BREAKING: Colts select Badgers OL Tanor Bortolini with No. 117 pick

The first Wisconsin Badgers player is off the board, as offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini is headed to the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 117 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Bortolini, a 6’4, 305-pound offensive lineman, impressed many at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.94 40-yard dash (2nd among OL) and a 1.69 10-yard split (1st among OL), showcasing his quick feet and athleticism.

Drafted by the Colts in the fourth round, Bortolini will be tasked to protect franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson, slotting in at either guard or center.

Bortolini was drafted over running back Braelon Allen, who many assumed would be the first Badgers player taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, but nonetheless brings an elite athlete to the fold for Indianapolis, who is reaching the stage of finding the next core offensive linemen for the team as the incumbents get older.

Bortolini was one of the top center prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, especially after his combine performance, and will be tasked to be a strong run-blocker in head coach Shane Steichen’s offensive scheme.

The arm length and overall size may limit Bortolini to center at the next level, but the Colts are looking for value in the fourth round and get a player who could fit multiple different systems, as he was used in a variety of roles during his career at Wisconsin.

With Bortolini off the board, the question now becomes: when will Braelon Allen find a home in the draft?