Louis Rees-Zammit will sign a deal with the defending Super Bowl champions, according to reports in the United States.
The former Wales wing has visited several teams since completing his intensive 10-week training programme after joining the NFL’s international player pathway.
Rees-Zammit has visited several franchises, including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos, but he looks set to join the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to the Bleacher Report, the 23-year-old will officially sign a contract on Friday and will be part of their summer camp ahead of the new season, which starts in September.
Competing for a place on the roster
Once there, the speedster will vie for a place on the Chiefs’ roster which will eventually be cut down to 53 for the 2024/25 campaign.
Despite what Rees-Zammit described as a disappointing pro day, where hopefuls seek to impress potential NFL suitors, he has been seen as an intriguing prospect.
The flyer ran 4.44 for the 40-yard dash, slower than what he said he had been doing in training, while his jumps – broad and vertical – were below average.
That hasn’t put off Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs, who despite being the defending champions and winning three of the past five Super Bowls, struggled with their receiving corps last season.
Rees-Zammit is being seen as a combined wide receiver and running back threat, as well as being an option as a kick returner in special teams.
His pace and balance could make him a threat in the running game, while his height marks him out as a potential target for Mahomes’ accurate throws from quarterback.
‘I have no regrets’ – Louis Rees-Zammit ahead of D-Day in fledgling NFL career
His best position
After his shock announcement back in January, Rees-Zammit revealed which position he saw himself playing in American football.
“In terms of a position, in rugby, I want the ball at all times,” he said.
“So, I think it would be somewhere on the offense, running back, receiver, a bit of a hybrid. Whatever I get told, I will do. My main attribute in rugby was my speed and that’s very transferable. I would like to say I have good hands and I don’t drop the ball that often.
“But this is a different sport and the ball comes at you very fast, so I understand that’s going to take a bit of work. There are a lot of footwork skills I have and footwork is massive in American football.”
“There are going to be a lot of different skills but, at the same time, I can improve on what I’ve got already. The quicker I can learn the game, the better for me because then I can show everyone what I can do.”
Rees-Zammit still has lots more work to do if he is going to get into a team that contains stars such as Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Even if he has the athleticism to succeed, the difficultly comes in learning the routes and understanding the sport against individuals that have played it their entire life.
However, if he doesn’t make the roster for the main 53-man NFL campaign, the former Wales star will likely go on to the practice squad.
That has been expanded to 17 for this season to allow teams to include an international player, either through the IPP, which Rees-Zammit was a part of, or from elsewhere.
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2024-03-28 08:52:13
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