A Spaniard works out for the Patriots: Diego Paz, from the Barcelona Dragons to Foxborough

A 23-year-old Spanish defensive end worked out on Monday in front of the New England Patriots' scouts and coaching staff. ESPN's Mike Reiss broke the news, and the workout came through the International Player Pathway, the NFL's programme for finding players outside the United States and Canada. According to the AFLE itself, Paz is the first native Spaniard to present himself in person to an NFL team by that route. [4] [5]

Who Diego Paz is

Diego Paz González was born on 4 January 2003 in Galicia and is, in AS's words, "Galician by birth and Madrilenian by adoption". [3] [6] He is 1.91 m and 101 kg, and wears number 92 for Germany's Rhein Fire. [3] He came to the sport late: he first stepped onto a European field at 19, with the Barcelona Dragons, and from there went through Finland and Austria before joining the Fire. [1] [2]

The 2026 AFLE season was his breakout. In twelve games he put up 40 tackles —14 solo—, 8.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, four passes defensed and an interception he returned for a touchdown against the Vienna Vikings. [3] [5] The league named him Most Improved Defensive Player of the Year at its 2026 AFLE Honors. [1] [2]

He also passed through the LNFA along the way: the report with which Las Rozas Black Demons celebrated their second straight title, in May 2024, describes a defence "led by Diego Paz and Julio Aguado". [7] The Patriots Madrid supporters' club goes further and says he came up through the Las Rozas academy; we have not been able to confirm that in any official source, so we leave it as what it is: unverified.

I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to have worked for the New England Patriots (...) When I started playing four years ago, I never imagined I would achieve something like this at 23 (...) This is only the beginning, it is time to keep working.

Why the Patriots and why now

New England is not looking to Europe by accident. Its pass-rush group has been hit by injuries —Harold Landry III is out and veteran Dre'Mont Jones took a knock in the 45-17 win over the Raiders— and the Patriots assessed Paz as possible depth there. [4] [5] [6] The Foxborough team, last season's runners-up, are 3-2. [8] [9] The AFLE adds that a decision on whether to offer him a contract this season was expected shortly. [5]

The Spaniards who have been in the NFL

AS counts Paz as the potential third Spaniard to play in the NFL. Before him came Alejandro Villanueva, from 2014 to 2021, who arrived undrafted after playing at Army, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside, a second-round pick out of Stanford who played from 2019 to 2021. The difference, and it is what makes this one different, is that Paz would be the first born and developed in Spain. [6]

It is worth measuring the words: two days on trial are not a signing, and most players who go through one do not end up on the roster. But it is the closest a player developed in Spain has come to the NFL in recent years, and he got there from a Barcelona club, a European league and an award won on the field. We are following the story and will update it only when something is signed.