Canadians Achieve Unprecedented Representation in the 2023 NFL Draft

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The tally of Canadians in this year's NFL Draft was impressive, surpassing predictions as it reached a historic maximum with five athletes hailing from Canada being chosen.Ontario sports betting The highest-ranked Canadian in the 2023 draft was Matthew Bergeron, an offensive guard chosen in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons. Born in Montreal, Bergeron played college football at Syracuse University and, standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 332 pounds, he was the 38th overall selection on the second day of the event.

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In the third round, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted safety Sydney Brown from London, Ontario. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 211 pounds, Brown played college football at the University of Illinois. He joins a franchise that is currently favored with the third-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +750, trailing only Kansas City and San Francisco.

Interestingly, Sydney Brown's identical twin brother, Chase Brown, was also selected in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals. Chase Brown, a running back measuring 5 feet 9 inches and weighing 205 pounds, also competed at Illinois. The Bengals find themselves with the fourth-best Super Bowl odds.Ontario betting apps In the fourth round, the New England Patriots picked Sidy Sow, a 6-foot-5 offensive lineman weighing 326 pounds from Bromont, Quebec. Sow played both guard and tackle during his time at Eastern Michigan University.

Notably, another fourth-round pick was edge rusher Tavis Robinson from Guelph, Ontario. Weighing 260 pounds and standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, Robinson made his journey from Canada to Ole Miss as he worked to build his academic and athletic profile amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Caesars Sportsbook Ontario .

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Canadians Enjoy Prominent Streak in the Draft
Although relatively few Canadians are selected by NFL teams, at least one Canadian player has been picked in the last 13 drafts, including a notable first-round selection - N'Keal Harry from Toronto, who was drafted by New England in 2019. Harry was with the Chicago Bears last season.

In 2020, Chase Claypool from Toronto was drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round. After a strong start as a rookie wide receiver for the Steelers, Claypool eventually concluded the 2022 season with the Bears as well.

The highest-ranked Canadian ever drafted in the NFL is often remembered for being one of the biggest disappointments in the league's history.

Offensive lineman Tony Mandarich, originally from Oakland, Ontario, captured media attention while attending Michigan State University and was chosen second overall by the Green Bay Packers in 1989, right after number one draft pick Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys.

Mandarich’s underwhelming career was thrown into sharper relief by the three Hall of Fame players who were selected immediately after him — running back Barry Sanders (Detroit), linebacker Derrick Thomas (Kansas City) and cornerback Deion Sanders (Atlanta). All three are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Despite Mandarich's lackluster career, several other Canadians have left their mark on the league.

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Quarterback Mark Rypien, originally from Calgary, Alberta, moved to the United States at a young age. He achieved fame as the Super Bowl MVP, leading the Washington football team to a victory over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVI and also earned a Super Bowl ring as a backup in Super Bowl XXII.
Kicker Mike Vanderjagt from Oakville, Ontario, retired as the most precise field goal kicker in NFL history but gained a reputation among his peers, notably quarterback Peyton Manning from the Indianapolis Colts, who derisively referred to Vanderjagt as 'our idiot kicker' after Vanderjagt publicly criticized the team and head coach Tony Dungy.

Rypien a Canadian Super Bowl MVP

Wide receiver Nate Burleson moved from Calgary as a child but proudly sports a Maple Leaf tattoo to show his love for Canada. He was a third-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2003 and accumulated 457 career receptions with the Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions.

Two early Canadian figures in the NFL history also deserve recognition.

Tommy Hughitt from Genoa, British Columbia, who was raised in Michigan, might not be a household name even among the most dedicated NFL fans, but he played and coached one of the pioneering teams in Buffalo during the early 1920s, advocating for equitable treatment of African-American players.

Then there was Bronko Nagurski from Rainy River, Ontario, whose name brings to mind an era of the NFL where broken bones and battle-worn fingers seemed part of the uniform design. Nagurski, who relocated to Minnesota during his childhood, joined the Chicago Bears before the NFL Draft was established in 1936. He went on to become a legendary two-way player, clinching three world championships, earning four first-team All-Pro honors, and being a founding member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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