German NFL draft hopeful Klein happy with any team, meets all 32

German NFL draft candidate Marlin Klein is excited to be picked up by any team this week and is targeting a Super Bowl ring already.

Klein, 23, has played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and won the national championship in 2023.

The tight end, who grew up in Cologne, now feels ready to make the jump to the NFL and has met all 32 teams.

"I always looked for new challenges. That's why I'm looking forward to it, no matter where I go. There isn't a team where I would say I'd rather not go there," he told dpa.

The drafts starts in Pittsburgh on Thursday and runs for three days. Draft experts expect Klein to be picked late on the second day or on the third day.

"I achieved everything at college that I wanted to achieve. I wanted to finish my degree, I won all the championships. There wasn't much more that my team and I could have achieved," he added.

"Every morning I'm happy the draft is getting closer. The excitement keeps rising."

If the Pittsburgh Steelers show interest, Klein he could play again with his former university team-mate Julius Welschof, one of the handful of Germans already in the league.

The Steelers player is convinced that Klein's approach and career path have been "exactly right."

Up to 35 family members and friends will be cheering Klein on at the draft and he has big targets wherever he ends up.

"The next goal is the big ring. That's the only ring I still need," he said referring to a Super Bowl victory.

"It's not about the money or the fame. It's about being drafted by an organization that wants me," he added.

"The most important thing for me is to show small children that you can do it, no matter where you're from, no matter who you are, what your name is, what you look like."