The Wisconsin Badgers didn’t hear any of their names called in the NFL Draft, but that didn’t stop the NFL from taking a big swing on their rookie class. A record-setting 12 Badgers landed undrafted free agent deals, and that kind of crowd always creates a simple question: who actually has a real shot to survive cutdown day?
Two of those 12 are already out of the picture. Mason Reiger was cut because of injury, and Jackson Acker lost the fullback battle in Buffalo. That leaves 10 still fighting for a 53-man roster spot, and three of them have separated themselves from the pack.
Vinny Anthony II of the Atlanta Falcons looks like the safest bet of the bunch. He’s been showing up on offense in every preseason game, and the Falcons have clearly found ways to use his versatility.
In the final preseason game, Anthony put together a strong all-around outing with a 52-yard kick return, three catches for 21 yards on four targets, and the highest snap total among Atlanta wide receivers at 27. There’s been one negative sign along the way, though it may be easy to overread a coach’s comment.
Even with that, the momentum feels pointed in one direction, and one Falcons expert has already projected Anthony onto the final 53.
Darryl Peterson III has made the kind of late push that gets attention fast. The Los Angeles Rams handed him the game ball after their final preseason game, and he earned it with two sacks, including a strip sack that sealed the win.
He was still a long shot not long ago, but his last couple of preseason performances have changed the conversation. The Rams gave him a huge workload too, playing him 42 snaps.
Even if he doesn’t stick on the roster, he looks like a strong candidate for a practice squad spot or another team in need of help on the edge and along the defensive line.
Nyzier Fourqurean has also forced his way into the discussion with the Rams. Badger fans already knew what he could do, but after being unable to play last year because of a ridiculous NCAA verdict, he had to take the longer road into the NFL.
He’s kept proving doubters wrong, and this preseason has been another step in that run. Fourqurean was battling Al'zillion Hamilton for a defensive back job, and Hamilton was cut ahead of the 53-man roster announcement.
That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it certainly leaves Fourqurean in position to make the team. And even if he comes up short, he’s already shown enough to belong in the league.
In Other News...
Jim Leonhard Is Giving Badgers Fans A New NFL Reason To Watch
Jim Leonhard is already giving Wisconsin fans a fresh NFL reason to keep an eye on Buffalo. After landing the Bills defensive coordinator job last winter, the former Badgers standout has spent the preseason showing off the kind of defensive structure and aggressiveness that made him such a respected figure in Madison, with Buffalos defense piling up pressure and taking the ball away at a healthy clip.
Through the exhibition slate, the Bills have put up 10 sacks, four interceptions and held opponents to an average of 15.6 points per game under Leonhards watch. It is still only preseason, so the real test will come once the games count, but for Badgers supporters, the early returns are enough to make Buffalo a more interesting TV watch than it was a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Billy Edwards Jr. Just Reopened A Frustrating Wisconsin What-If
Billy Edwards Jr. stepped into the opening-game spotlight for North Carolina against TCU and gave Wisconsin fans a fresh reminder of how quickly a quarterback story can turn into a what-if. The former Badgers target completed 16 of 28 passes for 238 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, and was sacked three times in a game that ended with a win for UNC.
Edwards told ESPN it was his first game and he did not play his best, but he was glad to come away with the victory. For Wisconsin, the intrigue is less about the box score than the alternate path it hints at, especially with Trech Kekauna also seeing limited chances after three catches for 38 yards and a fumble. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Faces An Early Reality Check Against Notre Dame
Wisconsins season opens with a measuring-stick test right away, and it is hard to imagine a cleaner one than Notre Dame. The Badgers have reason to feel better about the back end of their defense after an offseason of work in the secondary, but Week 1 brings an opponent with championship ambitions and an offense built to pressure every weak spot. For Wisconsin, the assignment is less about style points and more about finding out quickly whether the programs push back toward respectability has real traction.
Notre Dame comes in with CJ Carr at quarterback and enough scheme flexibility to make the Badgers defend the whole field, which is exactly the kind of challenge that can expose a team before September even settles in. Wisconsin should have a chance to compete if its improved secondary holds up and the rest of the defense can keep the game manageable, but this still feels like the kind of opener that tells you a lot about where the Badgers stand. The bigger question is whether they can turn that hope into a showing that keeps the margin of the conversation from getting away from them. [Read more 🡒]