Canadian Football League players who could draw the Chiefs attention
By Matt Conner
Travis Bond
Sometimes a team will take a flyer on a player simply out of love for them in a single category—a la the fastest player within a given subset of options. For Travis Bond, this is the story. The phrase “size matters” is true when it comes to the NFL, and for a player listed at 6’7, 356 lbs., Bond has the size thing down.
He came out of college at North Carolina with the nickname “Tree Top” for good reason, and Bond’s size and stature is largely what got him drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He stayed on the team’s practice squad for most of the season until he was signed away by the Carolina Panthers that same year for whom he even appeared in two games. That would end up being his only official NFL action.
Bond split the 2014 season with the Panthers and the St. Louis Rams before hitting the Arena League the following year. He landed in the CFL the last two years, and he’s blossomed in the process. Starting at guard for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Bond has the size to be a bookend as well. Given his experience, size, versatility and newfound success (he was a CFL All-Star in 2016), Bond deserves another serious look from an NFL team.
Chiefs fit? Remember that the Chiefs stand to lose Zach Fulton this year in free agency and even Jordan Devey is a free agent. Cam Erving should be able to step up into that sort of role, but he’s a complete wild card at this point. Bond could surprise if he also shows he could play tackle. He’d also be the biggest Chiefs player on the roster by nearly 40 pounds.