Where Wisconsin Football Stars Land in Recent NFL Mock Drafts

We are under two weeks away from the NFL Draft. Wisconsin football will be watching to see where former Badgers will continue their football careers in the NFL.

Right now, the two Badgers most likely to be taken earlier in the draft are running back Braelon Allen and offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini.  After the end of the regular season, Allen was viewed as the top Wisconsin football player in the draft, but things have been changing since the NFL Combine in February.

Tanor Bortolini, officially a center in the draft, has seen his draft stock rise since the Badgers ended their season. He performed well in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Then, he put forth an impressive performance in Indianapolis during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Allen, on the other side of things, did not participate in some of the testing at the Combine. He also didn’t run a 40-yard dash at the Wisconsin football pro day. Because of that, many scouts and GMs don’t have a full picture of his athleticism. Relative Athletic Score (RAS) is a popular tool to measure how athletic a player is. Since Allen didn’t participate in some of the exercises, he doesn’t have an RAS.

Another thing going against Allen is that he is a running back. The position is losing value every year. Despite being the youngest running back in the draft, Allen has a lot of wear and tear on his body. With the position already having a short shelf life in the NFL, teams are going to be hesitant to spend a high-round pick on a running back with an injury history.

So, with about two weeks until we hear their names, here are where Wisconsin football players land in the latest NFL mock drafts from around the internet.

Where Wisconsin Football Players Land in the Latest Mock Drafts

Sep 22, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) celebrates after running for a touchdown during the first half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

RB Braelon Allen

NFL.com – Arizona Cardinals –  Round 4, Pick 104

Just two weeks ago, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter had Allen going in the third round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at pick no. 91. Now he has him dropping another 13 spots into the fourth round. Personally, I think the former Wisconsin football star would fit a lot better in Arizona than Tampa Bay. James Conner is currently their starting running back but will be 29 years old and will be entering the final year of his contract heading into the 2024 season.

This would be a great situation for Allen to come into. He could spend the year as a backup/no.2 back for the Cardinals. Then, assuming Conner would move on in free agency after 2024, Allen would have the opportunity to slip into that starting spot in his second year.

CBS Sports – Green Bay Packers – Round 3, Pick 88

After the Packers signed former Alabama star Josh Jacobs to a big deal and brought back AJ Dillon, I didn’t think the Packers would even consider the Wisconsin football product. But after thinking about it a bit, I could see Allen coming in and getting a few snaps with the Packers during his rookie season while sitting behind Jacobs and Dillon. Dillon signed a very cheap one-year deal to return to Green Bay. I think Allen would effectively slide into that spot the next year if Dillon leaves in free agency.

He and Dillon are relatively similar backs, so it wouldn’t make a ton of sense to have both of them on the roster for more than a year. If the Packers draft the former Wisconsin football star, he could be a part of a very good running back committee in Green Bay with Jacobs.

Dec 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini (63) against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

OL Tanor Bortolini

NFL.com – Los Angeles Chargers – Round 3, Pick 69

Bortolini continues to climb in mock drafts. In Reuter’s last mock draft, he had Bort going no. 91 to the Green Bay Packers. I think the Packers would have been a great fit for him at 91, but he may not be around that late.

The Chargers could need a new center. With All-Pro center Corey Linsley on the verge of retirement, the Chargers signed former Panther center Bradley Bozeman. But many think Bortolini would be able to play guard in the NFL as well. So while he may not have the chance to start for the Chargers if he is drafted there, he could compete for an interior line position.

CBS Sports – San Francisco 49ers – Round 4, Pick 124

I think this could be a pretty good landing for Bortolini too. The 49ers have been one of the top teams in the NFL the past few seasons and are loaded at a lot of positions. The center position isn’t one of them. Veteran Jake Brendel was the starter last year. He received a 66.3 blocking grade, per PFF. That puts him 47th on the list of all centers in the NFL. I think that’s a spot the 49ers would love to fortify.

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