The first 32 picks of the 2020 NFL draft came and went for Badger hopefuls, and in the end Wisconsin did not have a first round selection for the third straight season. Despite the day one disappointment, it should not take long for a pair of Badgers to fly off the board on day two.
If I had told you before tonight that the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs had gone with a running back at 32, there would be a solid chance that you would think it was Badger legend Jonathan Taylor that had snuck into the first round. In one of the more surprising selections of the first round, the Chiefs took the first running back off the board with the final pick of the round. It was not the fact that the Super Bowl champions took a running back that shocked many, but rather who they took. Instead of Taylor, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift, or Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, the Chiefs went with former LSU Tiger Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Running backs falling due to concerns about longevity and other skills positions being particularly deep this year was no surprise, although the LSU product being the first back off the board was certainly a shocker.
Wisconsin ‘backer Zack Baun will also have to wait until day two to hear his name called. A plethora of teams addressed defense in the late 20’s, which was the area where Baun had a chance to go on day one, although the first-team all Big Ten performer did not hear his name.
In looking ahead to day two, Baun seems to be the more likely Badger to be selected first. The New York Giants picking at 36 overall (fourth pick of the round) are a team that certainly has needs all over a unit that finished in the bottom eight last season in total defense. The Wisconsin native has been linked to the Giants in multiple mock drafts on USA TODAY’s DraftWire over the course of the past few weeks. If Baun slips past 36, the Miami Dolphins at 39 seems like another possible destination. The Dolphins used their three first round picks on QB Tua Tagovailoa, OT in Austin Jackson, and CB Noah Igbinoghene. The front of the defense will be something that Coach Brian Flores and company will be looking to sure up on day two. It would certainly be surprising to see Baun slip past 39. This is the NFL Draft, however, so always expect the unexpected.
For Taylor, the path now seems extremely uncertain. With Edwards-Helaire being the surprise first back off the board, that now leaves the consensus top three backs in the class still on the board. The Chicago Bears are still looking for a workhorse back, and have two second round selections at 43 and 50 overall respectively. The Los Angeles Chargers at 52 provide arguably the most sensible fit with former Wisconsin Badger and Chargers running back Melvin Gordon now a Denver Bronco. Do not be surprised to see LA transition from one Badger workhorse to another. If Taylor is still on the board at 56, do not rule out the Dolphins, a team in desperate need of a franchise back, who secured an extra second rounder by way of New Orleans.
Despite the disappointment for Baun and Taylor as two players who had chances to be first round picks, day two is revving up to be an extremely exciting one for the pair of former Badgers.