Canadian prospects Claypool, Gallimore not taken in first round of NFL draft

Canadians Chase Claypool and Neville Gallimore will have to wait a little longer to learn where they’ll begin their NFL careers.

Neither Claypool, a receiver from Notre Dame, nor Gallimore, a defensive lineman from Oklahoma, were selected in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night. The second and third rounds will be held Friday night.

The remaining four rounds will go Saturday.

Both Claypool, a native of Abbotsford, B.C., and Gallimore, of Ottawa, had been pegged as late first-round NFL picks in various mock drafts. They were also among 58 prospects who participated virtually in Thursday’s proceedings.

But draft gurus Mel Kiper Jr., and Daniel Jeremiah saw both as Friday selections.

The six-foot-two, 304-pound Gallimore had 30 tackles, four sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss last season. He appeared in 52 games — 38 as a starter — at Oklahoma, registering 148 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, nine sacks and five forced fumbles.

Gallimore impressed at the NFL combine with a 40-yard dash time of 4.79 seconds, becoming just the third 300-plus pound player to run that fast. He also recorded 23 reps in the 225-pound bench press.

Claypool, a six-foot-four, 238-pounder, was Notre Dame’s leading receiver in 2019 with 66 catches for 1,037 yards and 13 TDs. He registered 150 career receptions for 2,159 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Claypool also raised eyebrows at the combine, covering the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. He joined former Detroit star Calvin Johnson as the only receivers measuring six foot four and 235 pounds or bigger to run under 4.45 seconds at the combine.

Other Canadians who could also garner NFL attention either as late-round picks or undrafted free agents include: UCLA kicker J.J. Molson of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., a grandson of former Montreal Canadiens owner J. David Molson and cousin of current owner Geoff Molson who attended the NFL combine; Ohio University quarterback Nathan Rourke of Oakville, Ont.; and Alberta offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell of Red Deer, Alta.

O’Donnell and Rourke were third and seventh, respectively, on the CFL Scouting Bureau’s final top-20 list issued earlier this week. Gallimore and Claypool were the top two players in the rankings leading up to the league’s draft, which is slated for April 30.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press