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Best International NFL Draft Prospects | 2024

Best International NFL Draft Prospects | 2024

The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a week away, and hype is at an all-time high.

While it may feel like we’ve seen every story line there is to see over the years, this year’s draft sees the continuation of a trend that’s increased in recent years: The number of high quality international prospects.

Thanks to the increased global presence of the NFL, international camps, and programs like the International Player Pathway (IPP), the 2024 draft has dozens of prospects from outside the United States who have a chance to be signed to a 90-man roster.

Let’s dive into what makes an international draft prospect eligible, who the best international prospects are in 2024, and some recent success stories in the NFL.

 

What is an International Draft Prospect?

International draft prospects are draft-eligible players who finished their career outside the United States. Many of these prospects come from U Sports, the Canadian college league. Some other prospects come from outside of the continent.  

While there’s been a massive increase in Australian punters, they aren’t considered international draft prospects if they finished their career at an American college.

 

International Prospect Draft Eligibility

International prospects have the same general eligibility rules as NCAA prospects. Prospects must:

  • Be 3+ years removed from high school
  • Have expired all their college eligibility OR have requested the NFL’s approval to enter the draft early

Prospects are only eligible for the draft in the year after the end of their college eligibility.

 

Top International Prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft

My 2024 NFL Draft Database includes 74 international prospects, most being from Canadian universities. 11 of these prospects did not attend an American or Canadian school.

Among those 74 prospects, here are some that stand out:

 

Qwan’tez Stiggers, CB, Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

Qwan’tez Stiggers is a rare case in the NFL Draft as he just finished a season playing professional football in the CFL. He’s eligible for the draft as he never attended college, therefore never officially starting his eligibility clock.

Stiggers was one of the most dominant defensive players in the CFL despite still only being 22 years old, and just won the Most Outstanding Rookie award in 2023.

He has legitimate size for a corner at 6’0” 204 pounds, with a strong frame that outclasses most of the other prospects in the class.

Stiggers also has plenty of athleticism for an NFL corner, timing in at a 4.45 40 yard dash with a 36” vertical and 128” broad jump.

He was invited to the East-West Shrine Game and has been heavily scouted by over a dozen NFL teams. 

 

Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia (Canada)

Giovanni Manu is a mammoth human being who performed very well throughout his 3 years as a starter at U Sports powerhouse British Columbia. 

At 6’8” 350 pounds, Manu’s size is obvious. But you watch him on tape and realize he is far beyond the standard extra-big offensive tackle in terms of movement ability and technique.

He’s still quite raw, but unlike some of the other guys it’s obvious he’s been playing football for a while.

Manu’s stock shot up after his pro day, where he ran a verified 5.06 40 yard dash, plus a 33.5” vertical at 352 pounds. 

Traits like that will give him a legitimate chance to be drafted.

 

Theo Benedet, OT, British Columbia (Canada)

Theo Benedet could have been drafted into the CFL last year, but decided to return to school. 

After participating in the 2023 East-West Shrine Game, Benedet showed improved tape in his final season of college. 

The 6’7” 295 pound right tackle is very experienced, with quick feet and explosiveness. He ran a 5.14 40 with a 34.5” vertical and a 114” broad jump. 

His athletic traits are comparable of those with a mid round pick, and his tape is dominant. The big problem for him will be length (32 ⅛” arms).

 

Luke Brubacher, EDGE, Wilfrid Laurier (Canada)

Luke Brubacher is a sleeper who was rising the ranks of the CFL Draft before they realized he might be good enough to get an NFL opportunity. 

The defensive end from Wilfird Laurier in Ontario has a prototypical frame at 6’5” 246 pounds, and showed high level athletic traits including a 4.69 40, a 38” vertical, and a 126” broad jump.

His vertical and broad both ranked top 10 among the 175+ edge rushers with verified data. 

He showed flashes of really nice quickness and power around the edge, but will need to be a lot more consistent to see the field in the NFL.

Still, edge rusher is a traits-heavy position, and he has the traits.

 

Kevin Mital, WR, Laval (Canada)

Kevin Mital is an extra large receiver who was having a three year stretch before an injury ended it early.

The 6’1” 229 pound receiver ran a 4.58 40, comparable to Keon Coleman, Malachi Corley, and Jalen Coker, despite being the 2nd-heaviest receiver in the class. 

