Louis Rees-Zammit, a former Welsh rugby union player, has agreed to sign with NFL champions the Kansas City Chiefs and is scheduled to make the move official on Friday.
Rees-Zammit visited the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs following his Pro Day performance, in which he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds. At six-foot-three and 200 pounds, Rees-Zammit is a big athlete who drew attention when he demonstrated his rapid speed in front of team scouts.
The 23-year-old Welsh rugby star stunned fans when he announced his decision to leave the sport and travel to Florida for an intensive 10-week training program.
Louis Rees-Zammit: A Gamble or a calculated move?
Well, before we speak about Chiefs, Louis Rees-Zammit’s gamble has paid off, with a reputed $900,000 (£703,900) contract about to be inked.
Rees-Zammit will join the Chiefs during summer camp before head coach Andy Reid and his coaches trim the roster to 53 players for the 2024 NFL season. Rees-Zammit still has a long way to go, but despite admitting that he has never played American football before, he has already exceeded expectations.
The Welsh athlete is likely to practice in a hybrid role, as Rees-Zammit can play both wide receiver and running back. Rees-Zammit is taller than most traditional running backs, but veteran Derrick Henry is one of the most iconic players in that position, standing the same height as the former rugby star.
Rees-Zammit still needs to improve his vertical and broad jump statistics from NFL Pro Day. But he’s already learned the fundamentals of American football in a short of weeks, and the Chiefs will be able to teach him valuable lessons over the summer.
As an offensive-minded athlete, Rees-Zammit will train with the finest in the NFL while with the Chiefs, alongside three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. Last season, the Chiefs’ offense lacked imagination at times, and Rees-Zammit’s wildcard addition should help.