The likelihood is that you'll hear it many more times throughout his NFL career. Despite the recent successes of Jay Ajayi, Efe Obada and Jermaine Eluemunor, it is still rare to see a British player in the NFL, and Traore is already on a unique journey By being selected in the 2026 NFL Draft (fifth round, 180th overall), Traore became the first player to have attended London's NFL Academy and later be drafted to the NFL - after taking part in trials as a 16-year-old at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium all the way back in 2019. After moving to Florida to seek a college scholarship, he played two seasons at Arkansas State before transferring to Mississippi State, sitting out a year, then putting together two more seasons that caught the eyes of NFL scouts.
Since being drafted, he has made Miami's initial 53-man roster, but there is a lot more work to do. Traore spoke to Sky Sports this summer about the draft, landing in Miami, and his future in the league... It was a long road from the NFL Academy to having his name called and walking across the stage in Pittsburgh, and Traore said the draft-day experience was "everything I expected and more".
He said: "Having my mum and my sister there with me meant a lot. Being able to reap the rewards of the years of hard work and the years they haven't been able to see me and be around me. As much as it was for me, it was for them.
"Heading on to that stage is an amazing feeling. I was speechless when I got out there, but yeah, it was amazing." Unsurprisingly, Traore said he was inundated with "a bunch" of messages from people involved in the International Player Pathway programme, whether players, coaches or staff. "Everyone from back home was checking up on me, congratulating me and just wishing me the best, saying they've either seen the videos or read this," he said.
"I was more than happy to go through each one and just connect with people and say thank you." After spending five years in what he called the "countryside" of Arkansas and Mississippi, Traore is back in a lively city. However, he didn't have much time for exploring. First up was training, conditioning, film, playbook and importantly: forming connections.
The Dolphins are coming off a disappointing 7-10 season, their second straight losing campaign. That meant the end of the Mike McDaniel era and a fresh start in Miami. For new head coach Jeff Hafley, new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, and new quarterback Malik Willis, the main goal is bringing the team together.
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