Meet the youngsters hoping to earn mega bucks in the NFL

They all had hopes and dreams of playing various footy codes in Australia, but a trio of young athletes are fighting for the big bucks and an NFL deal.

Patrick Murtagh has traded the Sherrin for a shot at the NFL. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

It mightn’t be long until we see another homegrown prospect in the NFL after two Aussies and a New Zealander were picked as part of the International Player Pathway program for 2023.

There’s a strong Australian contingent in the NFL at the moment, with punters Michael Dickson (Seahawks), Arryn Siposs (Eagles) and Mitch Wishnowsky (49ers) all taking their booming boots to the States.

The most famous export at the moment is former Rabbitohs Holden Cup player Jordan Mailata, who has made a name for himself in Philadelphia and is one of 26 international players to have made an NFL roster.

Patrick Murtagh is hoping to make it in the NFL after earning a spot in the International Player Pathway. Picture; NFL Australia

This year’s batch of youngsters battled it out at the international combine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where players from 13 countries took part in the trial.

Patrick Murtagh, 22, is probably the most famous name on the list and was only released from his rookie deal with the Gold Coast Suns two months ago.

He’s vying to be a tight end, while Talitiga Lachlan Amosa and New Zealand’s Etuale Junior Vinny Lui have impressed as defensive linesmen, with Lui making the switch after playing lower grades with the Wests Tigers.

The trio will now spend 10 weeks training in the US, starting in January, where they will try to impress talent scouts from the 32 NFL franchises.

The hope is they’ll be signed as free agents or allocated to a practice squad, but at the very least, one of the NFL’s eight divisions will be picked at random, with one team to take on an international player as part of their roster.

Michael Dickson has been one of the best punters in the league since he joined the NFL. Picture: Steph Chambers/Getty Images

“The International Player Pathway program is an important part of our continued focus on growing the game globally and creating a pathway for international athletes to play in the NFL,” NFL Australia general manager Charlotte Offord said.

“We are delighted to see these three talented athletes representing Australia and New Zealand on the International Player Pathway for 2023 and competing for a future spot on an NFL roster.”

If the trio can follow in Mailata’s footsteps, then a big payday could be coming their way, with the Eagles star recently signing a four-year extension worth $64m.

Originally published as Meet the youngsters hoping to earn mega bucks in the NFL