As one of the greatest sports years Wisconsin has ever seen winds down, the NFL Draft provided the state with one more reason to celebrate.
Five former Wisconsin Badgers were selected in this weekend’s draft, the most since 2006, when five were also taken. They have all entered promising situations, where their talents could vault them to the top of their teams’ respective depth charts or their teams’ needs greatly favor their chances for success. In some cases, both hold true.
DE J.J. Watt: Houston Texans, Round 1, Pick 11
Defensive end J.J. Watt was the first Badger to go, as the Houston Texans selected him with the 11th pick in the first round. After a team MVP-season that saw the 6-foot-6, 292-pound Watt record 62 tackles (21 for loss), seven sacks, three fumbles caused, two recovered and one interception, the Pewaukee native enters a very welcoming situation in Houston. The Texans had the NFL’s 30th-ranked defense last season, allowing 376.9 yards per game. Houston also recorded only 30 sacks in 2010, tied for 23rd in the league.
Watt will step in and immediately challenge for the starting defensive end spot opposite Mario Williams, one of the top young ends in the league. In five seasons, Williams has 230 tackles, 48 sacks and 10 forced fumbles. New Texans defensive coordinator – and former Dallas Cowboys head coach – Wade Phillips will likely want as many pass rushers on the field as possible, obviously favoring Watt’s chances to get on the field.
OT Gabe Carimi: Chicago Bears, Round 1, Pick 29
At the scouting Combine in February, offensive tackle Gabe Carimi declared himself the top tackle in the draft. Though some scouts were ultimately turned off by Carimi’s boasting, he couldn’t really be faulted after winning the 2011 Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and anchoring the left side of the offensive line with John Moffitt (see below). In four seasons at UW, the 6-foot-7, 314-pound Carimi succeeded perennial Pro-Bowler Joe Thomas and started a full 13 in three of them (he missed three due to injury in 2008).
Carimi’s talent is undeniable, but the question he must answer is where he is most suited to play in the NFL. Carimi played only left tackle at Wisconsin, but throughout the draft process, he was commonly characterized as most likely to end up on the right side. Whenever the NFL labor situation is resolved and training camps can occur, the Bears will determine the best fit for their O-line in front of quarterback Jay Cutler. For now, it appears last year’s right tackle J’Marcus Webb will man the left tackle spot, as he is typically regarded as more athletic.
TE Lance Kendricks: St. Louis Rams, Round 2, Pick 15 (47th overall)
Through his four years at Wisconsin, Lance Kendricks continued to enhance the reputation of the Badgers’ tight end lineage. Following in the footsteps of Owen Daniels, Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham, Kendricks was one of the nation’s top tight ends last year. He finished with 43 catches, 663 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and was a runner-up for the Mackey Award (given annually to the nation’s top tight end).
In St. Louis, Kendricks will have a chance to contribute immediately. However, the Rams’ offense is still growing under last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford figures to improve, but the Rams’ offense is still a work in progress. All-Pro running back Steven Jackson has played in 12 games or more every one of his seven seasons in the league, and last year he received 330 carries. He finished with 1,241 yards, giving him the lowest yards per carry average of his career, 3.8. St. Louis’ wide receivers are also largely uninspiring – Donnie Avery is the most accomplished of the group, but even he’s not guaranteed a roster spot as he attempts to return from ACL surgery.
Former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is now the Rams’ offensive coordinator, and he figures to gear the offense significantly toward the tight ends. The Rams currently have seven tight ends on the roster, and Michael Hoomanawanui appears to have the inside track on the starting role, though he’s hardly a lock. As a second-round pick, Kendricks will have a solid opportunity to work his way through St. Louis’ depth chart and provide Bradford with a reliable receiving option.
OG John Moffitt: Seattle Seahawks, Round 3, Pick 11 (75th overall)
After drafting Alabama’s offensive tackle/guard James Carpenter with the 25th pick in the first round, the Seahawks selected offensive guard John Moffitt with the 11th pick in the third round (they didn’t have a second-round pick). Both are expected to be week 1 starters for Seattle, and Moffitt may switch from left to right guard next to Carpenter.
The 6-foot-4, 319-pound Moffitt was an Associated Press first-team All-American and a consensus (coaches and media) first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2010 after starting all 13 games alongside Carimi. With Moffitt and Carpenter now in the fold, the Seahawks have a young, rugged offensive line that has the potential to develop into one of the best in the NFC. Seattle drafted left tackle Russell Okung with the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft, and he started 10 games in 2010. The Seahawks have questions at quarterback (Matt Hasselbeck is reportedly unlikely to return, leaving unproven Charlie Whitehurst as the top QB), but their receiving core (Benjamin Obomanu, Mike Williams and Golden Tate) is young and promising.
OG/C Bill Nagy: Dallas Cowboys, Round 7, Pick 49 (252nd overall)
Offensive guard/center Bill Nagy was two picks away from being 2011’s Mr. Irrelevant, the title given/forced upon the final pick in the draft every year. Yet, the Dallas Cowboys gave Nagy a shot with their second pick (a compensatory pick) in the seventh round.
Nagy likely won’t be a starter for Dallas, but his versatility – he played right guard, center and blocking tight end at UW, sometimes all in one game – was likely what caught Dallas’ eye. The 6-foot-2, 302-pound Nagy isn’t an elite athlete by any means, but he will provide solid depth on the O-line and at tight end for a team that desperately needs to better protect quarterback Tony Romo, who missed 10 games last season with a broken left clavicle.
Mike is a junior majoring in journalism and communication arts. What do you think of these five former Badgers’ NFL prospects? Let him know at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @mikefiammetta.
