Whether it's the Wisconsin Badgers football players moving on to be drafted by the Green Bay Packers or another local athlete willing to work toward a win for his local pro team, there is a certain level of pride that many players take in staying in-state and trying to win a championship for the home team. In the recent 2017 NFL draft, the Packers picked up a local Badgers player in the fourth round with their pick of outside linebacker Vince Biegel. This move has started a conversation about how well Wisconsin Badgers players have played when drafted by the Packers, their home team.

Vince Biegel could be a promising pick for the Packers

There have been nine Wisconsin Badgers players drafted by the Green Bay Packers since 1984. SB Nation reports that despite starting his NFL career with injuries, Vince Biegel might become one of the best University of Wisconsin players to make the transition from college to the Packers' team. Biegel is still recovering and is out until training camp at least. However, Biegel's athletic ability coupled with his leadership skills could easily make him a standout on the team.

Biegel was picked up by the Green Bay Packers as the first pick of the fourth round.

He was the 108th player picked up overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. When Biegel learned that he would be staying local and joining the Green Bay Packers, he tweeted about his excitement to join the team led by Aaron Rodgers.

Other University of Wisconsin standouts

At this point, the most successful former Wisconsin Badger to be drafted by the Green Bay Packers is offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.

He began playing for UW in 1999 and won the Rose Bowl championship two years in a row. Tauscher played right tackle for the Packers, keeping Brett Favre and then Aaron Rodgers safe until 2010. Tauscher started 132 out of his 134 games played for the team in 11 seasons and even earned himself a Super Bowl ring despite being injured in the 2010 season when the Packers won it.

Mark Tauscher's Wisconsin Badgers teammate Bill Ferrario was also drafted by the Green Bay Packers. He joined the NFL in 2001 but didn't fare as well as his teammate. Ferrario only played 16 games for the team.

In 2014, wide receiver Jared Abbrederis was drafted by the Packers. This former Badger shares a UW record for the most receptions in the history of the university. Abbrederis' transition to the NFL hasn't been nearly as successful. Abbrederis suffered a torn ACL at the beginning of his rookie season and a bad concussion at the beginning of his second season. He left the team and was signed by the practice squad, only to work his way back to the Packers team again. Coming off a great 2016 training camp, he made it back onto the team before becoming injured again.

This time with a thigh contusion. Abbrederis and the Packers agreed to an injury settlement and he was released from the team.

There are a few more key Wisconsin Badgers players who moved to on to be drafted by the Green Bay Packers prior to 2000. They are Don Davey, Bud Keyes, and Randy Wright who all wore green and gold in the 1980s.

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