The NFL remains one of the most popular sporting tournaments in Canada, and this leads to many players crossing the border to try their hand at getting a contract with an NFL team every season. However, this edition has been completely different to any other season, as preseason is being conducted in the middle of a global pandemic. This has already led to disappointment for many players, as training camps have been cut to 80 players from the original 90.

At the same time, there will not be as many pre-season games as earlier, which will also reduce the chances for fringe players to play and impress and make it to the final 53-man squad. On the plus side, practice rosters have been expanded to 16 from 10 players, with six of the spots being reserved for veterans. This means that some players have seen their chances improve, while others have taken a hit, and it is the same for the Canadians hoping to land a spot on final rosters as well. There is a lot of interest in the fate of the Canadian players in the NFL, with many Canadian fans following teams with strong Canadian representation. This has an impact elsewhere as well, where people who play online casino in Canada being interested in betting on Canadian players, as well as playing NFL-themed slots and games for those teams where Canadians are playing. It is no surprise, then, that casino operators are hoping that there are quite a few Canadian players in the NFL this season, as it would improve their profits.

Some of the best Canadian prospects for the 2020 NFL season are listed here:

Jalen Philpot – the wide receiver could be a target for the San Francisco 49ers, having put on a show in Canada’s college competition, the Vanier Cup, in 2019. He has accumulated over 1000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in two years at the University of Calgary, and his style of play and physical attributes could be a perfect fit for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s tactics.

Chuba Hubbard – Running back Hubbard is one of the hottest prospects in the NFL, and is projected as being in the top 75 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. He averaged 161 yards, with a total of 2,094, from just 13 games last season for Oklahoma State, showing just how fast he is, and added 21 touchdowns as well. He would be a very good addition to any team’s backline, and his potential can be seen from the fact that he is one of the contenders for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the best player in the NCAA football season.

Neville GallimoreGallimore was a third-round draft pick for the Dallas Cowboys, and so he is definitely going to be a part of the roster. The only question is as to how big his role will be, as he is unlikely to move ahead of the likes of Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy, but will probably be the next in line for defensive minutes.

Eli AnkouAnkou has been in the NFL for three years now, but is still yet to establish himself in a roster. He only made two starts for the Cleveland Browns last year, but will have to beat out the likes of Daniel Ekuale to make the final 53-man list this time around.

Brent UrbanUrban proved his worth for the Bears last year, as he was an effective injury replacement for Akiem Hicks. In the current scenario, coaches will value players with NFL experience, and so Urban is a safe bet for the Bears’ roster this year, especially with an injury to defensive linesman Eddie Goldman ruling him out.

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