He was one of the most productive receivers in Canada, with solid hands and the ability to win contested catches.

Wide receiver is an interesting transition from Canada to the NFL because of rule differences involving receivers running up to the line of scrimmage, but Mital’s athleticism and frame will get some looks from NFL evaluators.

 

Bayron Matos, OT, Dominican Republic

Bayron Matos is one of the freakiest athletes in the draft. 

He’s never played in a football game, but is getting official pre-draft visits with a dozen teams.

Why? He’s a 6’7” 313 pound former basketball player who ran a verified 4.90 40, with a solid 28” vertical and an impressive 7.64 cone drill.

Matos is a Dominican Republic native who played basketball for a short time at USF and New Mexico. 

He looks the part with a powerful build and long arms, and has gotten plenty of attention working through the International Player Pathway. 

 

Travis Clayton, OT, England

Travis Clayton is another intriguing prospect with no football experience. He has been training as an offensive lineman, but Clayton is really a rugby player and boxer by trade. 

The 6’7” 301 pound tackle ran a blazing 4.81 40 yard dash. Of the 269 offensive lineman I found verified testing data for, that ranks #1 overall. He has a daunting 7’0” wingspan, is a naturally fluid mover, and has good body control. He’s worked out with a few NFL teams, but will have a long way to go to learn the nuances of playing offensive line.

 

George Smith, OT, England

George Smith is another English offensive tackle prospect in the IPP who is a rugby standout. Some teams are also considering him on the defensive side of the ball. 

Smith has ridiculous size, standing 6’9” with a 7’4” wingspan. 

He showed impressive athletic ability with a 5.04 40 yard dash, and has a strong first step off the line of scrimmage. 

Along with learning football, Smith will also need to add some more strength to his frame to hold his anchor against bull rushes.

 

Praise Olatoke, WR, Nigeriaf

Praise Olatoke is an interesting story. After being born in Nigeria and spending most of his life in Scotland, Olatoke ran track at a Canadian University. A couple years later he was a sprinter and CLUB football player at Ohio State.

The 23 year old previously ran for the Scottish national track and field team, and was named the 2019 Scottish U20 Athlete of the Year. 

At his pro day he put up a sub-4.4 40, and has nice size for a receiver at 6’2” 197 pounds. 

 

Other International Prospects

A few other international draft prospects worth noting:

  • Vincent Blanchard, K, Laval (Canada)
  • Cristophe Beaulieu, S, Laval (Canada)
  • Yani Gouadfel, S, Bishop’s (Canada)
  • Darius Simmons, WR, McGill (Canada)
  • Mohsen Jamal, WR, Western (Canada)
  • Jonathan Giustini, S, Alberta (Canada)
  • Tyson Hergott, EDGE, Waterloo (Canada)
  • Nicholas Gendron, WR, Ottawa (Canada)
  • John Bosse, OT, Calgary (Canada)
  • Tyshon Blackburn, S, Alberta (Canada)
  • Jotham Russell, EDGE, Australia
  • Matthew Peterson, RB, Alberta (Canada)
  • Ryan Berta, C, Queen’s (Canada)
  • Rintaro Yamada, EDGE, Waseda (Japan)
  • Patrick Murtagh, TE, Australia
  • Sam Orji, G, Nigeria
  • Sean Rae Trotter, LB, Kwansei (Japan)
  • Isaac Ajanah, LB, Nigeria
  • Florian Bierbaumer, TE, Austria

 

International Players Currently in the NFL

Not every prospect will work out in the NFL, everyone knows this. But a number of NFL players were previously international NFL draft prospects.

A few you may know:

Jordan Mailata, OT, Australia

Akiem Hicks, DL, Regina (Canada)

Jakob Johnson, FB, Germany

Marcel Dabo, S/CB, Germany

 

When is the 2024 NFL Draft?

The 2024 NFL Draft is a 3-day event beginning on Thursday, April 25th at 8pm ET.

 

Who Is the Best International NFL Draft Prospect?

There are three international prospects will a real chance of getting drafted: Cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers, Offensive Tackle Giovanni Manu, and Offensive Tackle Theo Benedet. 

Stiggers and Manu are the top two prospects in the group, both from Canadian universities.

Have a sleeper you want to share? Feel free to leave a comment below with your favorite international NFL draft prospects in 2024.

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