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Matt Bowen
NFL gamers are one step closer to taking part in flag football within the 2028 Summer Olympics after group house owners unanimously approved a proposal for gamers to take part. Now begins the method of placing the nationwide roster collectively. What would the final word U.S. males’s flag soccer group appear to be three years down the street? Which present — or future — NFL gamers have the very best talent units to thrive within the 5-on-5 recreation with a smaller area and no contact?
Whereas USA Soccer will make the final call on who makes the group, I needed to challenge the very best roster for the US in 2028. The group is expected to be a combination of flag soccer specialists and NFL expertise, however I centered on simply NFL and faculty soccer gamers on this train.
Olympic rosters are anticipated to be 10 gamers deep, with no restrict on the quantity of gamers at every place. For my picks, I used NFL FLAG’s official positions: quarterback, operating again, large receiver and middle on offense; rusher, defensive again and security on protection. I additionally famous my interpretation of the mandatory abilities for every function, listed alternate gamers who may slot in and even instructed one offensive play for this roster to blow away the competitors.
To be taught extra about flag soccer, be sure to tune in to the NFL FLAG Championships from July 18 to July 20 on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+. Let’s get into my Olympic roster picks for 2028, beginning with a fast signal-caller who could lead on Group USA to gold.
Soar to:
QB | RB | WR | Rusher | DB
One play that could dominate
Obligatory abilities: Accuracy, arm energy, throw on the run, mobility
I checked out each Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow right here, however Daniels will get the nod as a consequence of his age; he will likely be 27 years previous on the time of 2028 Olympics. Plus, his high-level throwing traits and motion abilities match nice with the flag soccer recreation.
As a rookie, Daniels accomplished 69% of his passes, sixth-best within the league. He is an correct thrower from the pocket and might ship the ball towards the person protection he would see within the Olympics. He additionally has the arm energy to drive throws vertically downfield.
In flag soccer, quarterbacks can’t run on designed carries or scrambles (except it’s handed off first), however they want the mobility to flee the blitz and lengthen the pocket as a lot as doable inside seven seconds. Daniels is a match right here together with his pace and change-of-direction abilities (which incorporates gadget performs), and we all know he can create as a thrower on the transfer.
Alternates: Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow
Obligatory abilities: Elusiveness, short-area pace, receiving abilities
Gibbs could be an X issue for Group USA as a consequence of his versatility. I feel he may play a hybrid function as a operating again/motion-movement goal within the go recreation. There isn’t any blocking in flag soccer, so we’d like a again with upper-tier elusiveness and the short-area juice to dart previous defenders. That is Gibbs, who had 41 rushes of 10 or extra yards final season, the third-most within the league.
Groups are allowed handy off the soccer in flag except they’re within the “no run zones” inside 5 yards from midfield or 5 yards from the top zone. The U.S. offense may get Gibbs free on fly sweeps, reverses, misdirection schemes and choice performs off large receiver movement.
As a go catcher, Gibbs has caught 104 balls over his first two seasons within the NFL, and he can run the standard operating again route tree (swings, wheels, alternative routes) or align within the slot for favorable inside matchups. He is a dynamic mover on the break level, too.
Alternate: Bijan Robinson
Obligatory abilities: Route operating, protection manipulation, play pace
Jefferson hasn’t committed to making an attempt out for the Video games, however he would give Group USA the power to isolate as a one-on-one perimeter goal on the conventional Z receiver place. Because the league’s premiere route runner, he can run all three ranges of the route tree together with his potential to arrange protection and slither out and in of his breaks. He can even bump inside to run the slot fades as an end-zone goal for Daniels.
With over 1,000 receiving yards in every of his first 5 professional seasons (and 495 profession receptions), Jefferson could be the hardest matchup on the earth on the Olympics.
Alternate: CeeDee Lamb
Obligatory abilities: Matchup potential, vertical ingredient, catch radius, ball abilities
The Ohio State star will likely be eligible for the 2027 NFL draft, which means he may have accomplished his rookie season forward of the Olympics. Group USA must be wanting to convey him in as a boundary X receiver since he can win on deep balls and be a precedence goal after the group crosses midfield. (Flag soccer fields are solely 50 yards in size, with the identical 10-yard finish zones as NFL play.)
I am on the lookout for Group USA to throw the 50-50 fade balls right here, and Smith can use his 6-foot-3, 215-pound body, large catch radius and nice play energy to complete. And remember about his explosive straight-line pace after the catch on quicks and crossers.
Smith, who had 15 touchdowns as a freshman for the nationwide champion Buckeyes, has already drawn comps to former Falcons receiver Julio Jones. I do not disagree with that after watching the tape. If he continues his ascension by way of 2028, this must be a no brainer for the U.S.
