The Badgers right tackle could get serious draft consideration following the upcoming season.
The Wisconsin Badgers have seen turnover across the board this season, but one aspect that has remained the same has been continuity at the offensive tackle spots, with Jack Nelson and Riley Mahlman on the left and right island, respectively.
Nelson, an intriguing player in 2022 before some inconsistencies in 2023, will have a crucial season ahead of him as he looks to rebuild his draft stock ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, Mahlman is also a name to know in the upcoming class, as PFF listed the Badgers’ offensive tackle as one of their players to watch for this season.
“After missing nearly half of his redshirt freshman season with an injury, Mahlman took a major leap as a redshirt sophomore,” PFF’s Max Chadwick wrote.
“In 2023, the right tackle was the sixth-most valuable offensive tackle in the country according to our wins above average metric. Mahlman’s 78.1 PFF grade was a top-15 mark among Power Five tackles as was his 73.1 run-blocking grade. He was also among the 20 best Power Five offensive tackles in pressure rate allowed (3%).”
“At 6-foot-8, Mahlman towers over opposing defensive linemen. He has great athleticism at that size which shines on zone runs.”
The size is a huge component for Mahlman, who has been a consistent contributor to the Badgers for the majority of his collegiate career.
If he can put together another strong, consistent campaign in 2024, he should almost certainly boost his draft stock ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.