Nobody else had Cal Haladay anywhere near pick No. 246. The Packers did, by 32 spots, and that gap is the whole story. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B-.
Leaving edge rusher unaddressed is the roster risk they will have to answer for in the fall. The Williams pick is fine in a vacuum, less so with edge rusher, quarterback and other spots still on the board. Kinchens at that cost is the sort of edge that compounds over a roster.
Value over need was the throughline, for better and worse.
All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Taliese Fuaga
· OT
· rank 17
In the 25th pick they get protection for the quarterback, outstanding value to boot.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Kamren Kinchens
· S
· rank 25
Good things come to war rooms that wait, and Kamren Kinchens at slot 41 is the proof. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
R2.25
· Pick 57
· Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
· LB
· rank 64
By-the-book stuff, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at pick 57 squarely in line with his ranking. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Jalen McMillan
· WR
· rank 87
A straight-up fair deal on Jalen McMillan at the Round 3 slot, value and slot in agreement. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
R3.29
· Pick 92
· McKinnley Jackson
· DL
· rank 96
McKinnley Jackson in the 92nd overall pick is fair value, right on his grade. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R4.25
· Pick 125
· Khyree Jackson
· CB
· rank 120
Khyree Jackson in Round 4, Pick 25 is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
R4.35
· Pick 135
· James Williams
· S
· rank 128
They bypassed pressing needs at edge rusher, quarterback and other spots to take James Williams, a safety that was not the priority.
R6.28
· Pick 203
· Miyan Williams
· RB
· rank 190
They let Miyan Williams come to them and pounced at the 203rd pick. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R6.42
· Pick 217
· Turner Corcoran
· OT
· rank 206
Turner Corcoran at the Round 6 slot is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R6.44
· Pick 219
· Tatum Bethune
· LB
· rank 208
Tatum Bethune in slot 219 is a bargain the rest of the room will envy. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
R7.26
· Pick 246
· Cal Haladay
· LB
· rank 278
A big swing on Cal Haladay at pick 246, well ahead of any board in the building. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.