The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Packers watched Caedan Wallace slide 32 picks past his grade and did not hesitate. Call it a sensible B-, earned the boring way.
Gray has a lot of ground to make up just to look fairly priced. The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at.
The roster is better shaped than it was, with cornerback chief among the fixes.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the edge rusher spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.25
· Pick 25
· Brian Thomas Jr.
· WR
· rank 27
In No. 25 they get a home-run threat at receiver at fair value.
R2.9
· Pick 41
· Jordan Morgan
· OT
· rank 37
A clean, defensible pick in the Round 2 slot with a little surplus value in Jordan Morgan. It fills a real need, too.
R2.26
· Pick 58
· Christian Haynes
· OG
· rank 65
By-the-book stuff, Christian Haynes at the 58th overall pick squarely in line with his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R3.25
· Pick 88
· Calen Bullock
· S
· rank 83
Fair-plus on Calen Bullock, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. It adds depth where they could use a little.
R3.28
· Pick 91
· Cedric Gray
· LB
· rank 113
They reached into another round for Cedric Gray, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. A quiet depth add at a thin-ish spot.
R4.26
· Pick 126
· Elijah Jones
· CB
· rank 115
Nice patience on Elijah Jones, who had no business lasting to pick No. 126. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
R5.33
· Pick 169
· Ty'Ron Hopper
· LB
· rank 181
Ty'Ron Hopper at the 169th pick is a conviction pick that outran the value. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
R6.27
· Pick 202
· Gabe Hall
· DL
· rank 221
They talked themselves into Gabe Hall at Round 6, Pick 27, and the board did not agree. A need, and now a little less of one.
R6.44
· Pick 219
· Jordan Magee
· LB
· rank 222
No drama and no debate, Jordan Magee went about where he belonged in the 219th overall pick. They doubled down on a strength rather than a need.
R7.25
· Pick 245
· Caedan Wallace
· OT
· rank 213
Somehow Caedan Wallace was still sitting there in slot 245, and they pounced on premier offensive lineman value. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
R7.35
· Pick 255
· Kimani Vidal
· RB
· rank 253
A straight-up fair deal on Kimani Vidal at pick 255, value and slot in agreement. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.