Australian college football star Thomas Yassmin signs rookie deal with Denver Broncos, on track to make NFL history
Australian college football star Thomas Yassmin was once offered a contract by the Sea Eagles – but is now on track to make NFL history after signing a three-year deal with the Denver Broncos. Read the exclusive interview.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
College football star Thomas Yassmin is on track to make history by becoming the first Australian tight-end to play in the NFL after signing a three-year rookie contract with the Denver Broncos.
Yassmin, a former Scots College rugby union schoolboy star and NRL prospect – who was offered a three-year deal by the Manly Sea Eagles back in 2017 – has now inked a contract with Denver as an undrafted free agent.
Ranked in the top-20 tight ends ahead of the 2024 NFL draft, a season ending shoulder injury in October during the final year of college football for the Utah Utes, dented Yassmin’s chances of selection.
But the injury did not dampen the interest from NFL clubs for the 23-year old.
A total of 10 clubs came to the table with four – including the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Broncos – holding multiple meetings with Yassmin’s agent.
But the opportunity to earn a spot on the 53-man roster at the Broncos, who did not draft a tight-end, was too good to refuse.
The lack of depth at tight-end at Denver has put Yassmin, who stands at 198 centimetres and weighs 114 kilograms, in the box set to become the first Australian to play NFL in a ‘skilled position’ since Jarryd Hayne in 2015.
“My projection was a late draft, round six to seven. I was hoping to get called up then. Once it got to the sixth round, my agent was doing behind the scenes work,” Yassmin told this masthead.
“As soon as the draft was over the Broncos were ready to go.
“I’d be one of the few Australian skilled position players to play in the NFL. I spoke to the Broncos tight end coach on the phone, I told him ‘I’m not coming there to be a developmental player’. “I have played college football for five years now, I’m trying to get on the field. I’m going there to be on the top-53 roster.”
As an undrafted free agent, Yassmin will have the rookie camp and the pre-season to earn a place in the top roster before the start of the 2024 season, which is scheduled to begin on September 5.
“The Broncos need a tight end and they didn’t draft one, which is good for me. I’m next up, I’m going to go there and compete for the position,” Yassmin said.
Yassmin isn’t the only Australian tight-end on an NFL roster.
Former Gold Coast Suns-listed player Patrick Murtagh is signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars but is an International Player Pathway prospect and did not come through the college system like Yassmin.
Around 30 Australians have featured in NFL squads since 1965 but most have an AFL background and signed as punters.
Only a handful have come through the college system, including Colin Scotts, who was the first to be drafted into the NFL in 1987.
Jordan Mailata, one of two Aussies to play in the 2023 Super Bowl, made headlines last week after signing a monster contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles worth almost $100 million.
Mailata is also a graduate of the International Player Pathway program, which also opened the door for NRL stars Hayne, who played eight games for San Francisco 49ers, and Valentine Holmes, who played three pre-season games for the New York Jets, to make the move to the NFL.
For Yassmin, the chance to play NFL started as a 11-year student at Sydney’s prestigious The Scots College, when footage of the then teenager wreaking havoc on the wing in first XV team, which also featured Sydney Roosters star Billy Smith, caught the attention of University of Hawaii coach Chris Naeole in 2017.
It landed Yassmin a spot at an invite-only combine where his 40-yard dash of 4.49 seconds set tongues wagging.
At the time Yassmin also had serious interest from multiple NRL clubs including the Broncos, Parramatta, Canberra and the Sea Eagles.
But the decision to shun the Waratahs and the NRL to take the leap and move to Utah has paid off for Yassmin.
“It took convincing to get me over here,” Yassmin laughed.
“The NRL was definitely a viable option.
“I give a lot of credit to my family for shoving me to go. My high school basketball coach David Todd, he was the one who came up with the idea for me to go to America in the first place when I was in year 11.
“I’m definitely glad I took his advice.”
Yassmin played five games for the Utes in 2023 before the season ending shoulder injury.
Yassmin had enjoyed a breakout year in 2022, where he scored six touchdowns including one in the famous Rose Bowl against Penn State in 2023.
Originally published as Australian college football star Thomas Yassmin signs rookie deal with Denver Broncos, on track to make NFL history
Join the conversation
NRL Player of the Year Awards: Who won what at your club
Max Plath took the honours at the Dolphins on a night in which Jesse Bromwich was almost brought to tears as his teammates farewelled him with a haka. See which players were acknowledged at every club’s awards night.
Read more
Watch: Sydney Roosters rap group to drop 20-track album
Three-quarters of the Sydney Roosters rap crew will be departing the club at the end of the season but that hasn’t stopped them banding together to produce a 20-track album set to drop soon. Watch the stars in the studio.
Read more