If confidence were a draft strategy, the Packers would have aced it. Caleb Murphy at pick No. 203 is 80 spots clear of where he belonged. Call it a C and check back in two years.
The quarterback hole is the one line item this class does not answer. The Eichenberg pick is fine in a vacuum, less so with quarterback, wide receiver and other spots still on the board. The Speights pick alone nudges the whole weekend up a notch.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with edge rusher chief among the fixes.
The verdict is a shrug for now, with the swing picks left to write the real ending.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Troy Fautanu
· OT
· rank 30
In the 25th pick they get a building block for the line. A real need, handled.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Chop Robinson
· DE-EDGE
· rank 39
A straight-up fair deal on Chop Robinson at No. 41, value and slot in agreement. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R2.12
· Pick 44
· Kalen King
· CB
· rank 42
By-the-book stuff, Kalen King at the 44th overall pick squarely in line with his ranking. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Junior Colson
· LB
· rank 76
Value with a capital V on Junior Colson in slot 88, a genuine coup. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
R3.29
· Pick 92
· Braelon Allen
· RB
· rank 151
This one needs a full-page explanation: Braelon Allen in pick 92, miles early. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
R4.25
· Pick 125
· Tommy Eichenberg
· LB
· rank 125
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Tommy Eichenberg at linebacker with quarterback, wide receiver and other spots open.
R4.35
· Pick 135
· Josh Proctor
· S
· rank 183
A wild overpay on Josh Proctor in Round 4, Pick 35, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
R6.28
· Pick 203
· Caleb Murphy
· C
· rank 283
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Caleb Murphy. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R6.42
· Pick 217
· Omar Speights
· LB
· rank 201
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Omar Speights in pick 217. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
R6.44
· Pick 219
· DeMonte Capehart
· DT
· rank 265
They left a pile of value on the table to take DeMonte Capehart this early at the 219th pick. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
R7.26
· Pick 246
· Zion Logue
· DL
· rank 241
Zion Logue in slot 246 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.