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Two Badgers go on Day 1 of the NFL Draft

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T.J. Watt – 42

Wisconsin outside linebacker T.J. Watt and left tackle Ryan Ramczyk both thought they would hear their name called a little earlier, but when the smoke cleared, both ended up as first round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Watt and Ramczyk became the seventh and eighth Badgers in the last ten years to become first-round picks.  Watt was taken with the 30th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ramczyk was chosen 32nd overall by the New Orleans Saints.

The pair became the 30th and 31st first-round picks in UW history. [Read more…]

Packers trade out of NFL’s first round

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From left, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Ted Thompson and president Mark Murphy look on in the draft room at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. Photo courtesy of the Green Bay Packers/Evan Siegle

The Green Bay Packers moved out of the first round, sending the 29th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns for the Browns first pick in the second round, number-33 overall.  The Packers also get the Browns pick in round four, which is the first pick of day number three.

It’s the 20th time that Ted Thompson has traded down since taking over as the Packers general manager.

The Browns used the 29th pick on University of Miami TE David Njoku.

Trading down means the Packers won’t have a first round pick for the first time [Read more…]

Packers hold 29th pick in tonight’s NFL Draft

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The Green Bay Packers have many needs heading into the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft tonight.  Cover corner and a pass rusher top the list.

After losing Sam Shields, the Packers struggled in the secondary last season.  They also struggled to rush the passer and will enter the season without one of their top pressure players in Julius Peppers, who signed a free agent deal with Carolina.

They’re hoping Clay Matthews can stay healthy this season after he had one of his worst seasons.

They could go the corner route right away, and if the player or players they want aren’t available at that position, then a pass rushing outside linebacker could be on the agenda.  State football fans would love to see them take Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt, although Missouri’s Charles Harris is considered to be a better bet. [Read more…]

Ramczyk to undergo hip surgery

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Ryan Ramczyk (Photo by David Stluka).

Wisconsin Badger junior left tackle Ryan Ramczyk is getting ready for the Cotton Bowl matchup against Western Michigan on Jan. 2.  After that game, Ramczyk will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum.

The injury could affect Ramczyk’s draft stock.  The former Stevens Point standout is considering jumping to the NFL a year early.  But the surgery, which has a roughly four-month recover time, would prevent Ramczyk from working out for NFL teams.

Ramczyk projects now as a first round pick, but missing the NFL Combine, UW’s Pro Day and other potential workouts could change that.

Ramczyk must decide whether or not he will enter the draft by Jan. 18.

The circumstances of the surgery could lead Ramczyk back to Madison for his senior season, but that is just speculation at this point.

Packers reach agreement with third-round pick

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Packers logoThe Green Bay Packers have reached a contract agreement with third-round draft pick Kyler Fackrell on a four-year rookie deal.

The outside linebacker from Utah State, becomes the sixth of seven draft picks to agree to terms with the Packers.  Only Kenny Clark, the teams first round pick out of UCLA, remains unsigned.

The Packers picked Fackrell with the 88th overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Fackrell was held to three years on the field after a redshirt year and a season-ending knee injury during his junior season.  He still finished with 12 career sacks and 36 tackles for loss.

He turns 25 in November, is almost two years removed from the torn ACL that sidelined him for nearly all of the 2014 season.

Scouts questioned his mobility post-injury last year, the front office and coaching staff in Green Bay all believe Fackrell will rebound nicely.

AUDIO: Fackrell feels he was 100% just a year removed from ACL surgery :14

AUDIO: Kyler Fackrell says this all becomes real right away :19

Badgers Gordon heading to San Diego, while HS teammate going to Vikings

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Melvin Gordon

Melvin Gordon

The San Diego Chargers wanted to make sure they picked up a weapon in the NFL Draft, so they traded up two spots to secure former Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon with the 15th pick overall.

Gordon, who finished as a Heisman Award finalist and the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year, becomes the fourth consecutive Wisconsin back to be drafted and the first since 2001.

For the UW program, Gordon’s selection is the 29th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft, and extends a consecutive years streak of having a player drafted to 37.

Gordon helped Wisconsin to a Big Ten West Division title and an Outback Bowl victory in his final season.

In high school, he played alongside Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes at Kenosha Bradford, winning a WIAA Division 1 state title in 2011. Waynes was taken four spots ahead of Gordon by the Minnesota Vikings.

Packers make surprise pick with safety Damarious Randall in NFL Draft’s 1st Round

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Packers GM Ted Thompson

Packers GM Ted Thompson

In need of help at the cornerback position, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson selected defensive back Damarious Randall out of Arizona State with the 30th pick in the NFL Draft.

Randall, who ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, played free safety for the Sun Devils, but will likely be part of the cornerback rotation with the Packers.

Green Bay lost corners Tramon Williams and Davon House to free agency, creating a depth issue in the defensive secondary.

Thompson described the 5’11’, 190-pounder as an “athlete”, “heady”, and “a football player”.

Randall had three interceptions, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 8.2 tackles per game during his senior season, earning him All-Pac 12 First Team honors. Sports Illustrated listed him as an honorable mention All-American. [Read more…]

Packers will enter NFL Draft with nine selections

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Packers GM Ted Thompson

Packers GM Ted Thompson

It is no secret that Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson takes pride in collecting draft picks.

More than a month out from the April 30-May 2 NFL Draft in Chicago, the Packers have been awarded two additional compensatory picks.

The sixth-round selections, Nos. 210 and 212, are a result of net losses in free agency the previous season. Last offseason, Green Bay lost four unrestricted free agents, the biggest of which were center Evan Dietrich-Smith and receiver James Jones. [Read more…]

A look back at the NFL Draft (VIDEO)

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Here’s a look back at the 2013 NFL Draft.  I appeared with Missourinet’s Bill Pollock and Kevin McCrarey from the South Carolina Radio Network, a pair of co-workers.  Bill Pollock covers the Rams and Chiefs for the Missourinet and Kevin covers the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, but more importantly, resides right in the middle of SEC Country.

Packers use 6th round pick on Nate Palmer

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Nate Plamer

Nate Plamer

The Packers late round run on defense continues as the Packers tab Illinois State OLB Nate Palmer in the 6th round with the 193rd pick in the draft.

Palmer’s college career started at Illinois before he transferred to Illinois State after his Sophomore Season.  He did earn Academic All-Big Ten honors as a Freshman with the Illini.

He played two seasons at Illinois State earning All-Missouri Valley Conference 2nd team honors both seasons.  Palmer put up big numbers as a defensive end with the RedBirds recording 17-sacks and 25.5 tackles-for-loss in two seasons.

At 240 pounds, Palmer will make the move to outside linebacker in the NFL.