Four NFL franchises are reportedly interested in acquiring the services of former Wallabies speedster Jordan Petaia after he impressed in the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) Pro Day trials recently.
It was confirmed last December that Petaia was heading to the United States to join the IPP, which gives elite athletes from around the world the chance to earn a spot on an NFL roster and increase the number of international players in the league.
And according to a report in Australia’s Daily Telegraph, Petaia made a favourable impression at the IPP trials at the University of South Florida’s Pro Day with the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons, the franchises showing interest in the 25-year-old.
He participated in rigorous testing at the trials and was trying out as a tight-end, the position he was primarily concentrating on during his time at the IPP, which he joined in January.
Petaia, who made 31 Test appearances for the Wallabies, was also put through his paces in the wide receiver position and as a defender, but it appears that scouts were impressed by his route running and catching skills at tight-end.
Tight-end is a specialist position which acts as a hybrid between an offensive lineman and a receiver, lining up next to the offensive tackle and capable of both blocking and catching passes.
It’s seldom that players coming from other football codes attempt to master the tight-end position due to its nuances.
Could be mentored by Travis Kelce
Petaia is a Kansas City Chiefs fan, and if he gets an opportunity to join them, he could be mentored by Travis Kelce, who is regarded as one of the NFL’s best ever tight ends.
Meanwhile, a move to the Chargers will also be beneficial for Petaia’s development, as they have veteran tight-end Will Dissly in their ranks.
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After being crowned the 2023 and 2024 Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs were beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles in this year’s Super Bowl, and apart from Kelce, they also have star quarterback Patrick Mahomes on their roster.
Petaia recently revealed that he had chats with former Wales flyer Louis Rees-Zammit and fellow Australian and ex-rugby league player Jordan Mailata.
Rees-Zammit is currently in the Jacksonville Jaguars squad as a wide receiver after initially having a short stint with the Chiefs as a running back before being released without playing an NFL game for them.
Mailata plays as an offensive tackle and was part of the Philadelphia Eagles squad, which clinched a 40-22 win over the Chiefs in the Super Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans in February.
Keen to succeed in the NFL
Apart from Rees-Zammit and Mailata, former NRL star and Fiji sevens representative Jarryd Hayne also had a short spell with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 and 2016 and ahead of the IPP trials, Petaia revealed that he is keen to follow in the aforementioned players’ footsteps by signing a contract with an NFL outfit.
“I started playing rugby at quite a young age, and I saw all the other Aussies sort of go over, other fellow rugby players as well go over in their careers and have a crack,” he told Mirror U.S. Sports.
”I think that’s something I looked up to and drew inspiration from, and as a fan of the game and someone who loves the aspect of playing sports at a high level, I thought with the opportunity there, it’s something I always wanted to go chase after and pursue.
”It’s definitely something I spoke about early on in my rugby career and jerked around about. When the opportunity came, I couldn’t turn it down. I just want to give it everything I got.”
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