5 Canadians to watch in the NFL this season

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Canada's rise as a basketball nation is evident at the men's World Cup, where a deep group of NBA players led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has earned its country's first-ever berth in the semifinals and a spot in next year's Olympics.

Canadians have yet to make as great of an impact at the highest level of pro football, but their NFL footprint is growing. For instance, a record five Canadians were picked in this year's draft after four were taken in 2021.

As the 2023 season kicks off tonight with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the up-and-coming Detroit Lions, here are five Canadian NFL players to keep an eye on:

Chase Claypool, receiver, Chicago Bears

The second-round pick out of Notre Dame dazzled as a rookie for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020, when he scored four touchdowns in a single game and finished the season with 11 TDs and 62 receptions for 873 yards. But Claypool's TD total fell to two in 2021 as he found himself in coach Mike Tomlin's doghouse, and he remained stuck in neutral last year when Pittsburgh traded him to the rebuilding Bears.

The Windy City isn't exactly a receiver's haven with run-happy quarterback Justin Fields at the helm. And Claypool finds himself lower on the depth chart this year after the Bears traded for D.J. Moore to be their new No. 1 receiver. But that move could help elevate Fields' shaky passing and lift Chicago out of the basement after it went a league-worst 3-14 last year.

Jevon Holland, safety, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins, one of the fastest teams in the NFL, feature flashy playmakers like star