Los Angeles Rams select Wisconsin tackle David Edwards in fifth round of 2019 NFL Draft

In the fifth round with the 169th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams selected Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman David Edwards on Saturday.

A former high school quarterback, Edwards came to Wisconsin as a projected tight end before moving to the offensive line before the 2016 season. He eventually played in 37 career games in cardinal and white, including making 31 starts at the right tackle spot.

In 2017, he claimed first-team All-America honors by the AFCA, second-team nods from the FWAA and Walter Camp, after starting all 14 games. The Big Ten coaches and media also named him a consensus second-team all-conference selection.

Last season, Edwards fought through a reported left shoulder injury that according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus, also included nerve damage. He played in 10 of Wisconsin’s 13 games but did not play in the final three. Despite missing time, he claimed first-team all-Big Ten honors from the media, second-team from the coaches.

On Jan. 1, Edwards declared for the draft. He participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier this year while performing the bench press (16 reps) and positional work during UW’s pro day in March.

“I feel really good,” Edwards said after his pro day performance. “Still building in bench and my upper body just because I wasn’t able to do much in season, but the progress I’ve made in such a short amount of time is, I think, encouraging.”

When asked if teams have shown concern about the injury, Edwards noted “the feedback I’ve gotten medically is it’s all good.”

“It’s all clear and healthy, ready to go. I personally have no concern and I’ve expressed that to the teams and medically, same thing.”

Edwards joins Michael Deiter as those among a long, distinguished list of Wisconsin offensive linemen drafted in the past 20 years. The Miami Dolphins selected Deiter in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night.

Since the 1999 NFL Draft, the following have heard their names called:

• Michael Deiter (third round pick by Miami Dolphins in 2019)
• Ryan Ramczyk (first round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2017)
• Rob Havenstein (second round pick by the now-Los Angeles Rams in 2015)
• Travis Frederick (first round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2013)
• Kevin Zeitler (first round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012)
• Peter Konz (second round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2012)
• Gabe Carimi (first round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2011)
• John Moffitt (third round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2011)
• Bill Nagy (seventh round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2011)
• Kraig Urbik (third round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009)
• Joe Thomas (first round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2007)
• Dan Buenning (fourth round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005)
• Al Johnson (second round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2003)
• Ben Johnson (seventh round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2003)
• Casey Rabach (third round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2001)
• Bill Ferrario (fourth round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2001)
• Chris McIntosh (first round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2000)
• Mark Tauscher (seventh round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2000)
• Aaron Gibson (first round pick by the Detroit Lions in 1999)

The former collegiate right tackle is the fourth Badger to be selected in the draft, as he joins Deiter and linebackers Ryan Connelly and Andrew Van Ginkel as Wisconsin standouts who have heard their name called so far through the end of the fifth round. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins drafted Connelly and Van Ginkel with the 143rd and 151st overall picks, respectively,