Somewhere a general manager is explaining how Nate Wiggins got past him. The Packers do not have to explain a thing at the 57th overall pick.
They punted on edge rusher, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Spending an early pick on safety with edge rusher, quarterback and other spots open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to.
They will need Jones to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it. Job largely done: cornerback settled and 3 of 8 of the wish list covered.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Kamari Lassiter
· CB
· rank 26
In No. 25 they get an island corner. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Calen Bullock
· S
· rank 46
Calen Bullock at slot 41 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. A minor need, but a need all the same.
R2.25
· Pick 57
· Nate Wiggins
· CB
· rank 15
Circle this one: Nate Wiggins at Round 2, Pick 25 is a fall that decides a draft. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Javon Bullard
· S
· rank 63
The needs board was loud and they turned it down, spending the 88th overall pick on Javon Bullard with edge rusher, quarterback and other spots unsolved.
R3.28
· Pick 91
· Christian Mahogany
· OG
· rank 78
Christian Mahogany is a better player than pick 91 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R4.26
· Pick 126
· Max Melton
· CB
· rank 112
Max Melton at the 126th pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R5.32
· Pick 168
· Jaylen Wright
· RB
· rank 163
Jaylen Wright at pick No. 168 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
R6.28
· Pick 203
· Isaiah Davis
· RB
· rank 190
Value with a capital V on Isaiah Davis in the Round 6 slot, a genuine coup. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
R6.41
· Pick 216
· Jordan Magee
· LB
· rank 213
Fair-plus on Jordan Magee, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
R7.23
· Pick 243
· Steele Chambers
· LB
· rank 246
No drama and no debate, Steele Chambers went about where he belonged in pick No. 243. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
R7.31
· Pick 251
· Matthew Jones
· OG
· rank 260
Matthew Jones in the Round 7 slot is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. It fills a real need, too.