NFL news: Seydou Traore’s path from South London to NFL Draft reaches defining stage

Seydou Traore first discovered football whilst watching Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora’s weekly NFL show, and this week will proudly represent South London as he enters the 2025 NFL Draft as the latest face of international talent on the verge of making the NFL.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer and NFL fan Luca Salmasi takes a closer look at Seydou Traore’s journey to the NFL Draft.

Unlikely path to American Football

Traore, who was born in France but grew up in London, didn’t have the typical start to the journey, as many in England, he grew up playing soccer, specifically as a standout goalkeeper before giving football a chance.

Traore began playing football for his local team, London Warriors, playing 9-on-9 football, and later became part of the first cohort of the NFL Academy when it was launched in Barnet in 2019, and is part of the International Player Pathway Program.

Traore swiftly became a standout talent and caught the eye of Clearwater Academy in Florida, looking to maximise his potential, where he would catch 25 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns.

He was ranked a three-star prospect before committing to Arkansas State originally as a wide receiver before moving to become a tight end.

Consistent production across programmes

Traore was named First-Team All-Sun Belt after leading the conference in his first year in Arkansas with 61 receptions for 734 yards and four touchdowns before transferring to the University of Colorado.

Traore’s time in Colorado was short, as due to the NCAA transfer rules, he was forced to sit out the 2023 season, and the prospect of working with coach Deion Sanders and current Jacksonville Jaguar Travis Hunter just wasn't meant to happen.

However, he would return to form later, transferring to Mississippi State, where he would closely match his numbers from Arkansas with 69 receptions for 730 yards and five touchdowns.

Traore leaves college having amassed 130 receptions for 1,464 yards with 10 touchdowns, and is one of the hottest tight end prospects heading into Thursday’s draft in Pittsburgh.

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Combine snub fuels pro day

Traore was snubbed from the 2026 NFL Combine as he didn’t receive an invitation, but that didn’t stop him from impressing on his Pro Day.

Traore was timed as fast as 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash and hit 40 inches in the vertical jump and 10 foot 7 inches in the broad jump.

Traore was also timed as fast as 6.95 seconds during the three-cone drill and was praised for his athletic ability during drills as well as his ability to catch the ball well.

As part of the league's International Player Pathway programme, Traore is a great developmental prospect whose game has gradually progressed over the past three years.

With glimpses of interest from the likes of the Los Angeles Chargers and having spent time with the New York Jets, going after Traore would be taking a chance, although his showcase of athletic ability is where teams have started to notice, as the traits of a great player are there but not defined.

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