Will a Canadian university QB get picked in the NFL draft?

Jesse Campigotto · CBC Sports

· Posted: Apr 24, 2025 4:52 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

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The archetypal circular of the NFL draught takes spot contiguous successful Green Bay. Not to spoil the show, which seems to get bigger and bigger each year, but it's beauteous wide who the apical picks volition be.

Basically every mock draft you work starts with the nonstop aforesaid 4 selections. The Tennessee Titans take University of Miami backmost Cam Ward archetypal overall, past the Cleveland Browns usage the 2nd prime connected Heisman Trophy-winning two-way prima Travis Hunter of Colorado, the New York Giants drawback ferocious Penn State walk rusher Abdul Carter astatine No. 3, and the New England Patriots instrumentality LSU violative tackle Will Campbell 4th to support young backmost Drake Maye, who was past year's third-overall pick.

After that, it gets much interesting. For example, immoderate draught experts person tackle-busting Boise State moving backmost Ashton Jeanty going arsenic precocious arsenic 5th to Jacksonville, portion others spot him falling to Las Vegas astatine No. 6 oregon adjacent Chicago with the 10th pick.

The 1 feline everyone seems genuinely stumped astir is Shedeur Sanders. Much similar his Hall of Fame dada Deion, who coached him astatine Colorado, Sanders has go somewhat of a polarizing figure. Some deliberation he'll marque a coagulated NFL backmost and should beryllium drafted reasonably aboriginal successful the archetypal round, portion others judge his shortage of limb spot and athleticism (ironic, considering his genes) and possibly overabundance of assurance (he is precise overmuch Deion's son) marque him unworthy of a precocious pick. The trendy prediction astatine the infinitesimal is that the QB-desperate Pittsburgh Steelers volition rotation the dice connected Sanders astatine No. 21.

Another substance of interest, astatine slightest connected this broadside of the border, is however galore Canadians volition beryllium chosen. A grounds 5 got picked successful 2023 — including Cincinnati moving backmost Chase Brown, who broke done past play with 1,350 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns, and his duplicate member Sydney Brown, who conscionable won the Super Bowl arsenic a backup information with Philadelphia.

Four Canadians were drafted past year — led by violative lineman Isaiah Adams, who went successful the 3rd circular to Arizona and played 15 games, including 5 starts. Fourth-round choky extremity Theo Johnson made 29 catches for 339 yards and a touchdown for the Giants, portion fifth-round antiaircraft backmost Qwan'Tez Stiggers appeared successful 14 games, mostly connected peculiar teams, for the Jets.

It appears the downward inclination successful the fig of Canadians picked whitethorn proceed this year. My CBC Sports workfellow Dion Caputi, a existent draught seed who follows prospects year-round, sees possibly 3 getting taken earlier the seven-round draught wraps up connected Saturday. But it's an absorbing group, featuring a receiver who roasted Travis Hunter, a backmost who led Indiana to a astonishing playoff berth, and a QB looking to marque the improbable leap from Canadian assemblage shot to the NFL.

Here are Dion's takes connected the 3 Canadians astir apt to get drafted and erstwhile they mightiness travel disconnected the board.

Elic Ayomanor, wide receiver, Stanford

Barring unimaginable circumstances, Ayomanor volition beryllium the archetypal Canadian selected. After a genu wounded led to a aesculapian redshirt twelvemonth that prolonged the commencement of his Stanford career, the Medicine Hat, Alta., autochthonal returned successful 2023 to pb each Cardinal players successful receptions (62), receiving yards (1,013) and receiving touchdowns (6).

Ayomanor's standout redshirt-freshman play featured a heroic 13-catch, 294-yard, three-touchdown show successful a 46-43 triumph implicit the Colorado Buffaloes, with the Canadian getting the champion of prima cornerback Travis Hunter (the apt No. 2 prime successful this year's draft) connected aggregate occasions. In 2024, helium besides had 63 catches and different six touchdowns but lone 831 yards for a mediocre Stanford squad that won lone six games crossed his 2 seasons successful the lineup.

At astir 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, Ayomanor combines a sturdy carnal physique with downfield detonation and prime route-running skills. He'll punctual immoderate of different Canadian-born NFL receiver successful caller Bills signee Joshua Palmer, lone Ayomanor is simply a superior wide athlete.

Projection: The question is, tin helium interruption into the second information of Day 2? If not, it shouldn't beryllium agelong until he's selected connected Day 3, apt successful the 4th round.

Kurtis Rourke, quarterback, Indiana

The younger member of B.C. Lions passer Nathan Rourke followed a akin way by quarterbacking Ohio for 3 seasons. Kurtis led the Bobcats to consecutive 10-win seasons earlier transferring to Indiana successful 2024 to look elevated Big Ten competition. The Oakville, Ont., autochthonal was instrumental successful starring the Hoosiers to an 11-2 grounds and the school's archetypal College Football Playoff quality portion playing the full play connected a torn ACL.

Not abbreviated connected toughness, Rourke besides returned aft missing conscionable 1 crippled owed to a breached thumb connected his throwing hand. What helium lacks successful elite limb talent, helium compensates for with his fantabulous shot security, poise nether unit and pocket-passing mechanics. Despite his prototypical size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), a deficiency of tools apt limits however aboriginal Rourke volition beryllium picked.

Projection: His crippled isn't predicated connected mobility, truthful a torn ACL won't bounds his upside. Will the deficiency of a "plus" NFL limb forestall him from being drafted? Maybe, but helium could spell successful circular six oregon seven.

Taylor Elgersma, quarterback, Wilfred Laurier

Elgersma has already made past on his improbable travel to NFL draught consideration. After winning the Hec Creighton Trophy arsenic the 2024 U Sports subordinate of the year, helium became the archetypal Canadian-born backmost invited to the coveted Senior Bowl — NCAA football's superior pre-draft all-star game.

The astir 6-foot-5, 216-pound autochthonal of London, Ont., didn't disappoint, flashing his effortless downfield limb spot and firmly placing himself connected the scouting radar southbound of the border. As a result, he's present realistically vying to go the archetypal backmost ever selected successful the NFL draught straight retired of Canadian assemblage football.

Last year, mammoth University of British Columbia violative lineman Giovanni Manu stunningly went from a late-round/free-agent projection to a fourth-round prime of the Detroit Lions. While that ceiling is highly improbable for Elgersma, it shows however the breadth of modern NFL scouting could payment the captivating Golden Hawks passer.

Projection: All it takes is 1 squad to spot thing compelling, particularly successful a backmost people with minimal back-end appeal. Elgersma could spell successful circular six oregon seven, but adjacent if he's not picked helium should get an accidental to marque a squad arsenic an undrafted escaped agent.