NFL Draft 2020: Chris Orr signs with Carolina Panthers as UDFA

The Wisconsin Badgers had four players drafted over the three day long NFL Draft this weekend. Shockingly, probably only to Badgers fans however, inside linebacker Chris Orr was not among the players to hear his name called.

However, immediately after the draft concluded the Carolina Panthers signed him as an undrafted free agent. Orr announced it via his Twitter account by using the Panthers hashtag “Keep Pounding.”

For his senior year, Orr was named a Lott IMPACT Trophy semifinalist, second-team All-Big Ten (consensus), Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 15) and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 30). He also recorded 11.5 sacks as a senior in 2019, the most in a season by an inside/middle linebacker in school history. He recorded 78 tackles, including 14.0 TFLs, on the year.

During his career in Madison he collected 187 tackles, 20.0 TFLs, 14.0 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and four fumble recoveries.

His brother Zach played linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens from 2014-16 and was also an UDFA. Zach was named a second team all-pro in 2016 before his career was cut short due to injury. He’s now an analyst with the Ravens.

Orr, a native of DeSoto, Texas, was a team captain his senior year and was probably the de facto team spokesperson from the locker room. The Panthers used all of their draft picks on defensive players this year, although none of them were linebackers, and may have gotten one of the better ones for their 2020 class after the draft was over.