The 2025 NFL Draft has come to a close, and Wisconsin fans had to wait until the very end to see any Badgers get selected. It was a disappointing result for a program who has struggled to produce NFL talent in recent years.
Disappointing draft for Badger football ends with just two late selections
Only two Badgers, safety Hunter Wohler and offensive tackle Jack Nelson, were selected in this year's draft. They both were picked in the seventh round with Nelson going to Atlanta Falcons at pick 218, and Wohler going to the Indianapolis Colts at pick 232. It was the first time in over 30 years a Badger hadn't been chosen before the seventh round. Joe Huber, another NFL Draft hopeful, went undrafted and signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
After only producing two draft picks last season, the Badgers followed it up in 2025 with just two again. Head coach Luke Fickell saw his former Cincinnati cornerback Sauce Gardner get chosen fourth overall in the 2022 draft, but has yet to replicate anything close to that result with Wisconsin. Wisconsin has not had a player selected higher than the fourth round over the past two seasons.
If Wisconsin was seeing success on the field, it may not be such a big deal, but a 5-7 record combined with limited NFL production really shows the worrisome state of the program. The last first round pick out of Wisconsin was in 2017, and the streak will likely continue into next year.
Ultimately seeing success in the Big Ten takes priority, but the lack of NFL prospects from Wisconsin could certainly start to impact recruiting. Hopefully, the 2025 season improves in both areas or the Badgers could be in line for some significant changes.