Former Broncos DL Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi has joined the Commanders. Denver still has an open spot on the roster for an international player.
The Washington Commanders have signed former Denver Broncos defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.
Ndubuisi (6-7, 323 pounds) is a Nigerian player who participated in Osi Umenyiora’s UpRise Academy program in Africa before being invited to an international NFL combine in London in 2021.
Ndubuisi joined the league’s IPP program in 2022 and he was allocated to the Arizona Cardinals. After spending preseason in Arizona that year, Ndubuisi was later allocated to the Broncos in 2023.
After practicing as an offensive lineman in Arizona, Ndubuisi switched to the defensive line in Denver. He spent all of the 2023 campaign on the Broncos’ practice squad, but Ndubuisi was not signed to a reserve/future contract at the end of the season.
Ndubuisi had a brief stint with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in February before joining the Commanders earlier this week. He will continue playing as a defensive lineman.
The NFL has given each team an extra spot on the offseason roster for international players and an extra spot on each practice squad for an international player this season. Denver worked out Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit last month, but he opted to join the Kansas City Chiefs instead.
With Ndubuisi moving on, the Broncos have an open spot for an international player in 2024.
The Broncos hosted Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on a free agent visit Monday.
The Denver Broncos hosted Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on a free agent visit Monday, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rees-Zammit (6-3, 194 pounds) played for Gloucester Rugby, a club team in England, from 2018-2024, scoring 190 points in 69 games. He has also played for Wales’ national rugby team since 2020, scoring 70 points in 31 games.
After playing as a wing and fullback in rugby, the 23-year-old athlete now hopes to play in the NFL as a running back/wide receiver/returner.
At the University of South Florida’s pro day last week, Rees-Zammit ran an unofficial 4.44-second 40-yard dash. He spent 10 weeks training at the IMG Academy in Florida leading up to USF’s pro day.
Rees-Zammit isn’t the first player to attempt switching from rugby to the NFL.
“I think there are a lot of transferable skills,” Rees-Zammit said in an interview with the Associated Press‘ Rob Maaddi last week. “In rugby, you’re always trying to get your hands on the ball as much as often and you’re always trying to break defenses, look for spaces, be aware.
“Catching kickoffs, catch and kick receipts, punt receipts, there’s a lot of transferable skills, and I think running back shows up probably best, getting the ball in my hand early, being able to pick a gap, being able to be aware of the surroundings.”
Those were rugby union players. Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata was a rugby league player in Australia before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. He has started 57 games in Philly since 2020.
Although he played a different version of rugby, Mailata could give hope to Rees-Zammit that a transition to American football is feasible.
NFL teams will have a 17th spot on the practice squad this season specifically designated for an international player, and teams can carry an extra international player on the roster during training camp (91 total).
Last spring, the Broncos were allocated defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway. Ndubuisi spent last season on Denver’s practice squad, but he is no longer listed on the roster on the team’s official website.
Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at rookie defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi.
Before the Broncos: Ndubuisi (6-7, 323 pounds) is a 22-year-old Nigerian defensive lineman who grew up playing soccer and basketball. After impressing at Osi Umenyiora’s Uprise Academy in Nigeria, Ndubuisi was invited to an international combine in London. After that combine, Ndubuisi was invited to training camp with the Arizona Cardinals last year, but he did not make the team.
Broncos tenure: Ndubuisi was allocated to the Broncos in May as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway. Ndubuisi will not count against Denver’s 90-man offseason roster this summer. Because he only had a brief stint with the Cardinals in 2022, Ndubuisi is listed as a “rookie” on the Broncos’ roster.
Chance to make the 53-man roster: Ndubuisi was among the Cardinals’ first cuts last year and unless he shows a lot of improvement this summer, he will likely be among the Broncos’ first cuts in August. That’s not to say he’ll never make it in the NFL. Ndubuisi might be a candidate for Denver’s practice squad this year, and the NFL has seen journeymen defensive linemen find success late in their careers in the past. Even if he doesn’t make the Broncos’ 53-man roster, Ndubuisi could have a future in the league.
As part of the program, the 22-year-old Nigerian lineman will not count against the 90-man offseason roster limit this summer.
Ndubuisi looked as good as a defensive lineman can in spring practices, but the real test will come when Denver puts on pads later this summer. Payton said after organized team activities wrapped up last week that Ndubuisi has looked good so far, but his real opportunity will come during training camp.
“He’s doing well,” Payton said on June 8. “The biggest challenge [is that] no one’s got shoulder pads on or anything yet. He looks good. He’s smart and I like him. I like that we have him. I think it’ll be easier for me to answer that question seven days into training camp because they’re the ones that are challenged with this type of practice.
“One guy is in charge of the ‘A’ gap on defense, and there’s an offensive lineman in charge of the ‘A’ gap. There has to be somebody acquiescing. That will sort out once we get the pads on.”
If he looks good in pads and ends up making the team, Ndubuisi will count against the 53-man roster this season. In the meantime, he won’t count against the offseason roster, giving him some security at least for the summer. Now it’s up to the young defensive lineman to take advance of his opportunity.
