The Atlanta Falcons selected Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson with the second pick of the seventh round (No. 218 overall) of the 2025 NFL draft on Saturday.
Nelson becomes the first former Badger selected in this year’s draft. If former transfers are included, he is the third Wisconsin product picked, after Florida‘s Chimere Dike and Graham Mertz went in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively.
Nelson originally joined the Badgers as a five-star recruit in the class of 2020, ranked as the No. 26 overall player in the country, No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 1 in-state player. The Stoughton, Wisconsin, native lived up to that recruiting billing during his five years with the program, starting a total of 50 games, 13 at right guard in 2021, then 37 at left tackle from 2022-24. Highlights of the lineman’s college career include All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2021 and 2022, plus strong ProFootballFocus grades throughout.
The former Badger will likely compete for the Falcons’ backup left tackle job behind starter Jake Matthews. His status on the team’s depth chart will be worth watching once training camp arrives.
red and white ➡️ red and black
Congratulations, @JackNelson755!#MadeInMadison x #NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/uEDM5fnzE8
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 26, 2025
Nelson’s selection in the seventh round is the longest Wisconsin has gone without a player drafted since 1990, when tight end Craig Hudson (10th round) was the first Badger selected. Looking ahead, other Badgers with a chance to be selected are safety Hunter Wohler and guard Joe Huber. Numerous others will likely sign as undrafted free agents.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football tackle Jack Nelson 2025 NFL draft pick
The Atlanta Falcons selected Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson with the second pick of the seventh round (No. 218 overall) of the 2025 NFL draft on Saturday.
Nelson becomes the first former Badger selected in this year’s draft. If former transfers are included, he is the third Wisconsin product picked, after Florida‘s Chimere Dike and Graham Mertz went in the fourth and sixth rounds, respectively.
Nelson originally joined the Badgers as a five-star recruit in the class of 2020, ranked as the No. 26 overall player in the country, No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 1 in-state player. The Stoughton, Wisconsin, native lived up to that recruiting billing during his five years with the program, starting a total of 50 games, 13 at right guard in 2021, then 37 at left tackle from 2022-24. Highlights of the lineman’s college career include All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2021 and 2022, plus strong ProFootballFocus grades throughout.
The former Badger will likely compete for the Falcons’ backup left tackle job behind starter Jake Matthews. His status on the team’s depth chart will be worth watching once training camp arrives.
red and white ➡️ red and black
Congratulations, @JackNelson755!#MadeInMadison x #NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/uEDM5fnzE8
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 26, 2025
Nelson’s selection in the seventh round is the longest Wisconsin has gone without a player drafted since 1990, when tight end Craig Hudson (10th round) was the first Badger selected. Looking ahead, other Badgers with a chance to be selected are safety Hunter Wohler and guard Joe Huber. Numerous others will likely sign as undrafted free agents.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football tackle Jack Nelson 2025 NFL draft pick
