Former Wisconsin outside linebacker Vince Biegel will start his NFL career in his home state after the Green Bay Packers made him the first selection of the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday morning.

Biegel, a native of Wisconsin Rapids, was a standout linebacker for the Badgers and a key cog in their switch to the 3-4 defense under former defensive coordinator Dave Amanda. He missed some time during his senior season with a foot injury, but finished the year with 44 tackles, including 6.0 tackles for loss, and was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection at the end of the year.

Biegel will try to help fill a major need for the Packers, who came in to the draft looking for help on the defensive side of the ball - particularly at cornerback and at outside linebacker. Biegel gives the Packers a chance to boost their pass rush after they drafted two defensive backs in the second round on Friday night.

Biegel had breakout seasons in 2014 and 2015, and briefly contemplated declaring for the NFL Draft a year early before returning to Wisconsin for his senior season. His final stat line didn't look quite like his junior or sophomore season, when he topped 56 tackles and 14 tackles for loss in both years, but you can chalk some of that up to playing at less than 100 percent after he returned from foot survey after missing just two games against Michigan and Ohio State.

Biegel obviously impressed the Packers at Wisconsin's Pro Day in early March when general manager Ted Thompson and other scouts had a chance to watch him work out in person.

Early on it looked like the Packers might end up with a Wisconsin linebacker, but most draft watchers assumed Green Bay would target fellow Badger T.J. Watt with their first round pick at No. 29 overall. But with Watt still on the board late in the first round the Packers ended up trading down with Cleveland for their 2nd round and 4th round pick - the same fourth round pick they used to take Biegel on Saturday morning.