B+
Green Bay Packers
The Packers let James fall and pounced. Final grade: B+.
by Shawn44 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 11 picks
· 7 steals
· 0 reaches
The real work happened on the phones. The Packers fleeced their trade partners, turning their picks into a noticeably bigger pile than they started with.
James at that cost is the sort of edge that compounds over a roster. Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
Nice patience on Leonard Taylor III, who had no business lasting to No. 43. The roster fit checks out.
A tidy little value on T.J. Tampa in the 51st overall pick, a step better than break-even. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
By-the-book stuff, Brenden Rice at pick No. 83 squarely in line with his ranking. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
D.J. James at the Round 3 slot is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Junior Colson in the 119th pick lands just on the right side of the ledger. Not urgent, but hardly pointless.
Sataoa Laumea slipping to slot 135 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Bru McCoy in Round 6, Pick 22 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. A need, and now a little less of one.
A offensive lineman of that caliber at the 217th pick is the definition of value, full stop. It fills a real need, too.
Jalen Berger in the Round 6 slot should not have been possible, and that is the whole point. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
A straight-up fair deal on Donovan Jennings at slot 240, value and slot in agreement. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Value with a capital V on Eric Gentry in the 248th overall pick, a genuine coup. Insurance at a position that did not really ask for it.