Breaking into the NFL as a British player is extremely difficult but there are an increasing number of players looking to make their mark across the pond.
Since the establishment of the International Player Pathway (IPP) in 2017, more opportunities to make the transition into the NFL are arising for players who are located outside of the United States and Canada.
In total there are only 33 players from Great Britain to have played in the NFL. Despite the low number, an abundance of young British athletes remain undeterred in pursuing their NFL goal and there will be British representation in this year's NFL Draft.
British players in the 2026 NFL Draft
Seydou Traore
Britain's one and only representative in the 2026 NFL Draft is tight end Seydou Traore.
Born in France but raised in south London, Traore was destined to play football having showcased his ability as a goalkeeper, but one taste of American football with the London Warriors changed everything.
Traore spent a year at the NFL Academy in Barnet, part of the International Player Pathway (IPP), before moving stateside to join Clearwater Academy in Florida as a senior.
Success with Clearwater led to a move to Arkansas State, and after being used sparingly in his first year, Traore enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022, posting 50 receptions for 655 yards and four touchdowns.
Transferring to the University of Colorado at the season's end, Traore re-entered the transfer portal after just one semester and joined Mississippi State.
Forced to sit out the 2023 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Seydou's decision to switch was eventually vindicated as he posted 69 catches for 730 yards and six touchdowns across two seasons.
An intriguing prospect due to his playmaking abilities, Traore didn't receive an invite to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine but showed scouts what they were missing at his Pro Day, running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and jumping a 40-inch vertical - not bad for a 244 pound tight end.
British players selected in the NFL Draft
Travis Clayton
Clayton was playing in the eighth tier of the English rugby union system with Basingstoke when he rejoined the NFL Academy and was assigned as one of 16 participants on the International Player Pathway programme.
Despite not playing in an American football match, Clayton was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft after an impressive Pro Day where his athleticism caught the eye of several teams.
Clayton held visits with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns in the build-up to the Draft before Buffalo made their selection.
Jay Ajayi
Born in London, Ajayi moved to Maryland in the United States aged seven and later attended Boise State for three years before being selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Rushing for 187 yards in his debut campaign, Ajayi enjoyed a breakthrough season in the following year and feature in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
The running back was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 and within four months he become a Super Bowl champion. An ACL injury sustained in 2018 prematurely ended his career, with Ajayi forced to announce his retirement in 2022.
Jack Crawford
Hailing from Kilburn in London, defensive end Jack Crawford spent nine years in the NFL after he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Crawford later moved to Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans, reaching the playoffs on two occasions.
Jermaine Eluemunor
London-born Eluemunor moved to the United States with his father aged 14 and attended Texas A&M before he was picked by the Baltimore Ravens with the 157th selection of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The offensive tackle joined the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders before finding a home at the New York Giants.
In March 2026, Eluemunor re-signed with the Giants on a three-year, $39 million contract.
Menelik Watson
Born and raised in the Manchester suburb of Longsight, Watson initially played college basketball in the United States before transitioning to American football at Saddleback College in 2011.
Transferring to Florida State University, Watson enjoyed a standout campaign for the seminoles and made the bold decision to forego his senior season to enter the Draft.
The decision was vindicated, with Watson selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 42nd overall pick, but a spate of injury issues derailed his time in California.
Watson signed a three-year contract with Denver Broncos in 2017 but further injury issues resulted in his release in September 2018.
Obi Melifonwu
London-born Melifonwu was another British player to be selected by Oakland as the Raiders used the 56th overall pick to sign him in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Injuries prevented the safety from making an appearances for the Raiders before he joined signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots, featuring in the season they won Super Bowl LIII.
Melifonwu was released by the Patriots in 2020 before joining the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.
