Falcons trade up to pick Canadian offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron in NFL draft

After sitting through the first round of the NFL draft, Canadian Matthew Bergeron didn't have to wait long Friday night to hear his name called.

The Atlanta Falcons selected the Syracuse offensive lineman in the second round. The club made a deal with the Indianapolis Colts to move up and take Bergeron with the seventh pick of the round, No. 38 overall.

Bergeron was projected as a second-day selection, however some mock drafts had him moving in the latter stages of the first round.

"It was a long wait, I didn't expect it to be that long," Bergeron said in a telephone interview. "When you watch the draft as a fan, after pick No. 20 you're going to bed but for me the 20th pick was when the action started.

The 23-year-old native of Victoriaville, Que., was the first Canadian selected in this year's draft. The six-foot-five, 322-pound Bergeron started 11 games last season for Syracuse and served as a team captain.

Then in the third round, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Illinois safety Sydney Brown, of London, Ont., with the third pick, No. 66 overall.

Bergeron allowed just four sacks in 686 snaps and was penalized three times. He was a 2022 second team All-ACC and AP All-ACC second team selection.

Protection in the trenches <a href="https://t.co/GaeHY62amI">pic.twitter.com/GaeHY62amI</a>

The burly Canadian anchored an offensive line that helped running back Sean Tucker gain more than 1,000 yards. Tucker also became the first player in school history to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons as well as 250-plus receiving yards.

Bergeron was invited to both the Senior Bowl and NFL combine during the off-season. He was the second offensive lineman selected in the second round but first tackle.

Five tackles were selected