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Day 2 of the NFL Draft saw the first Wisconsin Badgers get selected as running back Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts) and edge rusher Zack Baun (New Orleans Saints) were taken off the board on Friday night.
The Packers (and the Eagles siiiiiggggghhhhhh) continued to make baffling picks at an alarming rate but alas, the draft moves on. Day 3 will see rounds four through seven happen and a couple of Badgers still hope to hear their names called by an increasingly comfortable looking Roger Goodell.
With the last pick in the fourth round, No. 146, the Dallas Cowboys added to the long Wisconsin tradition of producing NFL offensive lineman, especially centers in Dallas, by selecting Tyler Biadasz. The Cowboys traded up with division rival Philadelphia to get Biadasz, so you know they must’ve wanted him.
With the 146th pick in the 2020 #NFLDraft the #DallasCowboys select center @tylerbiadasz from @BadgerFootball! #CowboysDraft@millerlite | #ItsMillerTime pic.twitter.com/2hcOANfove
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 25, 2020
The Cowboys were looking for a replacement at the center position after the retirement of former Badger Travis Frederick this offseason. They didn’t need to look any further than Madison and they found one. While Biadasz might not start from day one, he has the potential to be the answer to the center position for a decade for Dallas.
Biadasz came back to school in 2019 and capped off an excellent Wisconsin career by becoming the first Badgers player to ever win the Rimington Award, handed out annually to the nation’s top center.
He was an Outland Trophy finalist, unanimous first-team All-American (AFCA, AP, FWAA, Sporting News, Walter Camp), first-team All-Big Ten (consensus) and an Academic All-Big Ten (third straight year) performer. He also allowed just one sack in 390 pass blocking snaps.
"What are they getting?"
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 25, 2020
They're getting the nation's top center as a Rimington Trophy winner, a hard worker, a great teammate and leader@DallasCowboys meet @TylerBiadasz pic.twitter.com/0UFcNuWdxh
As a redshirt sophomore in 2018 he was named All-America honorable mention (College Football News), first-team All-Big Ten (consensus) and Academic All-Big Ten and as a redshirt freshman in 2017 he was Freshman All-America (FWAA, USA Today), third-team All-Big Ten (consensus) and Academic All-Big Ten. He was also rated as nation’s top center in 2018 by Pro Football Focus (88.7 grade).
The team captain, and native of Amherst, started all 41 games at center in his three-year career and helped Taylor set rushing records, win back to back Doak Walker Awards and get selected in the second round of the NFL Draft. He could be a stalwart on the Cowboys offensive line for years to come