New Faces in the NFL

Just in case you've been on the moon for the past week...the NFL draft was this weekend, and three new Badgers are now part of the NFL.

Both O'Brien Schofield and Garrett Graham were selected in the fourth round of the draft on Saturday. Graham was the first to be selected on day three by the Houston Texans, and Schofield was selected later in the fourth round by the Arizona Cardinals.

Graham will be joining perhaps the deepest group of tight ends in the NFL in Houston, and a joining former Badger, Owen Daniels, who is already part of the Texans franchise. Daniels who graduated in 2005 was a senior at the same time that Graham was being redshirted.

Schofield was perhaps the biggest surprise of the draft...at least in terms of the Wisconsin Badgers that were selected. Schofield who suffered a knee injury during Senior Bowl practice had many questions surrounding him about being drafted becasue of the injury, but the Cardinals apparently chose to roll the dice.

The Cardinals took the gamble becasue they felt he was a first round talent that fell to them because of the injury. Schofield still expects to be ready to play in 2010, and will start running in the coming weeks. He will reportedly start the season on the physically unable to perform list, and will reportedly take an extra six weeks to be ready to play.

The other Badger that will now be strapping on the helmet at the next level is Chris Maragos who was not drafted, but signed a deal with the San Fransisco 49ers.

On the last day of the draft a commentators on ESPN talked about whether or not it would be better to be drafted inthe final round or go into the free-agent market. Ron Jaworski cited the success of Tony Romo who went undrafted and was later signed by Dallas Cowboys...and we all know how that story ended up.

Maragos was also considering becoming a Cowboy but chose to go to San Fransisco. He will head to San Fransisco this Thursday for the rookie mini-camp and officially sign with the 49ers.

The only Badger that was not drafted and is yet to sign a free-agent deal is Jaevery McFadden. There is no word yet when McFadden will sign a deal or with whom that deal could be with, but it is expected that McFadden will sign with a team in the coming days and weeks.