The needs board said one thing and the Packers did another, using the Round 3 slot on Maason Smith while edge rusher, quarterback and other spots waited.
That edge rusher hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. Allen has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. A small leak at the table, if not a fatal one.
They left with cornerback solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.
So much rides on Quinyon Mitchell that the real verdict is a season or two away.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.28
· Pick 28
· Quinyon Mitchell
· CB
· rank 31
In Round 1, Pick 28 they get a sticky cover corner. The biggest hole, addressed.
R2.3
· Pick 35
· Kamren Kinchens
· S
· rank 34
They took Kamren Kinchens at par in the 35th pick, which is nothing to complain about. A minor need, but a need all the same.
R2.11
· Pick 43
· Patrick Paul
· OT
· rank 47
They paid sticker price for Patrick Paul in No. 43, and that is fine. The roster fit checks out.
R2.25
· Pick 57
· Edgerrin Cooper
· LB
· rank 57
No edge and no loss on Edgerrin Cooper in the Round 2 slot; it is a wash and a sensible one. A minor itch, scratched.
R3.7
· Pick 71
· Trey Benson
· RB
· rank 70
A straight-up fair deal on Trey Benson at slot 71, value and slot in agreement. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
R3.15
· Pick 79
· Johnny Wilson
· WR
· rank 74
Fair-plus on Johnny Wilson, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R3.16
· Pick 80
· Maason Smith
· DT-EDGE
· rank 87
The needs board was loud and they turned it down, spending the 80th overall pick on Maason Smith with edge rusher, quarterback and other spots unsolved.
R4.24
· Pick 124
· James Williams
· S
· rank 134
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, James Williams adds a safety and leaves edge rusher, quarterback and other spots untouched.
R4.31
· Pick 131
· Cam Hart
· CB
· rank 137
By-the-book stuff, Cam Hart at Round 4, Pick 31 squarely in line with his ranking. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
R4.34
· Pick 134
· Braelon Allen
· RB
· rank 155
They reached a country mile for Braelon Allen at the Round 4 slot, and the board is aghast. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.