The Raiders made cornerback Nick Nelson the first of five Wisconsin players drafted

MADISON - The first two days of the 2018 National Football League draft – three rounds and 100 picks – passed without a Wisconsin player being taken.

Cornerback Nick Nelson ended that drought early Saturday. 

Nelson, who set a program record for passes broken up with 21 in his lone season at Wisconsin, was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the 10th pick of the fourth round. He was the first defensive back taken by the Raiders and their fifth player overall. Nelson was the 11th cornerback taken in the draft. 

“We think we’re getting a pretty good little corner who can play nickel," Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie told reporters. "We think we’re getting a two-for-one deal there. He’s a really good football player. He knows how to play the top of routes and a lot of pass breakups. He’s just going to have to learn how to get some interceptions.”

Tight end Troy Fumagalli had to wait until the fifth round to hear his name called.

Fumagalli was the 11th tight end selected. He went to the Denver Broncos with the 156th pick. 

The Broncos have five tight ends on their active roster, including Austin Traylor of UW. Geep Chryst, the brother of UW head coach Paul Chryst, coaches Denver's tight ends. 

Fumagalli battled injuries at UW and has been slowed this spring by an abdominal injury.

He recorded a total of 93 catches for 1,127 yards, an average of 12.1 yards per catch, and six touchdowns, in his final two seasons at UW. 

Last season, he led UW receivers in third-down conversions, with 13 on 15 receptions.In addition, Fumagalli was an effective blocker on the line of scrimmage or as a motion man. 

"I just think I’m a well-rounded player," Fumagalli told Broncos.com, "and I think the pro-style offense coach Chryst coached for so long...All the things we do at the tight end position, both blocking and catching, I think things like that will translate to the next level."

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Nelson likely fell at least one round because he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during a private workout at UW earlier this month. 

Nelson had surgery and is expected to be ready for training camp. 

After playing two seasons at Hawaii, Nelson transferred to UW and sat out the 2016 season. He started all 14 games last season and teamed with Derrick Tindal to give UW one of the better cornerback tandems in the Big Ten. 

Nevertheless, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. was blunt in critiquing Nelson's game. 

"Nick’s got talent," Kiper Jr. said during the telecast. "He showed that. The issue with him is – a little mixed bag when you look at the tape. 

"Uneven performances. Got beat more than I cared to see and he got called for some costly penalties."

Safety Natrell Jamerson was the third former UW player selected. Jamerson went to the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round, No. 164 overall. 

"I'm ecstatic," Jamerson said during a phone call with Saints. "I don't think I know enough words to explain how I feel right now."

Jamerson started out as a wide receiver at UW, moved to cornerback and then made a successful transition to safety for his final season. He finished fifth on UW in tackles (51) and broke up 10 passes. 

UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said before the draft Jamerson could play cornerback in the NFL but is probably better suited for safety.

"I think as a safety he has more value at that level because it is a pass-oriented game," he said. "His physicality and coverage ability from the safety position is extremely valuable."

Linebacker Jack Cichy, who missed the final seven games of the 2016 season (torn pectoral) and all of last season (torn ACL) was taken by Tampa Bay in the sixth round, No. 202 overall. 

The native of Somerset didn't run the 40-yard dash at UW's pro timing day in March because his right knee wasn't fully recovered. However, he was running the steps inside Camp Randall Stadium by the end of spring practice on April 20 and was beaming. 

"I'm relieved," said Cichy, who had taken a break from watching the draft when Tampa officials called. "It was getting to be a pretty long day.

"I think I'll be fully cleared for camp. It's all about what I'm comfortable with and right now I'm comfortable with everything."

Outside linebacker Leon Jacobs was taken 28 picks after Cichy, by Jacksonville with the 12th pick of the seventh round.

Jacobs, who played in an FBS-record 59 games at UW, flourished in his final season. He started all 14 games and finished third on the team in tackles (60). He intercepted two passes, recovered two fumbles – both in UW's 38-14 victory over Iowa – and forced one fumble. 

When Jaguars officials called Jacobs to alert him that he was about to be drafted, the former UW linebacker sounded as if he was ready to cry. 

"Thank you so much," he said. "You won't regret this."

The Indianapolis Colts looked to Northern Iowa to draft a talented wide receiver who played at Madison Memorial High School.

Daurice Fountain, 6-1 and 210 pounds, was taken with the 22nd pick of the fifth round, No. 159 overall. 

Fountain recorded 66 catches for 943 yards, 14.3 yards per catch, and 12 touchdowns as a senior. He then was named offensive MVP of the East-West Shrine game.

Fountain's high school teammate, Pittsburgh wide receiver Jester Weah, agreed to a free-agent deal with the Houston Texans.

Several former UW players agreed to free-agent deals shortly after the draft ended. 

They were: defensive end Alec James (Arizona) and fullback Austin Ramesh (Arizona) and outside linebacker Garret Dooley (Minnesota).

Northern Illinois tight end Shane Wimann, from Wisconsin Dells, agreed to a free-agent deal with New England.

Defensive lineman Gaelin Elmore, a native of Somerset, agreed to a. free-agent deal with Cincinnati. Elmore was recruited by Wisconsin, signed with Minnesota but transferred and finished at East Carolina.

Iowa State punter Colin Downing, a standout at Whitefish Bay High School, received a minicamp tryout offer from the Kansas City Chiefs.