Foxborough Workout Puts Diego Paz in Patriots’ Sights
“The facilities are an absolute outrage. From the locker rooms to the physio room, passing through a players’ restaurant… They have offices, three fields, one indoor, it’s like a three or four-story spaceship, all dedicated to American football,” Diego Paz said after returning to Madrid.
The 23-year-old defensive lineman from A Coruña stands one step closer to the NFL. Following a standout season with the Rhein Fire in the European League of Football in Germany, Paz completed a high-stakes evaluation with the six-time Super Bowl champions in New England. The franchise will now determine whether to sign him as a free agent.
A Rapid Rise From Track and Field to the European Gridiron
Paz has played American football for only four years. Before trying his hand at the gridiron, he spent a decade competing in track and field.
That unconventional athletic foundation carried him across the continent. His journey includes stints with Las Rozas, a stop in Finland, and time in Tirol before he landed in Düsseldorf with the Rhein Fire.
Turning Scout Attention Into an NFL Evaluation
Guided by agents Damond Talbot and Michael Swenson, Paz caught the eye of NFL scouts. That interest materialized in Foxborough, where the Patriots brought the young Spanish defender in for a direct look on their home turf.
During the session, Paz trained specifically at his position as a defensive lineman. He reported feeling explosive through the drills and walked away convinced he measured up to the standard.
Awaiting Word From the Front Office
Paz now awaits a final decision from the New England front office in the coming days. The defensive lineman understands the realities of the pursuit, acknowledging that many prospects must endure multiple workouts before securing a permanent roster spot.
Should the franchise offer a contract now, Paz will join a very short list of Spanish players to reach the league. The path was previously walked by Alejandro Villanueva—who played from 2014 to 2021 after entering the NFL un-drafted out of Army—and JJ Arcega-Whiteside, a second-round draft pick out of Stanford who played from 2019 to 2021.
