British NFL player Traore: I'll do what I need to do to make Dolphins impact

British tight end Seydou Traore has made the Miami Dolphins' 53-man roster; Dolphins selected Traore with the 180th overall pick (fifth round) in the 2026 NFL Draft; Traore tells Sky Sports about the draft, Miami and how his versatility is his strength

You may have heard Seydou Traore's story before. The likelihood is that you'll hear it many more times throughout his NFL career.

Despite the recent successes of Jay Ajayi, Efe Obada and Jermaine Eluemunor, it is still rare to see a British player in the NFL, and Traore is already on a unique journey

By being selected in the 2026 NFL Draft (fifth round, 180th overall), Traore became the first player to have attended London's NFL Academy and later be drafted to the NFL - after taking part in trials as a 16-year-old at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium all the way back in 2019 .

After moving to Florida to seek a college scholarship, he played two seasons at Arkansas State before transferring to Mississippi State, sitting out a year, then putting together two more seasons that caught the eyes of NFL scouts.

Since being drafted, he has made Miami's initial 53-man roster, but there is a lot more work to do. Traore spoke to Sky Sports this summer about the draft, landing in Miami, and his future in the league...

It was a long road from the NFL Academy to having his name called and walking across the stage in Pittsburgh, and Traore said the draft-day experience was "everything I expected and more".

He said: "Having my mum and my sister there with me meant a lot. Being able to reap the rewards of the years of hard work and the years they haven't been able to see me and be around me. As much as it was for me, it was for them.

"Heading on to that stage is an amazing feeling. I was speechless when I got out there, but yeah, it was amazing."

Mr. Worldwide to the 305! With the 180th pick, we have selected Seydou Traore from @HailStateFB pic.twitter.com/l5T1gmEMWZ

Unsurprisingly, Traore said he was inundated with "a bunch" of messages from people involved in the International Player Pathway programme, whether players, coaches or staff.

"Everyone from back home was checking up on me, congratulating me and just wishing me the best, saying they've either seen the videos or read this," he said.

"I was more than happy to go through each one and just connect with people and say thank you."

After spending five years in what he called the "countryside" of Arkansas and Mississippi, Traore is back in a lively city.