Alternate: Malik Nabers
Obligatory abilities: Shotgun snap, catch-and-run traits, ball provider imaginative and prescient, open-field pace
The middle is eligible to run routes and catch the ball after he snaps. So we’re on the lookout for a middle-of-the-field stretch choice who could make performs after hauling in a go. Chase suits as a consequence of his electrical motion potential within the open area and lower-body management to slice by way of pursuit angles.
Final season, Chase led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17). He can win at each degree and create prompt chaos for opposing nations on beneath throws.
Alternate: Garrett Wilson
Obligatory abilities: Closing pace, lateral quickness, vary
Group USA can rush with a defender so long as he’s designated pre-snap and begins seven yards behind the road of scrimmage. With elite closing pace, Parsons can eat up grass in a rush to assault the quarterback, and he has the vary and change-of-direction quickness to match cellular passers in house and take down their flags.
Parsons has 52.5 sacks over his 4 seasons within the league (fifth-most within the NFL in that span), and he would gladly take a free rush each play since there are not any blockers in flag soccer. Plus, if Group USA needed Parsons to match in protection or play as a rover within the low pink zone, he can simply try this. Parsons’ fellow Penn State alum, Abdul Carter, is a superb secondary choice if he makes the soar that is anticipated from him on the subsequent degree.
Alternate: Abdul Carter
Obligatory abilities: Subject imaginative and prescient, sample matching, transition pace, ball abilities
The prototype on the place, Surtain has the pace and high-level approach to match up with the world’s finest go catchers. Extra importantly, he is an extended protection nook who can pattern-match from an off-position, because the “no contact” rule in flag soccer eliminates the power to play press protection.
In 4 professional seasons with the Broncos, Surtain has 11 interceptions and 39 go breakups. He might be a defensive game-changer for Group USA.
Alternate: Derek Stingley Jr.
Obligatory abilities: Subject imaginative and prescient, sample matching, transition pace, ball abilities/playmaking traits
There isn’t any method Hunter wasn’t going to be on this checklist, as Group USA can simply construct in a package deal on offense for the two-way star. Nonetheless, Hunter’s primary function within the Olympics could be on the defensive aspect of the ball, the place he can convey a playmaking ingredient to the sphere.
Hunter, who had 9 interceptions over three faculty seasons, has elite ball abilities and the protection instincts to create turnovers for the U.S. He can get a soar on throws and take the ball away. Plus, interceptions can nonetheless be returned for touchdowns in flag soccer — do not be shocked if Hunter sprints one again to the home.
Alternate: Sauce Gardner
Obligatory abilities: Subject imaginative and prescient, sample matching, change-of-direction pace, ball abilities
DeJean may additionally see reps on offense given his ball abilities and punt return potential, which interprets effectively to the flag soccer recreation because you want vertical acceleration and the elusiveness to make individuals miss in house. However we’re specializing in DeJean as a slot nook for this group.
He can match inside, run with the seams and nook routes and use his change-of-direction pace to restrict beneath ideas (particularly close to the objective line). His rookie tape in Philly was wonderful, and a pick-six within the Tremendous Bowl off Patrick Mahomes highlighted his affect potential. DeJean is a rising star who would have three extra full NFL seasons to develop his recreation earlier than the Olympics.
Alternate: Trent McDuffie
Obligatory abilities: Protection potential, second-level vary, blitz potential
Kyle Hamilton could be a extremely good match right here, although he teased his interest in taking part in for South Korea and was born in Greece. So let’s pivot to Winfield, who brings versatility to the sphere as a multilevel defender.
Winfield has the abilities to create on-the-ball manufacturing in protection, and he can monitor down receivers in house to restrict the opponent offense after the catch. If Group USA needed to match Parsons in protection, Winfield is also deployed because the go rusher or play from depth as a deep defender (keep in mind, quarterbacks get seven seconds to throw).
In 5 professional seasons, Winfield has seven interceptions, 20 go breakups and 17 sacks. He is a pure disruptor who is usually across the ball for a cause.
Alternate: Xavier McKinney
One play this roster ought to run: Mesh wheel (alert to put up nook)
Let’s arrange Daniels with an idea designed to assault man protection, utilizing a variation of mesh with the 5 gamers on the sphere. Daniels can undergo a development learn with Gibbs (H) as his first choice on the wheel route. On a free backfield launch, with a defender having to bubble over the inside crossing route, Gibbs may clear early for Daniels on a fast throw up the boundary. If the look is not there on the wheel, Daniels may work the 2 leveled crossing routes inside from Jefferson (Z) or Smith (X).
The objective right here is to select/rub the defenders, creating an open catch-and-run goal. At middle, Chase would run the vertical clear as an “alert” for Daniels, who can take the matchup on a deep double transfer (put up nook). Good luck stopping this.