Cowboys hope to turn IPP flier into defensive line success story

The NFL officially created the International Pathway Program in 2017 in their efforts to help grow the game. Most fans know focus on the international games that allow for kickoffs as early as 9:30 a.m. east coast time on some Sundays, and the occasional road trips to foreign lands, such as the Dallas Cowboys‘ Week 3 date in Brazil to “host” the Baltimore Ravens. But the IPP program is what gives players in other countries semipro and professional leagues an opportunity to participate in the NFL.

Dallas has been at the forefront of this movement over the years, becoming a home for several of the programs players. They’ve worked with an international player in seven of the last 11 seasons. Their first was actually Efe Obada, who played the club before this current IPP iteration was even a thing, in 2015. They also famously had Mexico’s Isaac Alarcon, who had a viral Hard Knocks moment when he didn’t get to eat a destroyed birthday cake.

The Cowboys‘ latest player is one of 20 IPP participants this year, defensive lineman Adedayo Odeleye.

Hometown: UK (Born in Lagos, Nigeria)

College: Loughborough University (EFL Interview)

Contract: Two-year contract (2026), $1.935 million

2026 Base Salary: $885,000, no guarantees

Career Earnings: $423,000 (per Over The Cap)

Odeleye attempted to join the IPP in 2021, but didn’t latch on with a team. He returned in 2022, signing with the Houston Texans, where he spent two seasons before spending the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He’s been a practice squad participant and has yet to be elevated to play in a regular season game.

His only pro game experience came in 2021, after he was unable to latch onto the IPP program. He ended up playing for the Berlin Thunder of the European Leage of Football and notched 34 tackles, along with seven sacks in eight games, making the ELF All-Star Team.

The NFL allows teams an extra practice squad spot, No. 17 if you will, for IPP players, in their edict to grow the game. It allows the player to learn from NFL coaches to help improve their chances of getting a foothold in the league.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys player profile: No. 96 DE Adedayo Odeleye