Earlier today, our friends at DraftWire put out top 20 rankings by position for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Multiple Badgers across a wide variety of positions were included. Jonathan Taylor led the way for the running backs as the top overall ranked prospect at his position. The two-time Doak Walker Award winner was followed by Georgia’s D’Andre Swift and fellow Big Ten star J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio State. It would certainly be a surprise to not see Taylor as the first running back off the board come draft day. The question remains as to whether he is taken in round one on Thursday or has to wait until Friday to hear his name called.
Chris Orr, a player who has seen his stock rapidly rise after a sensational senior season followed by a solid Wisconsin pro day, was ranked as the tenth best linebacker. The rankings considered Badger ‘backer Zack Baun as an “edge defender,” and had the Brown Deer (Wisc.) native listed as the sixth best overall prospect at that position.
Former Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz was listed as the eighth best interior offensive lineman. Expect the 6-3 lineman to be the third Badger off the board, after Baun and Taylor respectively.
Rounding out the Badger appearances in USA TODAY’s rankings was wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who clocked in as the 18th overall prospect at his position. After a strong Wisconsin pro day performance where Cephus improved his 40-yard dash time from 4.73 at the combine to 4.58 on pro day, the Georgia native will hope to hear his name called near the end of this weekend.