The Wisconsin Badgers put up a goose egg in the 2026 NFL Draft. Not having an NFL draft pick for the first time since 1978. It's a rock bottom moment for Luke Fickell and his development program. However, there is a flood of signings happening for Badgers in the NFL as UDFAs. Here's every publicly reported Badger UDFA signing.
Wisconsin Badgers UDFAs:
Mason Reiger - Miami Dolphins
Vinny Anthony II - Atlanta Falcons
Lance Mason - Seattle Seahawks
Darrell Peterson III - Los Angeles Rams
Austin Brown - Indianapolis Colts
Ben Barten - New York Giants
Riley Mahlman - Atlanta Falcons
Jackson Acker - Buffalo Bills
Nyzier Fourqurean - Los Angeles Rams
Parker Petersen - Carolina Panthers
Jay'viar Suggs - New Orleans Saints
This is a big list, and it's the entire group of players who were listed as Badgers and could sneak into the draft. However, none were taken, and now all are scrambling for NFL contracts after going undrafted. There are also those on the tier below who are looking for Rookie Minicamp invites.
Those invites tend to roll out after all the UDFA signings, and the only two known for sure is Jayden Ballard and Nathaniel Vakos.
#Badgers Jayden Ballard invited to rookie minicamp with the Titans and Colts, per @AaronWilson_NFL
— Christian Borman (@christianborman) April 26, 2026
It was a disappointing NFL draft for the Wisconsin Badgers, but if somehow a few of these players strike out into the NFL via UDFA contracts, that would be a win that Luke Fickell and Wisconsin need desperately.
The shock was not seeing Mason Reiger's name called. His medicals must not be as clean as the NFL wants them to be. Some mock drafts even had him going up as high as the 4th round, and he was ranked around the No. 150th player by most draft websites. Yet, he went undrafted.
The other Badgers on the list were mostly destined for the UDFA contracts. Vinny Anthony II was the next closest in the rankings, but not many thought he would find his way into the draft. Lance Mason was also a possibility and was even the final pick of the final ESPN mock draft.
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