Chris Maragos, a former UW walk-on, was signed as an undrafted free agent Saturday by the San Francisco 49ers.

By: Brian Mosgaller

While only two Wisconsin Badgers were taken in the 2010 NFL Draft, up to four are serious candidates for professional football rosters. Which means that, weary as we may be in the wake of the interminable NFL draft process, it is time to assess the varying fits for the graduating greats of Camp Randall.

Garrett Graham, TE, Houston Texans (Round 4, Pick 118)

To be honest, this pick is a bit perplexing – for obvious reasons. As I’ve said before, Graham is an Owen Daniels clone. Both former Wisconsin tight ends are listed at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds. Both lack ideal athleticism, but counteract it with solid blocking technique, sound route running and sure hands. And now, thanks to this pick, both are Houston Texans.

Now, I guess having two reliable, versatile tight ends isn’t something which should be discouraged. The Texan franchise has yielded a high return on their selection of Daniels, so why not double the pleasure?

And I’m sure Matt Schaub won’t complain. But in what was hailed as an extraordinarily deep draft, weren’t there other areas of greater concern to the young Texas outfit? Especially considering that the Houston roster already features Joel Dreesen, an unexceptional, but serviceable fifth-year tight end, as well as, James Casey, a precocious talent whom the Texans spent a fifth-round pick on last year.

At this point, I’ll give the team the benefit of the doubt. I’d hope they have a plan in place to rid themselves of one of their other TE’s, in order to insure themselves against another Daniels injury with a Daniels look-alike.

As always, we must wait and see.

O’Brien Schofield, DE/OLB, Arizona Cardinals (Round 4, Pick 130)

Contrary to Graham’s head-scratching suitor, the cacti and tumbleweeds are a great backdrop for Schofield.

First and foremost, the NFL’s 2009 runner-up run a 3-4 defensive scheme, which is practically a prerequisite for Schofield’s skill-set. Once he recovers from a devastating ACL tear which he suffered in the week prior to the Senior Bowl, Schofield should compete for an outside linebacker/rush end spot.

In addition, Schofield’s playmaking ability could get him on the field sooner than later, considering the team experienced a mass defensive exodus in the offseason. With the retirement of Bertrand Berry and the free agency departures of Karlos Dansby (to Miami) and Antrel Rolle (to the Giants), the Cardinals will need all the defensive dynamism they can find – an area that Schofield could contribute.

Chris Maragos, S, San Francisco 49ers (Undrafted)

Maragos has never been one for the preferred route. After starting his collegiate career at Western Michigan and then working his way from walk-on to senior captain at Wisconsin, Maragos will once again have to prove himself at the next level.

But despite his undrafted status, the future is bright for the Racine, Wis., native. According to the Racine Journal Times, Maragos heard from a handful of teams, including the Dallas Cowboys and the Niners, within an hour of the draft’s conclusion.

Even though he winds up on a team that spent a second-round pick on a safety (Taylor Mays, USC), Maragos work ethic will surely appeal to hard-nosed head coach Mike Singletary. Also, the opportunity to learn from hard-hitting veteran Michael Lewis can only help Maragos’ development.

While he may not crack the starting depth chart, Maragos could quite reasonably follow the trail blazed by Jim Leonhard, another undersized former-Badger safety who gritted his way to a secure NFL roster spot.

Jaevery McFadden, LB, Free agent (Undrafted)

Unlike his Badger peers, McFadden still has some work to do. According to WKOW-TV in Madison, McFadden has workout dates scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings (April 30-May 2) and the Washington Redskins (May 7-9).

Frankly, both of those teams have relatively solid linebacking corps, so McFadden is competing for special teams duty – but we knew that. The bottom line is, recent Badger linebacker products like DeAndre Levy (Detroit Lions) and Jonathan Casillas (New Orleans Saints) have proved productive on Sundays, and I sincerely hope McFadden catches on somewhere, earning a chance to demonstrate his nose for the ball, which Badger fans know so well.

