Earlier this offseason, the NFL allocated defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi to the Denver Broncos as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program.
As part of the program, the 22-year-old Nigerian lineman will not count against the 90-man offseason roster limit this summer.
Ndubuisi looked as good as a defensive lineman can in spring practices, but the real test will come when Denver puts on pads later this summer. Payton said after organized team activities wrapped up last week that Ndubuisi has looked good so far, but his real opportunity will come during training camp.
“He’s doing well,” Payton said on June 8. “The biggest challenge [is that] no one’s got shoulder pads on or anything yet. He looks good. He’s smart and I like him. I like that we have him. I think it’ll be easier for me to answer that question seven days into training camp because they’re the ones that are challenged with this type of practice.
“One guy is in charge of the ‘A’ gap on defense, and there’s an offensive lineman in charge of the ‘A’ gap. There has to be somebody acquiescing. That will sort out once we get the pads on.”
If he looks good in pads and ends up making the team, Ndubuisi will count against the 53-man roster this season. In the meantime, he won’t count against the offseason roster, giving him some security at least for the summer. Now it’s up to the young defensive lineman to take advance of his opportunity.
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