The Wisconsin Badgers had a rough go of it at the draft, having no players selected until the 7th round, which hasn't happened for more than thirty-five years. It's okay for fans to downplay it or simply shrug and move on, but the bad news is that unless some players really shine this season, it's set up to happen again in 2026.
The 2025 NFL Draft was a hard watch if you pay attention to Wisconsin football, as you got to see multiple former players selected before any Badgers, like Chimere Dike and Graham Mertz. You also got to see the Wisconsin band before any selections. It was frustrating in many ways, for it's a reminder of things at a low point and a reminder of how it's even affecting current draft stock.
Hunter Wohler is better than a 7th-round pick, and he will prove it. Jack Nelson is, too. So, it was frustrating to watch them slip to the bottom of the NFL Draft.
2026 NFL Draft Mocks don't have much hope for Wisconsin Badgers
The "Way-Too-Early" mock drafts are rolling out, and there hasn't been one that features a Wisconsin Badger. If you see one, please let us know by hitting us up on X. The reality is that it is "way too early" for a reason. There's still so much time for some Wisconsin Badgers to show up this season and rise up the boards.
Right now, there are only a few players listed at all in the NFL Draft Big Boards. There is a site that compiles all the consensus player projections, and a couple of Badgers are listed. Offensive lineman Riley Mahlman is listed at 172, Ricardo Hallman is listed at 175, and Tackett Curtis is listed at 216. These are very similar rankings to what was projected for Hunter Wohler, Jack Nelson, and Joe Huber for this season.
Wisconsin needs a few players to shine and take off this season, not just for their NFL Draft stock but also for the Badgers to have a winning season with a bowl game appearance. As the program gets back on track, the NFL Draft prospects will follow.