Matthew Bergeron was one of the top Canadian prospects going into this year’s CFL draft, but the 23-year-old wasn’t picked by any teams in the division. Instead, he ended up being the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft, signing for the Atlanta Falcons.
The six-foot, five-inch Quebec-born player will be hoping to make an instant impact at the Atlanta-based franchise, as Arthur Smith aims to lead his charges to their first playoff appearance since 2017.
Bergeron Was Heavily Touted Prior to 2023 Draft
Atlanta were adamant that they wanted Bergeron in this year’s draft, and traded two other picks to ensure that they got him. The Falcons are already fairly stacked for offensive tackles with Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary on long deals, but they decided to go all in on Bergeron anyway. This left some analysts perplexed because the Falcons don’t need much more depth in that area. When Bergeron played for Syracuse, he was the starting tackle, but now it seems that his position may evolve with his new team.
One of the reasons why Bergeron was so heavily touted before this year’s draft was because of his flexibility, and the fact that he may be able to adapt to several new positions. According to reports, the Falcons see Bergeron as being able to come in and fill the left guard position straight away. This spot has been an area of weakness for the Atlanta franchise for some time, and Bergeron could finally be the piece of the puzzle that was lacking.
The bookies certainly see Bergeron’s addition as a promising one, and the Falcons are among the favorites to make the playoffs in the upcoming NFL campaign. Indeed, in the football betting markets, they are strong favorites to make it to the end-of-season competition. Other popular picks include Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals.
Which Other Canadian Football Players Earned High Profile Moves?
Bergeron is one of a few promising Canadian talents who have earned moves to NFL teams after the latest draft. Sydney Brown was heavily backed to get picked this year, and the 23-year-old got his dream move to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the 66th pick overall in the third round and is likely to be slowly integrated into the squad at Lincoln Financial Field. Sydney’s identical twin brother, Chase Brown, was also drafted this year as the 163rd overall pick. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of selections.
Sidy Sow is another name that was spoken about a lot in the run-up to this season’s draft. The 25-year-old was chosen in the fourth round of selections by the New England Patriots. The huge guard will provide some great depth to his new team.
Bergeron is one of the hottest talents from Canada in recent years, and it’s likely that he’ll hit the ground running with his new side. Indeed, the Falcons could end up being serious contenders for the playoffs this season.
