As the NFL Draft draws closer, Badgers Wire is exploring draft profiles of those who have declared. The basic premise of these articles is to take a brief look at each player. Each column will take a look at each player’s football statistics as well as his physical statistics. Finally, we’ll give a brief summary of what each player offers and where he can be expected to go in the 2020 NFL Draft. Next up is Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz.
One statistic that shows how good Biadasz is as a center — and doesn’t show up on his stat sheet — is the fact that running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 1,900 yards in three straight seasons and won back-to-back Doak Walker Awards in 2018 and 2019. While not everything went through Biadasz, his level of play (a measurement of his ability) was a big reason why Taylor enjoyed such considerable success.
Biadasz is 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds; he typifies Wisconsin power. He has a strong upper body, a solid punch, and knows how to bully people off the line. The biggest knock against him is that he plays a little tall and sometimes relies on his power more than he should. When defensive linemen are able to get low and match power for power, they can bully Biadasz off the line.
Biadasz is easily the best center in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he’s not going to be the top lineman in the draft. That doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of going in Round 1, but early Round 2 seems more likely. There are a number of NFL teams that could use a franchise center. The Cincinnati Bengals seem likely to take Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick.
Biadasz, if taken by the Bengals, would give them the possibility of a Peyton Manning-Jeff Saturday tandem (what the Indianapolis Colts used to create a consistent winner) for years to come. Someone is going to get a quality player with Biadasz. The question is whether Biadasz will get a quality situation with his first NFL landing spot.