In the years to come, for the Chicago Bears, one of the protectors of the very first draft pick, Caleb Williams, could well be an offensive lineman directly from the Canadian university system and who speaks fluent French.
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Just after the annual auction during which he did not have the pleasure of hearing his name, Theo Benedet did not wait long when the Bears gave him the expected phone call.
He signed a pact as a free agent that guarantees him to earn at least $100,000. For this type of deal, this is a rather significant amount which suggests that the Bears really believe that Benedet can crack their 53-man roster at the end of the summer.
And who is this Theo Benedet? Carabins fans will remember that their team defeated the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the Vanier Cup final last November.
Benedet was one of the most dominant players at UBC, becoming the first offensive player in Canadian university football history to win the JP Metras Trophy twice, given to the best lineman in the country.
“I will never get over this defeat, but at the same time, I use it as motivation. The Bears will quickly see that I am a very competitive person who always seeks to win. It’s the individual trophies, but it’s the championships that I’m looking for,” he said during an interview with The Journal.
Canadian and European roots
During the conversation, Benedet was not content to jabber a few words of French. The Toronto native and Vancouver resident insisted that the interview take place entirely in French, a language that he masters perfectly and of which he is proud.
“My father was born in Ottawa and grew up in Switzerland. He has spoken in French since I was born and I did all my primary school in the French-speaking system. I also lived for a year in Lyon, France. I have a mixture of all these influences.
“My father always wanted us to be bilingual as Canadians. My sister is very involved in the French-speaking community in British Columbia,” he explained.
A team on the rise
Benedet would have liked to be drafted, but he consoles himself with the idea of having been able to choose Chicago as his destination among a few offers.
The Bears came to see him in Vancouver twice last fall and found that he moved very well for a 6-foot-7, 300-pound guy. They were also present with 15 other teams at its Pro Day in March.
Since then, the Bears have had the highest hopes after drafting quarterback Caleb Williams, perceived as a rare talent.
The Bears’ first pick in the last draft, Caleb Williams. Photo Getty Images via AFP
“It’s super exciting to join a team on the rise with a group of young players full of potential. I can’t wait to contribute,” said Benedet, who will participate in the rookie mini-camp next weekend.
If the NFL adventure didn’t work out, Benedet wouldn’t have to exile himself far from home since the British Columbia Lions made him their second round pick on Tuesday.
A good year for Canadians
Theo Benedet is open to the idea of changing positions in the NFL. Photo Didier Debusschere
Theo Benedet isn’t the only player in the country trying to make it to the NFL next season. No less than four Canadians were drafted, including another offensive lineman from the University of British Columbia, Giovanni Manu.
Manu was the Detroit Lions’ fourth-round pick, which pleased his good friend Theo Benedet.
“We talk to each other all the time. It’s special to be together, not only in the NFL, but both in the same division. There is already a rivalry!” he laughed.
In addition to Manu, tight end Theo Johnson was chosen by the Giants in the fourth round, as was cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers by the Jets a round later. Another tight end, Tanner McLachlan, was the Bengals’ sixth-round pick.
This is the second best Canadian vintage after the record of five, which was established last year.
Inspired by LDT and Auclair
In the history of the NFL, only 39 players have made their way to NFL rosters from Canadian university football. In Quebec, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (2014) and Antony Auclair (2017) are the most recent to have paved the way.
“It’s special to consider this, but what I hope most is that the circle will continue to grow.
“Guys like Laurent and Antony are super inspiring because they showed us that everything was possible. You have to be grateful. The teams have seen their successes and they see that others can become good players,” Benedet underlined.
The 22-year-old also benefited from the contacts of Montreal agent Sasha Ghavami, who was familiar with Bears general manager Ryan Poles.
“Ryan Poles was in Kansas City when Laurent was with the Chiefs. What the Bears saw first was my athleticism and the movement of my feet. If I make the team, I have to prepare to play all positions. “That’s what I did in preparation for the draft.”
2024-05-06 04:00:00
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