Garrett Graham, along with classmate O'Brien Schofield, was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

By: Brian Mosgaller

Five years ago, both Garrett Graham and O’Brien Schofield arrived on the UW-Madison campus with little fanfare. Graham, who played tight end, defensive end, punter and kicker at Memorial High in Brick, N.J., was ranked as one of the top 35 tight ends in the country by Rivals.com, and Schofield, out of North Chicago Community High, was listed among the country’s top 25 defensive ends.

Although it was feasible either or both could develop into something special, it would be a stretch to say it was expected.

In that first season, 2005, both Graham and Schofield were saddled with the redshirt distinction, charged with learning the system and developing physically.

The following year, neither saw the field nearly enough to resonate in the minds of fans, even dedicated Badger backers. Graham played in just three games, registering zero catches on the year and failing to letter. Similarly, Schofield found his way off the sideline on five occasions, but recorded donuts in every statistical category.

By 2007, their sophomore year of eligibility, Graham began showing flashes of potential. Cut in the mold of Owen Daniels’ (ironic considering that is who Graham will now be backing up), Graham nabbed 30 passes and four touchdowns for the cardinal-and-white, including career-highs in receptions and yards against Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.

Schofield, however, struggled to crack the rotation, playing in all 13 games, but finishing the year with just eight tackles and one forced fumble. Yet, as a sign of things to come, “OB,” as UW fans passionately refer to him, was given the starting nod in the bowl game versus UT.

From that point on, Graham and Schofield, by then seasoned upperclassmen, welcomed leadership roles both in the locker room and on the field. Playing in a tight end rotation with current-New York Giant Travis Beckum, Graham led the 2008 Badgers in catches, yards and touchdowns. Schofield, finally a full-time fixture on the Badger D-line, notched five sacks and eight-and-a-half tackles for loss, foreshadowing his disruptive capabilities.

Last year, Graham and Schofield capped their careers as they would’ve designed, with Graham racking up career-bests in catches, yards and touchdowns as a primary-target for first-year starting QB Scott Tolzien. While Graham was helping the passing game flourish in ways unimaginable prior to the season, Schofield carried a relatively unstable “D,” ending his senior season among the national leaders in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (24.5).

When their time in the Wisconsin capitol began, Graham and Schofield appeared to be quite different. Graham was a formidable, white tight end from the East Coast. Schofield was an undersized, black D-lineman from the Chicagoland-area, with notable cousins like Bobby Engram (the standout Penn State and NFL receiver) and Vonnie Holliday (the veteran NFL defensive end and one-time Green Bay Packer draft pick).

Yet, on Saturday, in the final session of the Mel Kiper Invitational, their journeys brought them to the same destination: the National Football League.

In fact, their journeys even brought the two incongruent individuals to the same geographic destination: the greater American southwest.

Just as he had reached the field first, Graham was the first off the board, taken with the 118th overall selection by the Houston Texans. Apropos, Schofield wasn’t far behind, nabbed with the 130th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals.

It was a fitting result for two of the first Bret Bielema-era Badgers to reach the NFL. Even if, prima facie, Graham and Schofield seem like an odd couple, their paths have dovetailed since their inaugural seasons at UW. Both took time to develop, blossoming in their final two seasons to become legitimate professional prospects. Both are now a testament to the strength and conditioning program and coaching assets available at Wisconsin.

And both now get our congrats and best wishes as they embark on a new journey, albeit one with a cozier paycheck.

O'Brien Schofield is one of two Badgers likely to be selected this weekend.

By: Brian Mosgaller

Like many departing seniors who are approaching the finish line of college and a pivot point in life, O’Brien Schofield and Garret Graham are seeking gainful employment so they can put their recently acquired skills to good use.

Unlike 99 percent of us, however, Schofield and Graham stand to make hundreds of thousands with their entry-level position. That’s because, of course, either Friday or Saturday (neither will be selected in primetime in tomorrow’s first round) Schofield and Graham and will be getting the phone call notifying them of their NFL marching orders, as well as of the identity of the employer that will soon be handing them a nice, fat signing bonus.

