Draft Grades and Reactions from Badger NFL Picks

Two Badgers were taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, center Tanor Bortolini and running back Braelon Allen. Let's how the football world viewed the picks.

C Tanor Bortolini - Indianpolis Colts

USA Today: B+ Unsurprisingly, the uber-athletic Bortolini gets swooped up by Indianapolis here. He was an outstanding tester at the combine and fits easily into zone schemes with his movement skills and balance. His short arms and smaller wingspan overall does give some pause, but he could develop into a center of the future for the Colts. 

Pro Football Network: B+ Ryan Kelly isn’t getting any younger and is in the final year of his contract. Tanor Bortolini future-proofs the position and will only improve with a year of learning behind Kelly.

Bleacher Report: B Bortolini posted one of the best all-around workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine. He finished among the top two offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (4.94 seconds), short shuttle (4.28) and three-cone drill (7.16). Oh, Bortolini definitely fits the Indianapolis Colts' athletic preferences to a tee. More importantly, he can be a long-term replacement for center Ryan Kelly, who will be a free agent after this season.

Bortolini received mostly positive marks with B's across the board for the most part. The combine hero raised his stock by posting some crazy times and even an NFL record. Many people predict him as a backup for now, but the Ryan Kelly heir apparent. As a fourth round pick, he'll have some time to progress until he's ready to start.

RB Braelon Allen - New York Jets

New York Post: B- Breece Hall is an unquestioned three-down back, but the 235-pound Allen might absorb some of the big hits on third- or fourth-and-short, and steal some short-yardage touchdowns. He rushed for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns in 35 career games.

USA Today: B Allen's one of the biggest running backs in the class at 235 pounds and one of the youngest (he'll turn 21 in January). He's a bruising back who thrives in short yardage but has the speed to make a quick cut and go. He's not as elusive but, paired with Breece Hall with the Jets, offers a different skill set and the pass blocking to stay on the field on third down.

Bleacher Report: B+ The New York Jets already had speedy ball-carriers in the backfield in Breece Hall and Israel Abanikanda. Allen's build brings a completely different dynamic to the running back room. The Jets coaching staff will almost certainly want Allen to change up his running style just slightly and be the short-yard banger.

Pro Football Network: C+ Braelon Allen is a fierce downhill rusher who is set to be the latest professional off the Wisconsin Badgers running back production line. He’ll give the Jets a weapon that can grind out short-down yardage and be a dangerous goal-line threat.

Allen graded similarly to Bortolini with mostly B grades. With running backs seemingly diminishing in value in recent years, the fourth round seems like good value for Allen. He was incredibly productive at Wisconsin and still jut 20 years old. He will be the thunder to Breece Hall's lightning in New York.

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