The Buffalo Bills take a chance on English rugby player Travis Clayton with their latest NFL draft pick

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — England rugby player-turned-offensive-tackle prospect Travis Clayton was ready to join his International Pathway program classmates in the NFL draft in Detroit on Saturday, when suddenly his agent is came running from behind to hand him a cell phone. .

A frantic, joyous minute later, Clayton had the stage to himself after being selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 221st pick in the seventh round.

“Everything was a little blurry, but luckily I managed to get on stage in time, hanging out left, right and center,” said Clayton, still out of breath, with a Bills cap on his head during a Zoom call. “I hope I did it well on stage.”

Clayton, 23, has a head start on many of his classmates in the Pathway 2024 program, who participated in a 10-week boot camp-style training in Florida this winter.

Rather than being assigned to a team by the NFL or signing as an undrafted rookie, Clayton became the second player from the program to be selected in the draft. He joined Canadian Giovanni Manu, who was selected earlier today by the Detroit Lions with the 126th pick.

Standing 6 feet 76 inches tall and weighing 303 pounds, Clayton, 23, has a long history of athletics, having taken up rugby and boxing, and dabbled in soccer, rowing and tennis growing up, before end his chance to try. skeleton.

“I didn’t really want to go headfirst into a train on a dump track, so I actually refused,” he said with a laugh.

American football has been on his radar since 2019 when he attended the NFL Academy.

“I like the physical side of things. Being on the offensive line, being able to take your anger out on people legally, it’s awesome,” he said. “I can just use my strength and abilities.”

Clayton landed on the Bills’ radar after sending one of their scouts to the Pathway program’s workouts. Soon after, Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer was studying tape of Clayton and passed it to general manager Brandon Beane.

“He told me, ‘Man, this guy is athletic.’ Obviously, raw,” Beane said of Kromer’s reaction, which ultimately led to Buffalo using its ninth and final pick on Clayton.

“You know, I never really, really saw him play football,” Beane said. “But I know he was a rugby player, a boxer and, by all accounts, a great young man. And his measurable results are mind-blowing.”

The Bills can take a patient approach in developing Clayton.

For the first time this season, each team will have a 17th practice squad spot specifically available to an international player. Teams are also allowed to promote a player from the international practice squad to the active roster a maximum of three times during the season, increasing opportunities for players to develop and get a chance to play .

“Were excited. Obviously, he’s going to be raw. And you know, it’ll be new to the game. But really, his training was impressive,” Beane said.

Of the 37 international players who have been assigned or signed with teams since 2017, five are on the active roster. They include Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who started 57 games in four seasons.

Clayton said he wasn’t aware of the Bills’ interest in him until they called him.

“I haven’t had any visits with the Bills, but look, it’s the NFL, man. Buffalo came towards me. Buffalo wanted me. I’m just ready to work,” he said. “I don’t think it’s really going to kick in until we get to Buffalo. But right now, there’s a whole world of emotions going on. It’s crazy.”

He talked about adapting to American football to learn a new language.

“I always dreamed of playing in the NFL. So hearing my name is the main goal. This is exactly what I wanted,” Clayton said. “There’s still a lot to do, but the first step is a big step that I’ve taken. It’s a blessing.”

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