The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Cowboys watched Lathan Ransom slide 65 picks past his grade and did not hesitate.
The cost of the Badger reach is exactly the players who went right after him. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped offensive lineman, which is a strange place to end up. The dealing nudged the ledger their way without much fuss.
Wide receiver is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but offensive lineman.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.12
· Pick 12
· Ashton Jeanty
· RB
· rank 2
In the 12th pick they get a three-down runner, outstanding value to boot.
R2.31
· Pick 63
· Harold Fannin Jr.
· TE
· rank 54
Nice patience on Harold Fannin Jr., who had no business lasting to the Round 2 slot. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R3.2
· Pick 66
· Jalen Royals
· WR
· rank 62
Fair-plus on Jalen Royals, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
R3.12
· Pick 76
· Deone Walker
· DT
· rank 64
They let Deone Walker come to them and pounced at slot 76. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R5.11
· Pick 150
· Jalen Milroe
· QB
· rank 95
You do not let a quarterback like Jalen Milroe reach the 150th overall pick and blink. They did not. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
R5.31
· Pick 170
· Brashard Smith
· RB
· rank 111
Brashard Smith in pick 170 should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R5.33
· Pick 172
· Lathan Ransom
· S
· rank 107
They barely believed it either: Lathan Ransom still on the board at pick No. 172. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
R5.35
· Pick 174
· Mello Dotson
· CB
· rank 132
Mello Dotson in Round 5, Pick 35 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
R6.12
· Pick 190
· Cobee Bryant
· CB
· rank 175
Value with a capital V on Cobee Bryant in Round 6, Pick 12, a genuine coup. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
R6.33
· Pick 211
· Jordan Hancock
· S
· rank 199
Jordan Hancock slid further than he should have, and pick No. 211 is lovely value for the safety. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
R7.31
· Pick 249
· Elijhah Badger
· WR
· rank 289
A wild overpay on Elijhah Badger in the Round 7 slot, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.