Another Good Year for Canadian Players as Four Get Selected in 2024 NFL Draft

The top of the 2024 NFL draft unfolded mostly as expected, barring a few surprises like the Atlanta Falcons drafting Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. As many outlets predicted, the draft turned out to be an exciting one given how many terrific prospects there were. 

Despite being selected later than most would have wanted, this year’s draft proved to be another good year for Canadian players. With last year seeing a record five Canadian players drafted, 2024 has kept up the trend with four Canadian players drafted and two others signed as free agents. 

Sports Betting Plays a Significant Role

Over the years, there’s been a fair few Canadians drafted in the NFL. While Canadians in the NFL isn’t something new, the manner in which American Football and other sports have been gaining popularity in places like Canada isn’t what might have been considered traditional a couple of decades ago. 

Online sports betting has proven to be very influential on how younger generations have come to be interested in sports. As online sports betting platforms become more prolific, according to Neil Roarty, the best ones in Canada offer great bonuses and promotions for enthusiasts. As aresult of the symbiotic link between sports and the iGaming industry, even things like the NFL draft can now be bet on if you find the right sportsbook. 

Despite online gambling being an industry that is tightly regulated around the world, it’s also one that is constantly innovating. With options for enthusiasts to even use cryptocurrencies to bet or wager at anonymous sites, the industry has played a huge role in generating massive interest around the NFL and many other sports that may not have usually been that popular in Canada. 

Over the years, all this has translated to more and more Canadians becoming football fans, sports bettors, and even casual and professional players themselves. The standards of such players are clearly improving too, since it’s the second year running that the NFL draft has seen multiple Canadian players selected. While none of those players were drafted in the first two rounds, it’s still been another significant year for Canadian players in the NFL. Here’s how it all unfolded for them. 

Adams and Johnson Led the Way

Isaiah Adams from Ajax, Ontario was drafted first as he was selected in the third round and drafted No. 71 overall. An offensive lineman, Adams was nabbed by the Arizona Cardinals. While it wasn’t a surprise that he was drafted, many expected another Canadian player to be selected first. 

That player was Theo Johnson, the Penn State tight end who was touted as a second-day selection. In the end, he was drafted in the fourth round and 107th overall. Although his selection came a lot later than predicted, he was taken by the New York Giants, the team that he felt was always on the cards for him. Having worked with the Giants’ Head Coach Brian Daboll’s son, Christian Daboll, at Penn State, it was reportedly a move that was seen as a “potential landing spot” for him. 

Manu and Stiggers Were Also Picked 

A fourth-round pick and No. 126 overall, UBC tackle Giovanni Manu went to the Detroit Lions. Although born in Tonga, Manu was a high school student in Pitt Meadows, B.C. Having played Canadian football in U Sports, Manu joined UBC in 2018 and their Thunderbirds football team in his first year. 

In the final pick of the fifth round, the Jets selected Qwan’Tez Stiggers. The cornerback was drafted No. 176 overall and came in wearing the mantle of the CFL’s rookie of the season last year. 

With the main business done, there were also other Canadian players signed as free agents. Theo Benedet of North Vancouver signed with the Chicago Bears. There was also a move for offensive lineman Kyle Hergel of Toronto who signed with the New Orleans Saints. 

Adding to all the movement for Canadian players was Anim Dankwah who signed for the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. A native of Brampton, Ontario, Dankwah is an offensive lineman who spent the last five seasons at Howard University. Although undrafted, he’s established himself as a College player. Born in Accra, Ghana, Anim immigrated to Canada to live with his father and began excelling in football from a young age. 

Anim joins the other exciting prospects from Canada and looks to have a bright future ahead. With many other talented young Canadian players climbing the ranks every year, the NFL is sure to see more players from there headed its way with each passing year.