Tyler Mason:

Four Badgers were drafted in this past weekend’s NFL draft,
with two more signing on with teams as free agents shortly thereafter. But one
of those UW alumni will make a better pro than the rest: kicker Taylor
Mehlhaff, a sixth round of the Saints.

It’s tough to judge which Badger will have the best career
in the NFL, as they all play different positions. But there are some
characteristics and scenarios that set Mehlhaff apart from the rest.

At the collegiate level, few kickers have had the success
Mehlhaff had. He left Wisconsin as the team’s all-time leader in extra points
made and attempted (145-for-148), and his 295 career points in three years as a
starter was the second-most all-time at UW.

Besides, look at the situation he’s walking into. The only
kicker currently on the New Orleans roster prior to Mehlhaff’s arrival was
32-year-old Martin Gramatica, a journeyman who has also kicked with the
Buccaneers, Colts and Cowboys.

If a kicker’s been a part of that many teams in a nine-year
career, chances are he’s not a franchise kicker.

Mehlhaff has a chance to be that guy, someone who can last
with the Saints for many years to come. He’s got the leg strength — 123 of his
kickoffs at Wisconsin went through the endzone for touchbacks — and his
accuracy has always been above average. There’s no reason Mehlhaff shouldn’t
challenge Gramatica right away for the kicking job.

It also helps that he’s a character guy, not having to deal
with legal issues (cough, Jack Ikegwuonu) before suiting up with the Saints.

Oh, and I heard he and Reggie Bush are BFFs.

?

The kick is up. Mehlhaff’s good.

Mike Ackerstein:

Jack Ikegwuonu may not see the field at all in 2008, but
he’s still the recently drafted Badger most likely to find success in the NFL
over the course of his career.

The cornerback’s injury after declaring for the draft
certainly hurt his stock a bit (he was drafted in the fourth round with the
131st pick), but it also means he’ll have a year without pressure to learn what
goes into being a solid defensive player.

Everyone in Philadelphia knows Ikegwuonu won’t be ready
to play this year, and he’ll likely be left alone to learn the Eagles defensive
schemes as well as how to act off of the field.

For a player red-flagged for “character issues,” this
downtime could prove to be valuable in keeping him in the league for years to
come.

In his three seasons at Wisconsin, Ikegwuonu displayed a
mix of brilliant plays and boneheaded ones, but its clear he has the potential
to be great. All he needs to do is to become more consistent, and that’s
something that comes with time and experience.

He’s got the physical tools to be an NFL star — now it’s
just waiting for the mental ones to catch up. This season is his chance to do
so, and when he does put it all together, watch out, because the man who both
Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. at times called “Jake” is going to make his name
known.

Jack Ikegwuonu will definitely not be the first Badger
drafted in 2008 to see playing time, but he’s the one who will make the most of
it.

?

Jack’s coming back strong, Ikegwuonu for the win.