When a board-topper like Myles Harden slides to pick No. 243, you do not overthink it, and the Packers did not.
The quarterback spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. They will need Allen to outplay his draft slot in a hurry to justify it. On the needs board they went 5 of 8, with edge rusher the one that mattered most.
They reloaded the coverage unit in bulk.
Add it up and it is a good, unfussy class.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Nate Wiggins
· CB
· rank 17
In the 25th pick they get a press-man option on the boundary at a price that makes it sweeter. The biggest hole, addressed.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Tyler Nubin
· S
· rank 39
No drama and no debate, Tyler Nubin went about where he belonged in Round 2, Pick 9. A minor itch, scratched.
R2.26
· Pick 58
· Kingsley Suamataia
· OT
· rank 57
No edge and no loss on Kingsley Suamataia in the Round 2 slot; it is a wash and a sensible one. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Brandon Dorlus
· DE-EDGE
· rank 81
A reasonable price with a little left over, Brandon Dorlus in pick No. 88. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R3.28
· Pick 91
· Braelon Allen
· RB
· rank 109
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Braelon Allen. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
R4.27
· Pick 127
· Cedric Gray
· LB
· rank 126
By-the-book stuff, Cedric Gray at No. 127 squarely in line with his ranking. Depth more than a fix, but depth they can use.
R5.32
· Pick 168
· Sione Vaki
· S
· rank 169
Sione Vaki at the 168th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
R6.29
· Pick 204
· Curtis Jacobs
· LB
· rank 197
Nothing to complain about; Curtis Jacobs went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
R6.41
· Pick 216
· Jha'Quan Jackson
· WR
· rank 178
You do not let a wide receiver like Jha'Quan Jackson reach No. 216 and blink. They did not. It fills a real need, too.
R7.23
· Pick 243
· Myles Harden
· CB
· rank 184
Circle this one: Myles Harden at Round 7, Pick 23 is a fall that decides a draft. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R7.31
· Pick 251
· Matthew Jones
· OG
· rank 254
A market-rate offensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Matthew Jones. It patches a soft spot without any drama.