Matthew Bergeron, OT Syracuse: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Bergeron was a three-star athlete recruit from Cégep de Thetford in Quebec, Canada in the class of 2019

Syracuse left tackle Matthew Bergeron showcased himself well at the Senior Bowl after seeing starting snaps across all four seasons he spent with the Orange. NFL teams are desperate for reliable tackle talent, which could push Bergeron into the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Matthew Bergeron, OT Syracuse: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Senior left tackle from Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada

Background: Bergeron was a three-star athlete recruit from Cégep de Thetford in Quebec, Canada in the class of 2019. He was the No. 952 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 885 for On3.com. Bergeron was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. He became the first athlete in Thetford history to receive an NCAA Division I football scholarship. Bergeron was a PrepStar All-Region selection and the 2018 RSEQ Second Division Offensive Player of the Year and Offensive Line Player of the Year. He made 2017 Team Quebec for the Canada Cup and was a 2016 Spalding Cup All-Star. Bergeron was a two-time team MVP and one-time Thetford Athlete of the Year. He was born on February 26, 2000.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed the 2022 Wake Forest game

Awards: 2019, 2020 All-ACC Academic Team, 2021 Honorable Mention All-ACC, 2022 Second-Team All-ACC

Pros: Cut down on penalties in 2022, experience at right and left tackle, meets arm length thresholds, largely outmatched Derick Hall and Byron Young (UT) at Senior Bowl practices, impressive performance vs. Isaiah Foskey (2022), light footwork, quick initial slide, footwork to mirror defenders, footwork is measured and controlled, movement skills to carry rushers up the arc, rarely beaten around the outside track, agility to adjust to and pick up stunts without panicking, excellent recognition and seamless transitions on stunts, engages hands early in the rep, initial punch packs some pop, impressive and sudden clamp to lockdown defenders, gets to his landmarks on reach blocks, strength to collapse the defensive line, mobility to establish blocks at the second level, drives legs through contact as a run blocker, not a true mauler but he can move people

Cons: 22 penalties in the past three years, mixed bag in games against Jared Verse (2021, 2022), initial kick slide has some imperfections, Myles Murphy (2022) beat him up the arc once, pad level is inconsistent, instances of being blown backward by power rushes, Derick Hall planted him with power in a rep at the Senior Bowl, Myles Murphy (2022) got into his chest and threatened him with power several times, instances where he engages his hands late leading to defender getting into his chest, not a mauler in the run game, seemed lost in space at the second level, not a high-end athlete in space

Overview: Bergeron took official measurements at the NFL Combine. He’s 6047 and weighs 318 lbs. He has 9 4/8-inch hands, 33 6/8-inch arms, and an 81 7/8-inch wingspan. Bergeron’s pre-draft process almost assures him the opportunity to play tackle in the NFL, but some teams might feel tempted to play him at guard. He spent some time inside during the Senior Bowl practices but was very impressive at left tackle during the event. Bergeron was a team captain for Syracuse in 2022. During the season, he cut down on his previous penalty issues significantly. He went from committing 19 penalties combined in 2020 and 2021 to just three in 2022. The Canadian tackle doesn’t have outstanding length, but he meets arm length thresholds. He’s played well when faced with quality competition. Bergeron largely outmatched Derick Hall and Byron Young (UT) at the Senior Bowl practices and had a very impressive outing against Isaiah Foskey (2022). The left tackle has light, controlled footwork that allows him to mirror defenders and stick with rushers up the arc. He’s rarely beaten around the outside track, although Myles Murphy (2022) got him once. Bergeron’s awareness, football IQ, and recognition skills make him one of the best tackles in this draft at handling stunts. His initial punch packs some pop. The All-ACC lineman clamps down on defenders suddenly, preventing possible counters. Defenders struggle to escape his vice-like grip. Bergeron gets to his landmarks on reach blocks and plays with good strength at the point of attack. He’s not a mauler but has no trouble sealing defenders or generating some vertical displacement. Bergeron drives his legs through contact and has the mobility to establish blocks at the second level. His most significant concerns are in pass protection. The senior’s tape against Jared Verse in 2021 and 2022 was a mixed bag, and he lost several reps to Myles Murphy (2022). Derick Hall even planted him on his rear end on one play during team drills at the Senior Bowl. There are questions about Bergeron’s anchor since he gives significant ground to power rushers. His pad level is inconsistent, and there are instances where he engages his hands late, which leads to defenders getting into his chest. Myles Murphy took full advantage of this tendency, digging into Bergeron’s chest several times in 2022. Bergeron has the movement skills to mirror rushers, but there are still imperfections in his kick slide. He seemed lost at times after reaching the second level on run plays. The former three-star recruit isn’t a high-end athlete in space.

Overall, Bergeron is an impact player in the run and pass game who plays with rare poise and a high football IQ. His foot speed and movement skills suggest he could develop into a high-end player in pass protection, but his hand usage, early-stage footwork, and anchor are points of concern. Bergeron might transition to guard down the line, but he deserves a shot on the outside in the tackle-needy NFL.

Role & Scheme Fit: Left tackle or left guard in an inside zone or gap scheme

Round Projection: Early Second to Mid Second

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 03-30-23