While baseball is often called America’s Pastime, television viewership, merchandise sales, and even the rising number of NFL-themed games at online gaming sites covered at suggest that football not only dominates other major sports in U.S. popularity but is also gaining traction globally.
And with this intense level of popularity domestically comes the inevitable growth of the game on an international level. Over the years, the NFL has branched out to different parts of the world, hosting regular season games in several countries and developmental programs in many others.
This, of course, has led to a plethora of international players being drafted into the NFL, including a few with ties to the Green Bay Packers.
International Players Taken in Recent Drafts
Corey Ballentine
One player that Packers fans will be familiar with is cornerback Corey Ballentine, who spent 2022-2024 with Green Bay. However, he was not originally drafted by the team, having been selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
While Ballentine went to college at Washburn, which is located in Kansas, he is a native of Jamaica.
Ballentine recently signed with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency.
Penei Sewell
Another player that Packers fans will be familiar with due to how often Green Bay plays the Detroit Lions every year is offensive lineman Penei Sewell. Widely regarded as one of the best linemen in the NFL, the American Samoa native is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time First Team All-Pro.
Sewell was drafted out of Oregon by Detroit in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Chase Claypool
As some fans may recall, the Packers were, at one time, interested in acquiring wide receiver Chase Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2022. However, Claypool was sent to the Chicago Bears instead, but has since bounced around the NFL.
The 2020 second round pick, a native of British Columbia in Canada, did not play in the NFL last season due to injury.
Chuba Hubbard
One of the most successful of international players that is on the rise in the NFL is Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard. A native of Alberta in Canada, Hubbard was drafted by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Last season, Hubbard had the first 1,000 yard season of his career, racking up 1,195 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Daniel Faalele
Another international player may find himself hoisting the Lombardi Trophy before too long. Daniel Faalele, a native of Australia, is the starting right guard for the Baltimore Ravens, who are now perennial Super Bowl contenders.
Last season, Faalele became Baltimore’s starting right guard and helped the team reach the divisional round of the AFC Playoffs. He was originally drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He is certainly one of the strongest of international players currently.
