Wisconsin Football Offensive Lineman Gaining Some NFL Draft Buzz

The University of Wisconsin football program hasn’t had an offensive lineman selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2017. However, the Badgers have a tackle gaining some buzz heading into 2024. 

Wisconsin Badgers starting right tackle Riley Mahlman has been highlighted as an ‘offensive tackle to know ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft’ according to Pro Football Focus analyst Max Chadwick. 

“After missing nearly half of his redshirt freshman season with an injury, Mahlman took a major leap as a redshirt sophomore,” Chadwick wrote. “In 2023, the right tackle was the sixth-most valuable offensive tackle in the country according to our wins above average metric. 

“Mahlman’s 78.1 PFF grade was a top-15 mark among Power Five tackles as was his 73.1 run-blocking grade. He was also among the 20 best Power Five offensive tackles in pressure rate allowed (3%).”

Wisconsin Football Needs a Big Season From Riley Mahlman 

Riley Mahlman, a multi-year stalwart on the Wisconsin football offensive line, is poised to return as the Badgers’ starting right tackle in 2024. 

The 6-foot-8 Minnesota native has a solid track record, having started all 13 games in the 2023 season and six in 2022. That number would have been even higher if it had not been for an injury as a redshirt freshman. 

His performance last season earned Mahlman a Pro Football Focus grade of 74.4, marking the highest rating among Wisconsin football linemen and the fifth highest in the Big Ten conference. Mahlman is also arguably the top pass-blocking option on the Badgers roster, registering a 96.9 EFF. 

Heading into 2024, Mahlman is set for what could be his most impressive collegiate season yet as he aims to solidify his position as one of the top tackles in the conference — if not the entire country. However, the pieces around him must also continue adapting to the spread offense under Phil Longo and new offensive line coach AJ Blazek. 

With a year’s experience under their belts, Mahlman and his fellow linemen are anticipated to take a big jump as a unit and help elevate the offense as a whole, which averaged its lowest scoring total in 19 years.