NFL Draft: Joe Staley predicts Matthew Bergeron will be drafted in the 1st round

MONTREAL – Joe Staley is a bit biased. After all, he coached Matthew Bergeron from late December to early April in preparation for the draft. But the former star player of the San Francisco 49ers claims that the NFL teams will fall in love with the profile of the Quebec player.

“I find that there is no limit to his great potential. He also knows that he will achieve this through hard work and he is ready to invest the effort,” said Staley, who was quick to respond to RDS.ca’s request to discuss Bergeron.

Retired for three years, Staley has found the professional balance that currently suits him by passing on his knowledge to the hopes of the agency. Rep 1 Sports.

Over the past two years, Staley has mentored athletes like Spencer Brown (Bills) and Abraham Lucas (Seahawks) who were each drafted in the third round.

For Bergeron, he firmly believes in the possibility of the first round.

“I see him in the first round. I think some teams will fall in love with what he can become as a player. I would be very surprised if he was not taken in the first round, ”said the man who was one of the NFL’s benchmarks for a decade as a left tackle.

To arrive at this forecast, Staley relies on a few elements. He talks about a huge untapped potential, what he accomplished in Syracuse, his way of attacking running games with brilliance and his progression in passing situations.

“When you pair that with his enthusiasm for the sport, a lot of things make him exciting as a prospect,” he said.

During the discussion, Staley insisted a few times on Bergeron’s appetite for football and the rigors that go with it. In his eyes, this is a huge plus in the candidacy of the Quebecer.

“It’s become much rarer to find athletes, like Matthew, who enjoy this whole process and the work ethic that it requires. I think every hour about investing in meetings and in the gym. All that work that people don’t see and that makes an athlete develop. Finding an athlete with his skills and work ethic is what enchants recruiters and explains this excitement. That’s why his value goes up,” said Staley, who was nominated six times for the Pro Bowl.

Obviously, NFL teams are drawn to his unusual background. Those who were most charmed by Bergeron believe he can take his talent to a whole new level.

“I think his journey demonstrates his passion for football and the adversity overcome along the way. I also come from a small town in Michigan and went to a modest program in Central Michigan. A ton of NFL athletes have a similar background. I’ve always found that these athletes want to prove themselves more and they end up having different standards than if they had always been seen as top prospects. I consider it helps, ”explained the 38-year-old man.

Especially since Bergeron was able to impose himself in Syracuse in the NCAA.

“His performances measure up very well against any athlete in this vintage,” Staley said as the offensive line’s 2023 vintage is seen as a good vintage.

That’s not all, scouts have noticed that Bergeron has shown intriguing progress within months of his Syracuse career, thanks to guidance from Staley and his football entourage. If he prefers the role of blocker on the left, he seems to have the tools to be transferred to the position of guard.

In recent weeks, Bergeron has been invited to seven visits to NFL organizations and more than a dozen virtual meetings. Based on the pleasure he had working with Bergeron, Staley assumes that he will spark hasty discussions among the teams during the draft.

“It was wonderful to work with him, his personality was very endearing, you can see he loves football. What struck me the most was his openness to being taught. He was eager to learn whether it was techniques, details about the sport, how defenses attack the offense… This personality will serve him very well,” mentioned the American.

Staley is therefore not worried about the “few technical elements to refine” especially since Bergeron has valuable leadership qualities.

“That’s one of the things we’re looking for. He has also demonstrated this energy here. We were a group of five to six guy players and he raised the level of the others with his approach,” noted Staley, who is knowledgeable in the field.