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British tight end Seydou Traore became one of the standout stories of the NFL Draft after being selected in a late round by the Miami Dolphins with the 180th overall pick, marking a historic moment for the NFL Academy pathway.
Traore is the first graduate of the UK based NFL Academy to be drafted into the league. Born and raised in London, he has French Algerian and Ivorian heritage and developed his early football skills with the London Warriors as a teenager. His journey took shape when he joined the NFL Academy's first intake in 2019, a programme designed to develop international talent for American football.
After progressing through the academy system, Traore moved to the United States to continue his development in high school football in Florida. He later earned a college scholarship at Arkansas State in 2021 before transferring to Mississippi State in 2023, spending five years competing at the collegiate level.
During his college career, he appeared in 48 games, recording 131 receptions for 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns, with five of those scores coming in his final season. At 6 feet 4 inches and 244 pounds, he developed into a physically imposing and athletic receiving option, attracting attention through the NFL International Player Pathway programme.
Former NFL Academy player Efe Obada, who became the first IPP athlete to reach the NFL, played a symbolic role in announcing the Dolphins' selection in Pittsburgh. He described Traore as proof that international players can reach the highest level of the sport, noting his long development journey through the academy system.
Traore became the third IPP player ever drafted, following Australia's Jordan Mailata in 2018 and Britain's Travis Clayton in 2024. Mailata's success, which included developing into a Super Bowl winning offensive tackle, has become a benchmark for international prospects entering the league through similar routes.
Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan described Traore as a raw but highly athletic player with significant upside. He noted that Traore has not played football for long compared to many prospects, which made his natural athleticism and growth potential particularly appealing to the team in the fifth round range.
The Dolphins view him as a developmental prospect with long term potential, believing his best football is still ahead of him. Sullivan emphasized that the team had been
monitoring Traore for some time before selecting him when he became available at their draft position.
Alongside Traore's selection, another IPP story emerged with Nigerian prospect Uar Bernard being drafted despite never having played organized football before entering the programme. Bernard, who is 6 feet 4 inches and 306 pounds, impressed scouts with exceptional athletic testing numbers and was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles late in the draft.
Bernard's selection was announced by Obada as well, highlighting the growing impact of the IPP pipeline. His case drew comparisons to Mailata, who also entered the league as a raw international athlete and developed into a key NFL starter after being drafted.
For Traore, the moment represents the culmination of years of development across multiple countries and systems, from London fields to American college stadiums. His selection signals not only personal achievement but also the continued expansion of international pathways into the NFL.
