2015 NFL Draft: Wisconsin Badgers Day Two NFL Draft Primer
By Jim Oxley
The 2015 NFL Draft will continue Friday night with the second and third rounds following an action packed first round Thursday night, a big day for Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon.
The redshirt junior from Kenosha was the 15th overall selection by the San Diego Chargers, who traded up two spots to grab the running back.
Gordon enters a good situation in San Diego, and looks to be an immediate impact player for the Chargers.
With the first round in the books, we turn the page to rounds two and three, to be held tonight in Chicago.
Wisconsin Badgers
Tonight’s rounds will start at 6 p.m. central, and the Badgers have another prospect with a chance to hear his name called: Rob Havenstein.
The offensive lineman is one of two Badgers linemen who have a shot to make and NFL roster, the other being Dallas Lewallen.
Havenstein is a much more polished product, and despite a poor showing at the combine, will likely be taken in the mid rounds because of his game film and Wisconsin pedigree.
In our mock draft recently, we predicted where Havenstein and the rest of the Badgers might fall. Here’s what we said about Havenstein:
Taylor Johnson: Wisconsin has a knack for producing some great offensive linemen that succeed at the next level. Rob Havenstein is another player in a long lineage of linemen that will jump to the NFL and be successful. He’s blocked for some great runners (Montee Ball, James White, Gordon) and has shown on numerous occasions his strength is run blocking.
Do I think he needs to improve on his pass blocking? Absolutely. But I have no doubt in my mind that will happen. He’s a run blocker first and will land on a team that wants to pound the ball on the ground. A team like the Cincinnati Bengals who would like to start establishing the run game even more in the coming years. They also need help at the tackle position. Might be a slight stretch, but I see the Bengals picking Havenstein in the third round.
Cincinnati Bengals, R3 No. 85
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Jon Rzepecki: I have a feeling Rob is going to stay close to home. Not as close as Green Bay, but close enough to pair up with another Wisconsin alumnus in Ohio. After years spent with average to mediocre to maddening quarterback play in Wisconsin, Havenstein showed some truly great work on the run. He’s a solid right tackle prospect that could later transition to left when needed. I think Cleveland takes a look at him in the third, but ends up further south.
Cincinnati Bengals, R3 No. 85
Jim Oxley: Havenstein had a poor showing at the NFL combine, but made amends at his pro day. Still, drills and lifts don’t do justice what Havenstein does on the field. The tape shows he can run block, and NFL teams know it. With their second selection of the third round, I think Havenstein finds himself blocking for another stud running back –Jamaal Charles – out in Kansas City.
Kansas City Chiefs, R3 No. 98 (Compensatory selection)
We’ll find out tonight if Havenstein ends up a second or third round draft pick.