In September of last year, the NFL dropped a huge announcement giving all 32 teams the option to add depth to their practice squad with the addition of an international player starting in 2024.
The new rules allow NFL teams to add an international player to their practice squad as a 17th player on what was previously at 16-man squad. These players can be elevated at any point during the season. This allows NFL teams to develop international talent and groom them for a chance at pro football on Sundays.
Last year, the teams in the AFC West and NFC North each saw a new player from the NFL IPP Program. This led to several pre-season heroes such as LA Chargers CJ Okoye getting a sack in his first-ever football game.
The year prior in 2022, only one division the AFC South collected an international player for each team, including European League of Football defensive rookie of the year Marcel Dabo.
This year’s 2024 NFL IPP class features 16 talented athletes at various positions including recent Kansas City Chiefs signee Louis Rees-Zammit. This year’s class also includes kickers and punters for the first time allowing these specialists to fall under the program’s umbrella.
NFL International Player Pathway scout Mark Dulgerian talks 2024 NFL IPP Class & Program expansion https://t.co/dybCidSae3
— American Football International (@AFIReview) April 17, 2024
Below are all the NFL International Player Pathway Program Players signed for the 2024 season and the teams that have yet to fill that spot.
NFC North:
Green Bay Packers: DL Kenneth Odumegwu (Nigeria)
Minnesota Vikings: DL Junior Aho (France)
Detroit Lions: None
Chicago Bears: None
AFC North:
Pittsburgh Steelers: DT Julius Welchof (Germany)
Baltimore Ravens: None
Cleveland Browns: OL Roy Mbaeteka (Nigeria)
Cincinnati Bengals: None
NFC East:
Washington Commanders: DL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi (Nigeria)
Dallas Cowboys: None
New York Giants: None
Philadelphia Eagles: None
AFC East:
New England Patriots: None
New York Jets: None
Miami Dolphins: OL Bayron Matos (Dominican Republic)
Buffalo Bills: OL Travis Clayton (England)
A @ScottHanson welcome for new @BuffaloBills man Travis Clayton! 🇬🇧🏴 pic.twitter.com/6lmtdcho97
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) April 28, 2024
AFC West:
Kansas City Chiefs: OL Chukwuebuka Godrick (Nigeria) & RB Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
Los Angeles Chargers: DL CJ Dillon (Nigeria)
Las Vegas Raiders: DL David Ebuka Agoha (Nigeria)
Denver Broncos: None
NFC West:
Arizona Cardinals: TE Bernhard Seikovits (Austria)
San Francisco 49ers: OL Alfredo Gutiérrez (Mexico) & OL Isaac Alarcon (Mexico)
Seattle Seahawks: OL Max Pircher (Italy)
Los Angeles Rams: None
Basil ‘CJ’ Chijioke Okoye OL 🇳🇬
The 20-year old was one of the top prospects at the Combine, after winning mvp of the NFL Africa camp in 🇬🇭 this spring
The 6’6 315lb former hooper showed great feet & power, along with surprisingly good technique given his limited 🏈 XP #nfl pic.twitter.com/b85KhMW2c7
— American Football International (@AFIReview) October 5, 2022
AFC South:
Jacksonville Jaguars: TE Patrick Murtaugh (Australia)
Tennessee Titans: TE Thomas Odukoya (Netherlands)
Indianapolis Colts: DB Marcel Dabo (Germany)
Houston Texans: None
NFC South:
Atlanta Falcons: None
Carolina Panthers: None
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OL Lorenz Metz (Germany)
New Orleans Saints: Kicker Charlie Smyth (Ireland)
Half of the AFC North and the entire AFC East along with 10 other teams do not have an NFL International Player under contract, bringing the total to 16 (half the league). These teams will no doubt be contacting NFL International scouts such as Mark Dulgerian to see if they can start to add international players will high athletic potential and the right attitude for the NFL.
NFL to expand Practice Squads for all teams to include one international player starting in 2024 https://t.co/s039vUHU87
— American Football International (@AFIReview) April 16, 2024