sweat
· DT
· rank 48
Nice patience on T'Vondre Sweat, who had no business lasting to slot 58. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Kamren Kinchens
· S
· rank 73
They bypassed pressing needs at cornerback, wide receiver and other spots to take Kamren Kinchens, a safety that was not the priority.
R3.28
· Pick 91
· Audric Estime
· RB
· rank 102
The board had cheaper options than Audric Estime at pick 91, and it noticed. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
R4.27
· Pick 127
· Nelson Ceaser
· DL-EDGE
· rank 143
They paid up for Nelson Ceaser at the 127th pick when waiting would have done the job. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
R5.32
· Pick 168
· Ty'Ron Hopper
· LB
· rank 177
A conviction pick on Ty'Ron Hopper at the 168th pick that the board grades a round light. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
R6.29
· Pick 204
· Logan Lee
· DL
· rank 241
Logan Lee at Round 6, Pick 29 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R6.41
· Pick 216
· Javontae Jean-Baptiste
· DE-EDGE
· rank 229
A reach on Javontae Jean-Baptiste in pick No. 216; the board had better options right there. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R7.23
· Pick 243
· Sam Hartman
· QB
· rank 283
Sam Hartman at pick 243 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R7.31
· Pick 251
· Tyrice Knight
· LB
· rank 216
They will replay Tyrice Knight at No. 251 for years; that is how good the value is. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.