Carter O’Donnell highlights Canadian players signed after 2020 NFL Draft
Carter O’Donnell is going to start his professional career as an Indianapolis Colt.
The towering University of Alberta offensive lineman agreed with the Colts in late of April after being bypassed within the 2020 NFL draft. His deal will reportedly include a big US$25,000 signing bonus.
Other Canadians to secure free-agent deals are Brown University defensive lineman Michael Hoecht (Los Angeles Rams), Simon Fraser receiver Rysen John (New York Giants), and Montreal Carabins defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy (Green Bay Packers).
Two Canadian players were drafted by NFL teams. Notre Dame receiver Chase Claypool, a six-foot-four, went in the second round, No. 49 overall, to the Pittsburgh Steelers right before the Dallas Cowboys took Ottawa’s Neville Gallimore, a six-foot-two defensive tackle from Oklahoma, No. 82 overall, in the third round.
Both Claypool and Gallimore were 1-2 in the final top-20 list of the CFL scouting bureau released last week leading up to the draft. But they will be future picks given the place where they went in the NFL draft.
O’Donnell (third overall), Hoecht (sixth overall), Dequoy (ninth overall), and John (eighteenth overall) were also on the list of the scouting bureau. However, with NFL deals in tow, the expectation is that they will be later-round picks.
The six-foot-six O’Donnell anchored an offensive line which helped Alberta average 399 yards of total offence this season. He was a first-team All-Canadian and joined the East-West Shrine Bowl in Florida, the U.S.
Based on the conclusion of the draft, six NFL clubs contacted O’Donnell, which gave him the ability to respective situations and weigh offers before deciding where to start his professional career.
After being bypassed on the previous two additions, Hoecht, a native of Oakville, Ont., six-foot-four, cracked the final scouting bureau top-20 list. Hoecht registered 42 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks last season at Brown.
As a former team captain, Hoecht played in 37 games with the Bears, recording 174 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 29.5 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries. And he wasted little time contributing to the program and played in seven games as a freshman.