This is the pick they will still be bragging about in July: Jahdae Barron, the No. 156 name on the board, stolen at the 185th overall pick. They moved the roster forward and banked a B for it.
They will regret leaving cornerback for another day if the season turns on it. On the needs board they went 5 of 9, with edge rusher the one that mattered most.
They trusted the board more than the depth chart. Their trades came out a wash either way.
All told, a draft that does its job without fuss, and there is real value in that.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Harold Perkins Jr.
· LB
· rank 15
In the 25th pick they get a sideline-to-sideline linebacker, and a steal at that. Need was not the driver here.
R2.25
· Pick 57
· Evan Stewart
· WR
· rank 53
Fair-plus on Evan Stewart, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
R3.22
· Pick 86
· Earnest Greene III
· OT
· rank 59
Earnest Greene III in No. 86 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It fills a real need, too.
R4.8
· Pick 104
· Luke Lachey
· TE
· rank 99
Nothing to complain about; Luke Lachey went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R4.25
· Pick 121
· Malachi Moore
· S
· rank 115
Malachi Moore at Round 4, Pick 25 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the safety. A need, and now a little less of one.
R5.2
· Pick 130
· Derrick Moore
· LB-EDGE
· rank 111
Derrick Moore at the 130th overall pick is a first-round grade at a bargain-bin price, no notes. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
R5.24
· Pick 152
· Jack Nelson
· OT
· rank 152
No drama and no debate, Jack Nelson went about where he belonged in slot 152. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
R5.25
· Pick 153
· Brennan Presley
· WR
· rank 135
Somehow Brennan Presley was still sitting there in pick 153, and they pounced on premier wide receiver value. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
R6.25
· Pick 185
· Jahdae Barron
· S
· rank 156
A safety of that caliber at the 185th overall pick is the definition of value, full stop. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
R7.2
· Pick 194
· Jordan Burch
· DE-EDGE
· rank 195
Jordan Burch in Round 7, Pick 2 is fair value, right on his grade. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
R7.5
· Pick 197
· Marques Cox
· OT
· rank 184
Marques Cox at the Round 7 slot is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R7.10
· Pick 202
· Jack Kiser
· LB
· rank 202
A market-rate linebacker, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Jack Kiser. Stacking talent where they were already deep.