Diego Paz trains with the New England Patriots after a breakout AFLE season
Diego Paz’s breakout AFLE season has not gone unnoticed. The Rhein Fire defensive end, who won the Most Improved Defensive Player award at the AFLE Honors 2026, has been invited to train with the New England Patriots after the Super Bowl finalists turned their attention to European talent in the wake of a series of injuries.
From the AFLE to an NFL training facility
Paz made the most of his opportunity, showcasing his pass rushing skills in front of the Patriots’ scouts and coaching staff. The same qualities that made him one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the inaugural AFLE season, his relentless motor, his ability to generate pressure and his knack for making big plays, were on full display in New England.
The NFL is watching Europe
Paz’s invitation is part of a growing pattern. The NFL is paying closer attention to the talent emerging from European football, and the AFLE is producing exactly the kind of players that are catching those eyes. Whether Paz becomes the next European to earn a roster spot in the NFL remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the path from European football to America’s biggest stage has never felt more realistic. The question is no longer whether European talent belongs at that level. It is only a matter of time before the next one gets there.
