Dolphins draft skilled receiving tight end Traore at 180. Details, reaction
The Dolphins added a second tight end in the draft on Saturday, selecting Mississippi State’s Seydou Traore with the 180th overall pick.
Traore is a member of the NFL’s international pathway program, which is aimed to expand the league’s reach and give an opportunity to players throughout the world. He was in Pittsburgh for the draft, walked on stage with a UK flag over shoulders and got hug from Goodell..
After playing his first two seasons at Arkansas State, Traore transferred to Mississippi State and had 34 catches for 361 yards and a touchdown in 2024 and 35 catches for 369 yards and five TDs last season.
He sat out the 2023 season after transferring from Arkansas State, where he had 50 catches for 655 yards and four TDs in 2022.
“He is a tough route runner and showed the ability to make plays in the SEC; when you are looking at the International kids you want to see them do it on the field first,” Dolphins Director of College Scouting Matt Winston said.
Traore, 23, was born in France, grew up in England and first participated in American-style football as a teenager, competing in 9-on-9 football for the London Warriors.
He entered the NFL Academy a year later at age 17, and eventually played his first 11-on-11 football at Clearwater Academy, a high school in Florida.
From there, Traore switched from wide receiver to tight end as he transitioned to collegiate football with Arkansas State in 2021.
“His run after catch ability [stands out],” ESPN’s Field Yates said. “Linebackers had a tough time keeping up with his routes; averaged 6.5 yards after the catch in 2025. I like the receiving instincts for a guy that hasn’t played a lot of football. He’s still a work in progress as a blocker. Get him the ball, and good things happen in space.”
Traore ran a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash and registered a 40-inch vertical jump at the HBCU combine.
“He’s got a ton of athletic ability,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said.
Traore mimics sipping tea out of a tea-cup after TDs in honor of his England roots.
The Dolphins selected a skilled blocking tight end earlier in the draft when they selected Ohio State’s Will Kacmarek as No. 7. Greg Dulcich and Ben Sims are the most accomplished veteran tight ends on the roster.
The Dolphins have seven picks on the third day of the draft, and Traore was the fifth of those picks.
Earlier in the day, Miami selected Texas edge player Trey Moore at No. 130th, Pittsburgh inside linebacker Kyle Louis at 138, Texas safety Michael Taaffee at 158 and Missouri receiver Kevin Coleman at 177.
Not long after selecting Louis, the Dolphins traded the 151st and 227th picks to Carolina for the 158th and 200th selections.
The picks used on Coleman and Traore were traded by Dallas to Miami on Thursday, allowing the Cowboys to move up from 12th to 11th in the draft to select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Miami took Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor at No. 12.
Miami’s pick at No. 200, and another at 238, will be its final draft choices of the weekend.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 4:04 PM.
