NFL Draft Grades: What’s the Packers’ GPA?

NFL Draft grades, of course, are a silly proposition. They’re like giving an infant a new car on his first birthday just so he’s prepared for driver’s ed.

Nonetheless, we assembled 12 sets of national draft grades, did some math and computed the Green Bay Packers’ grade-point average.

Ranging from an A-minus at NFL.com to a few C-pluses, the Packers wound up with a 2.80 GPA.

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter was the only national pundit to give the Packers any version of an A.

“Green Bay ended its 23-year streak of not drafting a receiver in Round 1 with (Matthew) Golden, whom the team surely hopes is the downfield playmaker Jordan Love needs,” Reuter wrote in his introductory paragraph. “Instead of adding a cornerback and edge rusher in Day 2, the Packers gambled on (Anthony) Belton's size to overcome his lapses against speed and took advantage of versatile offensive weapon Savion Williams still being on the board.”

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Packers a B.

“Improving quarterback Jordan Love's supporting cast was clearly a focus over the course of the draft,” he wrote as part of his extensive breakdown. “The Packers have young talent there, sure, but they've gone three straight seasons without a 1,000-yard receiver. They've had plenty of chances to draft first-round playmakers and didn't take them. The streak ended, though, with Matthew Golden. I loved this pick, and … he could quickly step into the WR1 role in Green Bay.”

Fox Sports draft expert Rob Rang also gave the Packers a B.

“The first round could not have played out much better for the hosting Green Bay Packers, who capitalized on the speediest wide receiver in the class – Matthew Golden – falling into their queso. Specifically, it provides them with the home-run hitter needed to take quarterback Jordan Love and this offense into another stratosphere.”

Bleacher Report was among those who gave the Packers a C-plus.

Golden will add “potency” to the Packers’ passing game, but second-round offensive tackle Anthony Belton was a “reach.”