The NFL draft has become an international affair in recent years with worthy talents emerging from outside the United States of America. Canada has been one of the biggest non-American pipelines. Jevon Holland, Josh Palmer, Benjamin St-Juste, Matthew Bergeron, and John Metchie III are some recent examples.
The 2024 NFL Draft is expected to grow that pool. Plenty of Canadian prospects are expected to hear their name called. We've identified the five most impressive Canadian prospects in April's draft.
THEO JOHNSON, TE, PENN STATE
Theo Johnson developed into a consistent pass-catching weapon at Penn State. The Windsor, Ontario native accumulated 77 receptions for 938 yards and 12 touchdowns across four seasons. Johnson was considered the top Canadian prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. He lived up to that billing throughout his college football career.
Johnson continued building pre-draft momentum by rubbing shoulders with the most athletic testers at the NFL Combine. The Nittany Lions standout finished first among all participating tight ends in the shuttle (4.19) and ranked second in the 40 (4.57), vertical (39.5 inches), and broad (10-foot-5). Johnson positioned himself as a top-100 selection as a result.
ISAIAH ADAMS, OL, ILLINOIS
Unlike most Canadian prospects, Isaiah Adams actually began his college football career within the country at Wilfrid Laurier University. Adams eventually found himself at Garden City Community College before landing at Illinois. He's spent the previous two seasons being a versatile player for the Fighting Illini.
Adams started at both tackle and guard throughout his two-year tenure at Illinois. The Ajax, Ontario native possesses the length necessary to continue playing tackle with near-34-inch arms, but his raw power and ability to displace defenders in the run game is best suited to guard. Adams is an underrated prospect with plug-and-play ability at left or right guard.
ANIM DANKWAH, OT, HOWARD
Anim Dankwah possesses the combination of size, length, and power that NFL general managers covet in a developmental offensive tackle prospect. Dankwah measured in with 91st percentile height (near 6-8), 97th percentile weight (353), 94th percentile wingspan (85.5 inches), and 82nd percentile length (35 1/8" inches), per MockDraftable. NFL prospects literally don't get much bigger.
Dankwah played five seasons at Howard University in Washington, D.C., appearing in 39 games. He enters the 2024 NFL Draft as a three-year starter at left tackle. Dankwah delivered his best results this past campaign, allowing a career-few 11 pressures in 2023.
TANNER MCLACHLAN, TE, ARIZONA
Tanner McLachlan was a legitimate pass-catching weapon at Arizona. McLachlan recorded 79 receptions for 984 yards and six touchdowns across two seasons, becoming the Wildcats' all-time receiving leader amongst tight ends. McLachlan proved he could play at a higher level after walking on at Arizona from Southern Utah.
McLachlan impressed NFL scouts at the combine. The Lethbridge, Alberta native ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds. McLachlan also had a 35-inch vertical. He projects as a seam stretcher that's versatile enough to play the "Y" attached to the line of scrimmage, or as a modern-day "F" in space.
QWAN’TEZ STIGGERS, CB, TORONTO ARGONAUTS
While he was born in Atlanta, Georgia, Stiggers may possess the most unique story of any prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was scheduled to play college football at HBCU program Lane College in 2020 when tragedy struck. Stiggers' father passed away following a single-vehicle accident, causing him to leave school prematurely. Stiggers never actually played college football because the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stiggers eventually joined Fan Controlled Football, an indoor 7-on-7 league before receiving an opportunity with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Stiggers started 16 games for the Argonauts this past season, recording 53 tackles and five interceptions en route to winning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie for the 2023 season.
Stiggers continued his unlikely journey to the 2024 NFL Draft by impressing at this year's East-West Shrine Bowl. Stiggers is garnering serious interest from NFL teams with upward of 10 pre-draft 30 visits.
Stiggers may not be Canadian by birth, but the country is integral in his football journey. Stiggers will make history when he gets drafted despite never playing college football.
