The Wisconsin Badgers didn’t have any of their players get drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft this past season, but a ton of their departing seniors earned undrafted free agent contracts as they competed for roster spots.
As the offseason went along, several players in that group played in the preseason, and we saw eight former Badgers earn spots on an NFL practice squad on Tuesday following the 53-man roster cutdown on Monday.
While no Badgers rookies earned spots on a 53-man roster as undrafted free agents,
several have found homes for the upcoming season.
Edge rusher Darryl Peterson and cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean both landed on the Los Angeles Rams practice squad after being part of the roster this offseason. Peterson played in all three preseason games for the Rams, recording seven tackles, seven pressures, and two sacks, including the game-winning sack against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to PFF.
Fourqurean was a regular at cornerback for the Rams, playing in all three games as well. He had nine tackles, while rotating between the boundary corner and the slot.
Fellow edge rusher Mason Reiger had signed with the Miami Dolphins in the offseason after going undrafted. He played in only one preseason game due to injury, recording one pressure and two tackles, as well as one run stop. After being waived by the Dolphins, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on their practice squad Tuesday.
Wide receiver Vinny Anthony signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason, and he played in all three preseason games, catching eight passes for 69 yards on 11 targets. He was Atlanta’s most-targeted receiver in the preseason, and returned to the practice squad after getting waived on cutdown day.
Offensive lineman Riley Mahlman also signed with the Falcons practice squad after playing in three preseason games for them, recording 33 total snaps at left tackle. He did not allow a sack or pressure in those 33 snaps.
Defensive lineman Jay’Viar Suggs signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad after playing in three games for them during the preseason. Suggs had five tackles, one pressure, and two run stops in 87 snaps, while being moved all around the defensive line.
Fellow defensive lineman Ben Barten landed on the New York Giants practice squad after two games with them in the preseason. Barten played just nine total snaps across the two games, but did enough to return to the team following cutdown day. He also played one game for the New York Jets during the preseason, being signed by them after being waived by the Giants before eventually going back to the latter one week later.
The last Badgers rookie to make a practice squad so far was defensive lineman Parker Petersen, who played in four games for the Carolina Panthers this preseason, returning to the team after being waived on cutdown day.
Petersen had five tackles and three run stops in 54 snaps for the Panthers across the four games.
Another former Badger also made a practice squad, as wide receiver Will Pauling, who played the 2025 season at Notre Dame, signed with the San Francisco 49ers after clearing waivers. Pauling caught three passes for eight yards in three games for the 49ers this preseason, while also serving as one of the team’s kick and punt returners.
