ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The reality of being in the NFL is still settling in for Bills rookie Travis Clayton.
“I think it finally kicked in when I saw my name on the locker room," Clayton said. "That was the first time I realized, I’m here now.”
There's been plenty of new experiences for Clayton, including sharing the field with stars like Josh Allen.
“Yeah, it’s wild, it is wild because you go from seeing them on TV and now you’re just out there on the field with them trying to protect them,” Clayton said.
The sentiment extends to the feeling of wearing a helmet and pads.
“We had a photoshoot, and I haven’t had a photoshoot in all the gear so that was different,” Clayton said.
Every new experience though, is one that Clayton has enjoyed and is taking in stride.
“Just meeting a whole new personnel, different people in America, coming to this amazing facility training every day. It’s been great so far,” Clayton said.
The Bills drafted Clayton in the seventh round out the International Player Pathway Program.
At 6 feet, 7 inches and 301 pounds, the former rugby player from Basingstoke, England, is going through his first offseason as an NFL offensive lineman.
“I think the most challenging thing for me is the playbook," Clayton said. "I think I’m just learning everything, learning different movements. Different hand movements as well because that plays a big part in playing an offensive lineman….Definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but it’s the NFL. It’s not going to be a walk in the park.”
Something that’s helped Clayton with the transition is a quote he learned while at the International Pathway Player program.
“Be uncommon," Clayton said. "So for me, I’m a fast guy at 300 pounds. With some run plays, I’ve been able to use my speed the best that I can and hopefully that’s stood out enough for the coaches.”
As Clayton continues on his journey as a football player, he spoke with someone else who’s walked in the same shoes, from English rugby player to the Buffalo Bills: Christian Wade.
Wade spent time with the Bills from 2019 to 2022. Clayton says he talked with Wade before coming to Buffalo, with Wade relaying experience to get ready for offseason practices like rookie minicamp and training camp.
Wade also shared this piece of advice: “I think he told me just to be yourself and to represent the country because I’m representing the United Kingdom. That’s huge.”
And just like Wade, Clayton hopes to serve as an inspiration for future football players from the United Kingdom.
“I take a lot of pride in it. I’m hoping … once my career is over, I can go back to kids in the UK that want to play American football and tell them about my story and hopefully one day they can look at me and use me as a role model and them come into the league,” Clayton said.