Eastern Michigan offensive lineman Sidy Sow runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, March 5, 2023.The Associated Press
The New England Patriots selected Canadian offensive lineman Sidy Sow in the fourth round of the NFL draft Saturday.
The Patriots took the six-foot-four, 329-pound Sow, of Bromont, Que., with the 15th pick of the round, No. 117 overall. Sow, who played his college football at Eastern Michigan, became the third Canadian taken in the draft.
On Friday, the Atlanta Falcons took Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron, of Victoriaville, Que., in the second round. Then in the third round, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Illinois safety Sydney Brown, of London, Ont.
Sow was the Patriots’ third pick of the fourth round and their second offensive lineman. New England took Troy centre Jake Andrews with the fifth selection of the round, No. 107 overall.
Then seven picks later, the Baltimore Ravens took Ole Miss defensive end Tavius Robinson, a native of Guelph, Ont., No. 124 overall. Robinson began his college career at the University of Guelph before transferring to Mississippi before the ‘20 season.
Robinson became the first Gryphons player to be selected in the NFL draft. He was also the fourth Canadian taken, tying the mark for the most-ever picked in a single draft.
The Ravens took Robinson as an outside linebacker.
Sow started 13 games last season at Eastern Michigan, allowing just two sacks in 949 snaps. He helped the Eagles finish first in the MAC in red-zone offence (93.9 per cent) and third-down percentage (44.9), and second in passing efficiency (137.9).
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network’s draft guru, feels the Patriots selected a future starter in Sow.
“Torque and power, that’s what his game is all about,” Jeremiah said during the network’s draft telecast. “Excellent on combo blocks. He’ll give up his chest a little bit in pass protection but he can anchor down.
“He’s going to be a starter. A really good football player.”
Sow was an All-MAC first-team selection in 2022 after being named a third-team player in 2021. He started 11-of-13 games at left tackle as a true freshman in 2018 before moving to left guard in 2019.
After being named a third-team MAC selection in 2020, Sow was a first-team pick in 2021 and 2022. Sow finished his collegiate career as Eastern Michigan’s all-time leader in games played (56) and started (54).
Sow participated in the ‘23 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and NFL combine. He also was ranked fifth by the CFL scouting bureau in its list of top-20 prospects for the ‘23 draft, slated for Tuesday.
The six-foot-six, 257-pound Robinson started 13 games last season for Ole Miss. He recorded 44 tackles (17 solo), seven sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
“He did a nice job at Ole Miss,” Jeremiah said of Robinson. “The more you saw, the more you saw him improve.
“He’s long, he launches out of his four-point stance. There are times in the run game he gets pinned inside a little bit but the Ravens will try to cut him loose off the edge.”
Over three seasons at Mississippi, Robinson had 90 tackles (36 solo, 14 tackles for loss), 11.5 sacks and five forced fumbles (second most in the FBS).
He registered 65 tackles and 13.5 sacks at Guelph. Robinson was named to the 2018 OUA all-rookie team and then earned a ‘19 second-team all-star selection.
Robinson participated in both the ‘23 Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. He covered the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds, registering a 33.5-inch vertical leap and 10-foot broad jump as well as 23 reps in the 225-pound bench press.
Robinson was ranked fourth by the CFL scouting bureau in its list of top-20 prospects for the ‘23 draft, slated for Tuesday.