British tight end Seydou Traore spearheaded a group of international players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft alongside prospects from Germany, Nigeria, Canada and Japan.

Traore was taken in the fifth round, 180^th overall by the Miami Dolphins, completing a path to the NFL from humble beginning with the London Warriors and as a member of the first intake of players at the NFL Academy in 2019.

He played in the British American Football League and the NFL Academy under legendary English coach Tony Allen, who was also a mentor to Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, who followed a similar path. Traore is the first member of the Academy to be selected by an NFL team in the annual draft.

“He is a tough route runner and showed the ability to make plays in the SEC,” said Dolphins Director of College Scouting Matt Winston of the tight end who was born in France, grew up in London and played college football at Mississippi State. “When you are looking at the International kids you want to see them do it on the field first.”

Traore, 23, switched from wide receiver to tight end as he transitioned to collegiate football with Arkansas State in 2021. During his junior and senior campaigns as a Mississippi State transfer from 2024-25 he tallied 730 yards and six scores on 69 catches.

“Playing American football in London, only other people that play in London kind of understand the path or how big the sport is overseas,” he said. “Explaining it to my family that I'm going to travel halfway across the world to go and play football. They're just kind of relying on me to have belief in myself, to be honest, because they didn't really understand what the sport was, how it's played.”

Another player who played in Europe is Marlin Klein, who was a second round pick of the Hoston Texans (59^th overall). The tight end, who can also line up at halfback and receiver, played with the Cologne Crocodiles then at Michigan and was expected to be a later round selection until the Texans came calling.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted defensive end Uar Bernard 251st overall, despite the Nigerian never having played a down of American football. His talent was identified at a NFL camp in Africa.

“It's a dream come true for me because I've worked hard for this," said Bernard. “I've not played football, but I've gone through some drills that made me believe that I'm going to get better every day.

“It [means] a whole lot to me because I'm the first from my tribe to be at this level of NFL. So, more like an ambassador to the youth back home. And bearing the flag of Nigeria is a big task for me to work hard and give an example for the youth, for the young guys coming up from Nigeria.”

The Eagles, who invested time in developing Australian Jordan Mailata from a seventh-round draft pick in 2018 who had not played college football into a Super Bowl winner and second team All-Pro, also picked up Kenyan Joshua Weru.

Like Bernard, the Kenyan member of the NFL International Player Pathway has signed as an undrafted free agent having never played a down of American football. He has represented Kenya at rugby and will look to transfer his skills to the NFL.

Linebacker Akheem Mesidor became the sixth Canadian to be selected in the first round of an NFL Draft as he was taken with the 22^nd pick by the Los Angeles Chargers. He played college football at West Virginia before transferring to Miami.

“I finally know where I’m going and I can’t wait to get there and move all my stuff out to the West Coast,” said Mesidor. “I want people to look at me like, man, this guy came to work. I am ready to play right now. I have the motor and relentless effort.”

The Chargers also picked up Canadian offensive lineman Logan Taylor from Boston College in the sixth round, while Rene Konga (DT, Ottawa, ON) went to the Miami Dolphins and Wesley Bailey (LB, Ottawa, ON) and Rohan Jones (TE, Ottawa, ON) were signed by the Los Angeles Rams, all as free agents.