Just a year ago, Travis Clayton was juggling a job in pre-employment background checks and playing rugby for his local Basingstoke team in England’s eighth tier. Today, the 23-year-old Briton has landed one of the most sought-after roles in world sports—an American football player.
Clayton is about to start his first season with the Buffalo Bills after a whirlwind 2024. The Bills surprised everyone by selecting him in this year’s NFL draft, despite Clayton never having played a single game.
“Last year I was working an office job,” he told BBC Sport. “I certainly didn’t think I’d be stood here now playing for the Bills, I can tell you that.
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“But I always had the passion to get into American football. I just needed a pathway to get pushed into.”
Growing up, Clayton was involved in several sports, and in 2019, he attended a trial for the newly launched NFL Academy in the UK. The program offers teenagers from Europe and Africa full-time coaching and education, aiming to help them earn college scholarships in the U.S.
Although Clayton initially spent only a short time at the academy, not fully grasping the opportunity, he was determined to seize his second chance when it came.
He attended a trial for the NFL’s International Player Pathway, launched in 2017, and was one of 16 athletes selected for the 2024 program, alongside Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit.
In January, they flew to the U.S. for a 10-week training camp, where Clayton was designated as an offensive lineman, a position focused on blocking opponents and protecting the quarterback.
“I remember the first session in Florida,” he said. “It was all about getting your body in awkward positions that I haven’t been in before.
“In rugby, a lot of the time you’re on your toes. As an offensive lineman, you’re more flat-footed, so it was about adjusting to the different angles of your hips and your legs.”
He impressed during his Pro Day in March, where NFL scouts evaluate college players ahead of the draft.
Standing 6ft 7in and weighing 301lbs (137 kg), Clayton’s size made him an ideal offensive lineman, but it was his speed that caught everyone’s attention. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds, the fastest time recorded by an offensive lineman in a decade.
“That’s quite rare, for a 300lb man,” he said. “That’s when I thought some teams might be interested.”
Clayton visited five NFL teams before the draft, though Buffalo wasn’t among them, despite having a call with a Bills coach to discuss some basics. He attended the three-day draft event in Detroit with four other International Player Pathway (IPP) players.
On the final day, they were scheduled to be introduced together on stage to showcase the program.
“It got to a point where I thought ‘I don’t think I’m going to get picked’,” said Clayton. “Then my agent got a call from the Bills. I didn’t know they were fully interested so I was surprised.
“We were about to go on stage so we all had to run round the back so I could get the phone off my agent and speak to the general manager and the head coach, and they said ‘let’s get it on’.”
After a short trip home, Clayton reported to Buffalo less than two weeks later. On his first day, he signed his rookie contract, met star quarterback Josh Allen, and familiarized himself with his new surroundings.
“I don’t think it really kicked in until I saw my name in the locker room,” Clayton said. “That’s when I thought ‘OK, now I’m in this business. Now it’s time to work’.”
Since May, Clayton has been learning the ropes of pre-season training, where he’s tackled NFL players for the first time.
He’s been learning the playbook, pre-snap cadences, and even the basics, like how to put on his pads.
“It’s been a great experience but, for me, it’s a developmental period,” Clayton added.
“I just need to grow as a player, keep improving and getting that extra 1% every day.”
