British tight end Seydou Traore is poised to make a splash in the NFL after being chosen by the Miami Dolphins with the 180th overall pick. Standing at 6ft 4in and weighing 244lb, Traore has become the first player to be drafted through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. Born in France and raised in London, the 23-year-old moved to Florida in 2020, where he first played 11 v 11 football. Traore's college career was marked by impressive statistics, including 131 receptions for 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns, with an average of 6.5 yards after the catch.
Miami's general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, described Traore as a 'raw, athletic ball of clay' with immense potential for growth. 'He hasn't been playing football for long, which made him an intriguing pick, especially at that value,' Sullivan said.
'We believe he's an ascending player whose best is yet to come, and he can pose problems for defenses in time.' Traore joins a tight end group that includes Greg Dulcich and third-round pick Will Kacmarek. In two seasons at Mississippi State, he caught 69 passes, including a career-best five touchdowns last season. The Dolphins' selection of Traore marks the second time they've drafted a tight end this year.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles picked up Nigerian Uar Bernard with the 251st overall pick. 'This is a dream come true for me, as I've worked hard to achieve this goal,' Bernard said.
'Although I haven't played football yet, I've gone through drills that make me believe I'll get better every day.'