It will be a well-deserved, and well-considered, decision. I mean, just take a gander at the current roster of former-Badger NFLers. Joe Thomas could quite possibly be the best left tackle in football. Casey Rabach, entering his 10th season, just re-upped with Washington for three more years, and Mark Tauscher will return to don the green and gold once again. Owen Daniels is a top-shelf (and improving) tight end, and both Lee Evans and Chris Chambers have been serviceable starting receivers for year. And that’s just on offense.

All in all, there are currently 26 Badgers active in the NFL. It makes sense: Wisconsin’s tough-nosed, hard-working style translates well to the sport’s top level. Which is why, in addition to Schofield and Graham, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jaevery McFadden and/or Chris Maragos pop up on a practice squad or special team unit at some point this year.

So although this weekend Badger fans need only worry about the professional destination of Schofield and Graham, here’s a quick rundown of the prospects of all four.

O’Brien Schofield

Despite an unfortunate ACL tear in the lead-up to January’s Senior Bowl, Schofield is still projected to land somewhere in the third or fourth (or at the latest fifth) round. A havoc-wreaking defensive end for the Badgers, Schofield racked up a staggering 24.5 tackles for loss (second in the country), with 12 sacks on the year.

At the next level, the undersized (6-2, 221) Great Lakes, Ill., product projects as a prototypical outside ‘backer in a 3-4 scheme. Schofield, among other things, demonstrated that he has the speed and tenacity to get around the corner and get to the quarterback. And considering his relatively slight frame and good lateral speed, Schofield should be able to handle the added responsibility of covering backs in the flat and tight ends in the seam.

My prediction: Schofield’s injury may scare off some, but he nevertheless should be headed to a 3-4 organization by the early to mid-fourth round.

Garrett Graham

Mr. Dependable at Wisconsin, Graham finished last season as the team’s second-leading receiver with 51 catches, including a team-best seven touchdown grabs.

While you’ll hear Graham criticized for his size and speed (so was Jerry Rice!), the Brick, N.J., native is built in the Owen Daniels mold. He may not wow anything with his athleticism, but he is a capable run-blocker, sound route-runner and sure-handed option at tight end.

My prediction: Graham’s upside combined with his work-ethic will win over some team in the mid-rounds. My guess is he gets nabbed somewhere in the late-fourth, early-fifth range.

Chris Maragos

Come Saturday (or perhaps one of the following days), Maragos will likely complete the journey that has thus far taken him from Western Michigan to walking-on with UW to senior captain status. Last year, Maragos was a physical manifestation of his position title – safety – because without him, any opposing aerial attack was dangerous.

Although Maragos, at 5-11, 200-pounds, may be a bit undersized, Maragos Pro Day performance put him on the map of NFL scouting departments. In the McClain Athletic Facility, Maragos ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, posted a 36-inch vertical, repped 225 15 times, and set marks in the three-cone drill (6.55 seconds) and the short shuttle (3.98) that would’ve topped NFL Combine participants.

For some, Maragos is an unlikely NFL candidate. But for others, he is reminiscent of former-Badger and current-Jet Jim Leonhard.

My prediction: Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I think some team will find Maragos’ measurable and drive enticing enough to pluck him in the mid- to late-seventh round. If not, he will sign as an undrafted free agent on Sunday or Monday.

Jaevery McFadden

Now McFadden really isn’t on anyone’s draft board. And, I suppose, that may be understandable. At the UW Pro Day, the Florida native was measured at just 6-1, 240, with mediocre results in the 40, the bench, and, well pretty much everything.

But accolades and synthetic workout numbers are never the whole story. In between the lines, McFadden led the Badgers with 74 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss. In his two seasons as a starter, McFadden was unspectacular, but solid. And judging by the presence of former Wisconsin linebackers in the League – Nick Greisen, Jonathan Casillas, DeAndre Levy – someone like that can definitely find a spot on someone’s roster.

My prediction: Sooner or later, you’ll see McFadden’s name again.