[lawrence-newsletter]
Much has been written about the five former Badgers that made it to the NFL last week–Jonathan Taylor, Zack Baun, Tyler Biadasz, Quintez Cephus and Chris Orr–and how their draft slot and landing spot affects their NFL future.
What hasn’t been nearly as documented is what effect the draft had on former Badgers already in the NFL, especially the ones who may have already been in a position where they needed to battle for a role on the team.
Now, a team using its 5th and 6th round picks on a player at the same position of a Wisconsin product doesn’t necessarily mean that player will soon be out of the door.
Once it becomes a high selection, though, is when the veterans in the league are sometimes cast aside in favor of the younger, cheaper option at the position.
Here’s how the 2020 NFL Draft affects the jobs and playing time of former Badgers already in the NFL.
T.J. Edwards (Philadelphia Eagles)
Edwards surprised many in Philadelphia as he finished the 2019 season as a starter at middle linebacker after making the team as an undrafted free agent.
Joining the starting rotation with low expectations after injuries to Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nigel Bradham, Edwards actually became the team’s best at the position and finished the season with a ProFootballFocus grade of 86.6.
During the NFL Draft, though, the Eagles used their third round pick on Colorado linebacker Davion Taylor, the highest the team has drafted a linebacker since 2015.
While it will take a year or two for Taylor to gain experience and learn the position–as he didn’t play in games until he reached college–and it may still be him and Edwards as the two starters, the Eagles brought in competition at the position and clearly view it as a need for the team going forward.
Edwards’ job isn’t in jeopardy with this move, but it adds competition to the room as Edwards tries to continue to prove wrong the teams that didn’t take a chance on him during the draft.
Edwards | Deiter | Jacobs | Dixon & Ogunbowale | Fumagalli | Nelson | Zeitler