NFL Draft: Renowned analysts laud Quebec hopefuls Matthew Bergeron and Sidy Sow

MISE À DAY

For the first time in 35 years, two Quebecers could be selected in the NFL draft in the same vintage. Nothing better to realize the extent of their talent than to see what the most important analysts on the subject have to say and in the light of the evaluations, it is possible to think big for Matthew Bergeron and Sidy Sow.

Thursday night is when the annual draft kicks off, live from Kansas City. What has become one of the flagship events of the mighty NFL machine will have repercussions right here at home.

Bergeron, a blocker from Victoriaville, played at Syracuse University. Sow, Bromont guard, stood out at Eastern Michigan University. They are in the running and clearly not as extras.

According to the most recognized analysts, Bergeron should receive the long-awaited call Friday evening, during the second round. In the case of Sow, it's more vague, but many predict him the big moment somewhere between rounds 4 to 7, Saturday afternoon.

A surprise for Bergeron?

In the case of Bergeron, all dreams seem permitted.

“Bergeron's value has been on the rise since the evaluation camp (Combine) and I even heard his name as a possible first-round pick,” veteran draft analyst Mel Kiper said during a recent videoconference organized by the ESPN network.

The latter ranks the former Filons du Cégep de Thetford Mines as the sixth best player available at his position and as the 46th best prospect overall. That would send Bergeron to the Patriots, who hold this selection.

“There will be good value for the blockers in the second round. It's a good vintage. He could play any position in New England, which acquired Riley Reiff on the free agent market and has Trent Brown, who will be a free agent in 2024, on the left side,” added Kiper. p>

It's an opinion that is not necessarily isolated and shared by Tom Pelissero, of NFL Network, who identified Bergeron among his six candidates who could cause a surprise by being drafted in the first round.

Matthew Bergeron (#60 ) assures that the most hostile place he has seen in the NCAA is at North Carolina State University which has a very disturbing student section.

Good qualities

Daniel Jeremiah, who also analyzes the videos of hundreds of prospects each year for NFL Network, believes that Bergeron has no major shortcomings in his game.

“He has a very good base. He does a good job of holding his block for a long time and he has good speed on his lateral movements. I see him as a very solid player overall,” he said on a conference call.

Although he finished on the ACC Second Team All-Star last season after four seasons as a tackle, some believe Bergeron will have to make the transition to an NFL guard. That's not Jeremiah's vision.

“I know he could do it, but I don't see any reason to change his position. He has all the moves and skills to play blocker at the next level.”

Pass protection

Matthew Bergeron in action in pass protection against Florida State.

If Bergeron is unanimous on the ground game, some are more reserved on his skills in pass protection, without however speaking of a red flag.

“He is very lively as soon as the ball is put in play and he does a good job attacking defensive players on the ground game. He never stops until the whistle.

“In pass protection, in general, he still holds his end well. There were two games where it seemed more difficult, against Clemson and against Michigan State. He had a very good week in the Senior Bowl against very talented players,” said another ESPN analyst, Todd McShay, on a conference call last week.

Dane Brugler, who produces every year his draft bible dubbed “The Beast” on the Athletic site, believes Bergeron is the fifth-best tackler available and ranks him 54th overall.

For his part, Bergeron refuses to lose his temper despite everything that is said and written about him.

“I leave a lot! It's three to four months where we dissect everything you are on the ground and as a person. People are looking for everything to do articles and I don't want to look in detail at everything that is said about me. 

“Already, being able to say that I am in a position to be drafted, it is a very good accomplishment. The competitor in me wants to be drafted as high as possible, but we must not forget that the draft, even if the world grows and embellishes it, it is just a doorway to go into the NFL, “he said. -he reacted.

Good words about Sow

For his part, even if Sidy Sow does not have the same certainty of being drafted as Bergeron, the stars seem to be aligned.

The Bromontois set a record at his university with 56 games played , including 54 as starting guard.

“He has very good hands and he is aggressive, very physical. We see that he is still looking for contact until the end of the game. He can work on things on his base and his balance, but he moves much better than we expected him to. 

“He ran for 5.07 yards for 40 yards, which is exceptional at 323 pounds. All this will help him out on the third day of the draft. He really helped himself during the evaluation process,” praised Todd McShay.

Sidy Sow performed well in recent athletic testing at the NFL's evaluation camp in Indianapolis.

“When you study video late at night, tired, you just hope that a player stands out. Sidy Sow was one of those players for me when I studied the game against Arizona State. As a guard on the left, he is huge. He is all power in the upper body, ”added Daniel Jeremiah, who rates him as the 104th best prospect in the draft, which would make him a fourth-round pick. 

Dane Brugler ranks him as the ninth-best guard available, with fourth- or fifth-round odds.

The only time in draft history that two Quebecers were selected in the same year was in 1988.

QUEBECERS DRAFT INTO THE NFL

2021

• Benjamin St-Juste, cornerback (3rd round, 74th pick), Washington

< p>2017

• Justin Senior, tackle (6th round, 210th pick), Seattle

< strong>2014

• Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, guard (6th round, 200th pick), Kansas City

< strong>2001

• Randy Chevrier, long snaps (7th round, 241st pick), Jacksonville

1996

• Tshimanga Biakabutuka, runner (1st round, 8th pick), Caroline

1995

• Mark Montreuil, cornerback (7th round, 237th pick), San Diego

1990

• Ian Beckles, guard (5th round, 114th pick), Tampa Bay

1988

• Tommy Kane, receiver (3rd round, 75th pick), Seattle
• Brian Forde, linebacker (7th round, 190th pick), New Orleans

SOME SIMULATED DRAFTS

Here is where some specialized sites see Matthew Bergeron and Sidy Sow end up in the draft.

ESPN (Todd McShay)

• Matthew Bergeron, 2nd round – 60th rank (Bengals)
• Sidy Sow, 6th round – 182nd rank (Rams)

ESPN, Matt Miller

• Matthew Bergeron, 2nd round – 69th overall (Rams)
• Sidy Sow, 5th Round – 163rd Rank (Giants)

Pro Football Focus

• Matthew Bergeron, 53rd rank (Bears)
• Sidy Sow Non-classified

Athletic

• Matthew Bergeron, 2nd round – 53rd place (Bears)
• Sidy Sow, 5th round – 146th place (Saints)

Sporting News

• Matthew Bergeron, 2nd round – 65th place (Texans)
• Sidy Sow, 5th round – 151st overall (Seahawks)

NFL.com

• Matthew Bergeron, 2nd round – 53rd rank (Bears)
• Sidy Sow, 4th round – 118th rank (Commanders)

CBS Sports

• Matthew Bergeron, 3rd round – 101st rank (49ers)
• Sidy Sow, 5th round – 151st rank (Seahawks)