English offensive lineman Clayton picked by Bills at NFL Draft

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Louis Rees-Zammit isn't the only Brit to enter the NFL this offseason, with English offensive tackle Travis Clayton being drafted in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

Clayton, who is 6'7 and weighs over 300 lbs, grew up in Basingstoke. He was previously a part of the NFL Academy in London but restarted his NFL dream earlier this year by joining the International Player Pathway Program in 2024 alongside rugby star Rees-Zammit, who signed for the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month.

"It was all a bit of a blur, but luckily I managed to get on stage in time, dragged left, right and center," a still breathless Clayton said with a Bills cap on his head during a Zoom call. "I hope I did it right on stage."

Clayton moves fast for a big man -- he used to play on the wing in rugby -- posting 4.79s on the 40-yard dash at the IPP Pro Day.

The 23-year-old will now have a chance to prove himself at the team's Organised Training Activities (OTAs) and training camp, with the hope of making the active roster.

Rather than being allocated to a team by the NFL or sign as an undrafted rookie, Clayton became the program's second player to be selected in this year's draft. He joined Canadian Giovanni Manu, who was chosen earlier in the day by the Detroit Lions with the 126th pick.

Prior to this year's draft, only two players had been drafted from the IPP: Australian tackle Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles, seventh round, 2018) and German wide receiver Mortiz Böhringer (Minnesota Vikings, sixth round, 2016).

Clayton has long been into athletics, having taken up rugby and boxing, and dabbled in football, rowing and tennis growing up, before drawing the line on a chance to try skeleton.

"I love the physical side of things. Being on the offensive line, being able to take your anger out on people legally, it's great," he said. "I can just use my strength to my abilities."

Clayton landed on the Bills radar after sending one of their scouts to take in the Pathway Program workouts. Soon after, Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer was studying a tape of Clayton, and forwarded it to general manager Brandon Beane.

"He was like, 'Man, this guy's athletic. Obviously, raw,'" Beane said of Kromer's reaction, which eventually led to Buffalo using its ninth and final pick on Clayton.

"You know, I've never seen him really, truly play football," Beane said. "But I know he was a rugby player, boxing and by all accounts a great young man. And his measurables are wowing off the page."

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

"I didn't have visits with the Bills, but look, it's the NFL, man. Buffalo came to me. Buffalo wanted me. I'm just ready to work," Clayton said.

"I don't think it's really going to kick in yet until I actually get to Buffalo. But at the moment, it's a world of emotions going on right now. It's crazy."

He referred to adapting to American football to learning a new language.

"I always had the dream of playing in the NFL. So hearing to get my name called out, that's the main goal. That's exactly what I wanted," Clayton said. "There is a lot of steps still to be done, but the first step is a big one I've done. It's a blessing."

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.