Will Felix Lepper be the next German in the NFL?

The NFL Draft takes place from April 23 to April 25 - and Felix Lepper is right in the thick of it. He could become the next German in the NFL.

He is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program. He was accepted into the program in December 2025 and is thus under the special scrutiny of NFL scouts. The IPP is designed to help bring football talent from around the world into the NFL.

Since January 17, Lepper has been in the U.S. preparing for the NFL adventure alongside numerous other prospects. The German, who previously played for the Hamburg Sea Devils in the European League of Football (ELF), has worked hard to achieve his dream.

"The dream is within reach"

"It’s indescribable; the dream is within reach. I've invested a lot and now, of course, I want to reap the rewards,” he said in an interview with Sport1.

Now Lepper's big goal can finally come true. The NFL Draft, the biggest NFL event of the offseason, will take place from April 23 to 25. During the draft, the top prospects will be selected by NFL teams.

But even if no team selects Lepper in one of the 257 draft picks, the dream isn't over yet. Through training camps, there’s still a chance to play his way into the spotlight with an NFL team. Teams now have an additional spot available that they may use exclusively for international professionals.