Whoever sat across the table from the Packers should ask for a receipt. They cleaned the room out, prying loose far more value than they gave up, and it was the quiet MVP of their weekend.
However the rest shakes out, Pratt at that price is a win they earned. The tight end hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
The imported veterans give this class a floor the draft picks could not on their own.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the tight end spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
R2.1
· Pick 33
· Troy Fautanu
· OT
· rank 21
Troy Fautanu at the Round 2 slot is money in the bank, a offensive lineman taken below his worth. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Jordan Morgan
· OT
· rank 37
Jordan Morgan in slot 41 lands just on the right side of the ledger. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R2.26
· Pick 58
· Junior Colson
· LB
· rank 52
Fair-plus on Junior Colson, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
R3.1
· Pick 65
· Kris Jenkins
· DL-EDGE
· rank 50
Kris Jenkins at pick 65 is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Jaden Hicks
· S
· rank 85
A tidy little value on Jaden Hicks in No. 88, a step better than break-even. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
R3.32
· Pick 95
· Trey Benson
· RB
· rank 87
Trey Benson in the 95th pick is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R4.26
· Pick 126
· Elijah Jones
· CB
· rank 116
Elijah Jones slid further than he should have, and the 126th overall pick is lovely value for the cornerback. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
R5.23
· Pick 159
· Brennan Jackson
· DE-EDGE
· rank 154
Brennan Jackson at pick 159 is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
R5.33
· Pick 169
· Michael Pratt
· QB
· rank 140
Michael Pratt in slot 169 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R6.27
· Pick 202
· Cornelius Johnson
· WR
· rank 187
They read the board right and Cornelius Johnson was the payoff at pick No. 202. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R6.44
· Pick 219
· Jaylan Ford
· LB
· rank 205
They let Jaylan Ford come to them and pounced at Round 6, Pick 44. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
R6.45
· Pick 220
· Myles Harden
· CB
· rank 209
The board had Myles Harden higher than No. 220, and the cornerback fell to them anyway. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R7.25
· Pick 245
· Nathan Thomas
· OT
· rank 227
A offensive lineman of that caliber at the Round 7 slot is the definition of value, full stop. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
R7.35
· Pick 255
· Josh Proctor
· S
· rank 243
Value with a capital V on Josh Proctor in the 255th pick, a genuine coup. They added to a strength when a need was still open elsewhere.