FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — "I'm sitting in a bar in Madison right now."
Those were some of the first words offensive tackle Jack Nelson said to Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris when the team called to draft the University of Wisconsin product Saturday evening with the No. 219 overall pick in the seventh round.
Nelson spent the third day of the 2025 NFL Draft at Jay's Bar in his college town with family, friends and other Badger linemen. When his phone rang and displayed the Atlanta area code, he showed a friend, who proceeded to jump up and hush the surrounding crowd. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for.
"It was a big relief to get that call and find out it was Atlanta," Nelson said. "I was fired up. My girlfriend was fired up. She loved the color, she said. So, everything's good."
Nelson became the Falcons' fifth and final draftee, their first on the offensive side of the ball.
The Falcons' starting line is practically set with left tackle Jake Matthews, left guard Matthew Bergeron, center Ryan Neuzil (pending his official signing), right guard Chris Lindstrom and right tackle Kaleb McGary.
The tackles, however, have both cracked 30 years of age. Matthews is 33, entering his 12th season; he’s signed through the 2028 season. McGary, meanwhile, is 30 on the dot and coming up on his seventh season; he’ll be a free agent next year.
Neither have an heir apparent.
"Excited about Jack Nelson," Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said. "We wanted to add some youth to the offensive line room. Four-year starter at Wisconsin. Big man. All the intangibles. He's played all over that line."
He has, at both the guard and tackle positions. Left and right side, too.
Nelson boasts the most experience at left tackle, having started for the Badgers there from 2022-24. He feels most comfortable, though, at right tackle.
"I'd say regardless of whatever kind of offense or OC we've got, I'm going to be an explosive, twitchy and aggressive player," Nelson said. "I think I play with kind of a recklessness that translates to a physical type of play when I connect and really get into the groove."
The 23-year-old is 6-foot-7 and 318 pounds. His height ties him for the tallest in the Falcons' locker room now. His weight puts him within the top five.
Nelson's wingspan was recorded at 81 3/8 inches during the 2025 NFL Combine, which is where he met with the Falcons.
"You like the trait, you like the cover, your ability when you pass pro," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "Then you get your guys up front and what they really like to do — what we do — is run the football. Watch them do some of those things, especially at an institution like Wisconsin. You've got to be on fire about acquiring the young man."
Nelson already mentioned he was fired up.
But there's another emotion admittedly creeping in for the Midwest native.
"I'm a little nervous," Nelson said. "I've never been down south really. I'm definitely your stereotypical Wisconsin kid.
"Do y'all practice in the heat like that?"
Yes.
"All right," he said. "Let's get to it."
Nelson will need to be in Atlanta by May 9, when the Falcons' three-day rookie minicamp begins. Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are then scheduled for May 27-28 and 30 and also June 2-3 and 5. Mandatory minicamp follows on June 10-11.
Before then, Nelson is going to continue celebrating at Jay's Bar.
"If you guys ever come to Madison, he said, "you should really check it out."
Join us as we take a look at the 2025 NFL draft class for the Atlanta Falcons, presented by Truist.
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sets up for a play against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sacks TCU quarterback Max Duggan (15) during the second half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) works against Florida offensive lineman Austin Barber (58) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) reacts to making a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
UTEP quarterback JP Pickles (19) is sacked by Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) lines up for a play during an NCAA football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas won 19-14. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Photos of the Georgia Tech vs Notre Dame Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) leaps up to try and make an interception near the sideline as Northern Illinois full back Brock Lampe (49) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) tries to rip the ball away from Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Scenes from the College Football National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday, January 20, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) celebrates after intercepting a Texas pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) tackles UCF running back RJ Harvey (7) in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. warms up before an NCAA college football game against Texas at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Dallas. Texas won 34-3. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) tackles BYU running back Aidan Robbins (3) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Wisconsin offensive lineman Jack Nelson smiles on the bench during the an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Wisconsin's Jack Nelson lines up during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Southern Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin's Jack Nelson lines up during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Southern Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin offensive lineman Jack Nelson (79) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
