The NFL training camps start in a few days. What is the situation like for the German players?

The 2024 season in the world’s best football league is drawing ever closer. In just over a week, the 32 NFL teams will start their official training camps. Various German players will also be there, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, of course.

Away from the Detroit Lions’ star receiver, a number of rookies from Germany want to start their careers in the NFL

Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)

He’s the talk of the town: Amon-Ra St. Brown. After three excellent years in the NFL, the 24-year-old is one of the best receivers in the league – and that is also paying off financially. At the end of April, he signed a mega contract with the Lions until 2028. He will receive 120 million US dollars, 77 million of which is guaranteed.

Figures that are no coincidence. The pass receiver is one of his team’s most important players and after the great success of last season – the Lions reached the NFC Championship Game – the aim is to achieve further success in 2024.

St. Brown is right in the middle of it – and not just there. The series “Receiver” is currently airing on the streaming platform “Netflix”. Alongside Davante Adams (Raiders), Justin Jefferson (Vikings), George Kittle and Deebo Samuel (both 49ers), the German-American is also the focus of attention.

There, the 24-year-old also revealed that he tore his oblique abdominal muscles in week four of last season. However, St. Brown only took a break for one game, although the abdominal muscles had “completely separated from the bone”. Fit and healthy, he wants to do big things next season.

Equanimeous St. Brown (New Orleans Saints)

EQ St. Brown, Amon-Ra’s older brother, also wants to hit the ground running again in 2024. And in a different place. Because unlike his brother, the 27-year-old has not been with the team that drafted him in 2018 for some time. That was the Green Bay Packers.

After two seasons with the Chicago Bears, he became a free agent at the end of last season.

The good news came at the beginning of April. The New Orleans Saints signed the pass receiver, who was without a club at the time. The franchise around quarterback Derek Carr is anything but strong at the receiver position behind Chris Olave. St. Brown should therefore certainly get his chances

Brandon Coleman (Washington Commanders)

He is the new German NFL hope. Brandon Coleman was selected in the third round of last April’s draft. The Washington Commanders picked the quarterback protector at No. 67, meaning he will be tasked with shielding No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels in the future.

Coleman left Berlin at the age of 15 and moved to the USA. He even served as captain of the TCU Horned Frogs in his final college season. In the “RTL” interview after the draft, the O-lineman spoke of being “speechless and shocked”.

He continued: “The coaches are mega cool. I’m very happy to be in Washington. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity. “

Marcel Dabo (Indianapolis Colts)

2022 The defensive back came to the NFL via the International Player Pathway Program and was signed by the Colts. The 24-year-old has recovered well from the meniscus tear he suffered last October. Now it’s time to finally achieve what Dabo wants so much: to play in an NFL game.

So far he has only been on the practice squad, but that is set to change in the coming season

Devery Hamilton (Pittsburgh Steelers)

New opportunity for Devery Hamilton. The offensive tackle signed a so-called “Reserve/Futures Contract” with the Pittsburgh Steelers in January. This means the franchise claims the rights to him for the 90-man roster as part of Organized Team Activities and training camp.

Such contracts are usually compensated at the minimum salary, which is based on the player’s experience, and are not guaranteed.

In his fourth year, previously under contract with the Raiders and Giants, he hopes to break through in Pittsburgh.

Lorenz Metz (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Another German to benefit from the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. In mid-April, the Buccaneers announced that they had signed the offensive tackle.

The giant from Upper Bavaria, who only started playing football at the age of 17, played for the Cincinnati Bearcats in college but was not selected in the 2023 draft. After brief stints with the Bears and the Giants, he is now getting his next chance with the Bucs.

Thanks to the International Player Pathway Program exemption, the German will get the roster spot that doesn’t count against the 90-man roster and can participate in all workouts and training sessions.

Kilian Zierer (Houston Texans)

Just like Metz, Kilian Zierer has the same fate. He was also not selected in the 2023 draft. He then went to the Texans as an undrafted free agent. Although he impressed in training camp, a serious injury meant he had to retire early in the season.

Last April, the franchise allocated him an international roster spot for 2024

Julius Welschof (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Julius Welschof was not selected in the 2024 draft, but was selected afterward. The defensive end, who is already 27 years old and comes from the University of North Carolina, was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The training camp mission is clear: make a good impression. Good for Welschof: The Steelers have placed him in the “International Roster Spot”, which every team is entitled to as part of the International Player Pathway Program.

Jakob Johnson and David Bada (Free Agents)

These two Germans are currently waiting for another chance. Fullback Jakob Johnson played for the Patriots from 2019 to 2021 and then two seasons for the Raiders. His contract expired after last season and was not extended. Johnson is currently a free agent and looking for a new team – just like David Bada.

The defensive tackle had been with the Commanders since 2020, when they signed him as part of the International Player Pathway Program. Last summer, he tore his triceps in training, which is why his 2023 season ended prematurely