MADISON – The Wisconsin football team suffered one more indignity from its 2025 season.
No Badgers were selected in the NFL draft that concluded April 25. That is a first for the program since 1978.
That said, a number of Wisconsin players will get a shot at the NFL as undrafted free agents. The signings started soon after the completion of the draft.
Here is a running look at the Badgers free agent sginings. Check back for updates.
Receiver Jayden Ballard, Tennessee
The Ohio State transfer gets an opportunity with the Titans after getting very few chances to make plays at UW due to its issues at quarterback. Ballard caught seven passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns but didn’t have a catch during the final eight games of the season.
Kicker Nathanial Vakos, Tampa
Vakos hit seven of 11 field goals last season and proved to be a valuable kickoff specialist by recording touchbacks on 31 of 37 attempts. He joins the Buccaneers, which has a pretty good kicker in veteran Chase McLaughlin.
Safety Austin Brown, Indianapolis Colts
Tom Pellissero of the NFL Network reported the signing. Brown, who tested off the charts during Wisconsin’s pro day, joins a Colts roster that includes former teammates Hunter Wohler and Tannor Bortolini and former great Jonathan Taylor.
Receiver Vinny Anthony, Atlanta Falcons
Badger247sports reported first that Anthony signed with the Falcons. There he’ll be in the building with former UW receivers coach Jordan Reid, who is Atlanta’s assistant quarterbacks coach.
Outside linebacker Mason Reiger, Miami Dolphins
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Reiger will join the Dolphins. Reiger was the Badger who was believed to have the best chance of getting drafted based on his performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl where he was the defensive MVP as well as his work at the NFL combine.
Defensive tackle Ben Barten, New York Giants
The Giants lost a huge piece of their defense when they traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati. They drafted Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round out of Auburn in addition to adding Barten (6-5, 330).
Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson, L.A. Rams
Peterson (6-1, 260) joins a team that drafted no players at his position. The graduate student led the Badgers in tackles for loss (11 ½) and sacks (6 ½) last season.
Tight end Lance Mason, Seattle Seahawks
Mason (6-4, 250) joins the defending Super Bowl champion. He led UW in receiving yards (398) and touchdown receptions (four) in his only season with the Badgers.
Cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean, L.A. Rams
The wait is over for Fourqurean, who returns to the field after a failed attempt to gain an additional year of eligibility with the Badgers last season. In 2024, his last season playing, he made 51 tackles, broke up six passes and had one interception.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin football free agent signing tracker: Jayden Ballard gets shot with Titans
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
