Flag Football Olympic Selection: The United States Dream Team for 2028
NFL players are one step closer to competing in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics, following the unanimous approval of team owners to the participation proposal. Now, the next step is the formation of the national team. How would the ideal US team look in three years? Which current or future NFL players possess the necessary skills to succeed in this 5-on-5 non-contact sport on a smaller field?Although USA Football will make the final decision on team selection, at Alofoke Deportes we have ventured to predict the best possible squad for the United States in 2028. The team is expected to combine flag football specialists with NFL talent, but we will focus solely on NFL and college football players for this exercise.
It is anticipated that the Olympic rosters will be composed of 10 players, with no limit on the number of players per position. For our selections, we have used the official NFL FLAG positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and center on offense; and lineman, defensive back, and safety on defense. We have also considered the skills required for each role, suggested alternative players, and proposed an offensive play for this roster to dominate the competition.To learn more about flag football, tune in to the NFL FLAG Championships from July 18-20 on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, and Disney+. Below, our selections for the 2028 Olympic roster, starting with the quarterback who could lead Team USA to gold.
Quarterback
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Required skills: Accuracy, arm strength, throwing on the move, mobility We considered Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, but Daniels takes the lead due to his age; he will be 27 years old at the 2028 Olympics. Furthermore, his excellent throwing qualities and movement skills are perfectly suited to flag football. As a rookie, Daniels completed 69% of his passes, the sixth-best mark in the league. He is an accurate passer from the pocket and can throw against the man coverage he will see in the Olympics. He also has the arm strength to throw long passes vertically. In flag football, quarterbacks cannot run designed plays or make running plays (unless the ball is handed off first), but they need the mobility to escape pressure and extend the pocket as much as possible in seven seconds. Daniels fits here with his speed and change-of-direction skills (which includes special plays), and we know he can create as a passer on the move. Alternatives: Lamar Jackson, Joe BurrowRunner
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Required skills: Evasion, speed in short spaces, receiving skills Gibbs would be an X-factor for Team USA due to his versatility. We believe he could play a hybrid role as a running back/move-the-chains target in the passing game. There is no blocking in flag football, so we need a running back with top-tier elusiveness and the short-area speed to beat defenders. That’s Gibbs, who had 41 carries of 10 or more yards last season, the third-most in the league. Teams can hand the ball off in flag, unless they are in the “no-run zones” five yards from midfield or five yards from the end zone. The US offense could unleash Gibbs on sweeps, reverses, misdirection schemes, and option plays out of the wide receiver motion. As a pass catcher, Gibbs has caught 104 balls in his first two NFL seasons, and he can run the traditional running back route tree (swings, wheels, choice routes) or line up in the slot for favorable interior matchups. He’s also a dynamic runner at the point of attack. Alternative: Bijan RobinsonOpen Receiver
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Required skills: Route running, coverage manipulation, game speed Jefferson hasn’t committed to participating in the Games, but he would give Team USA the ability to isolate himself as a perimeter target in the traditional Z receiver position. As the league’s best route runner, he can run all three levels of the route tree with his ability to set up coverage and glide in and out of his breaks. He can also move inside to run slot fades as a target in the end zone for Daniels. With over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first five professional seasons (and 495 career receptions), Jefferson would be the world’s toughest matchup at the Olympics. Alternative: CeeDee LambJeremiah Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes
Required skills: Confrontation ability, vertical element, reception radius, ball skills Ohio State’s star will be eligible for the 2027 NFL draft, meaning he could have completed his rookie season before the Olympics. Team USA should be eager to bring him as an X receiver on the sideline, as he can win on long passes and be a priority target after the team crosses midfield. (Flag football fields are only 50 yards long, with the same 10-yard end zones as in the NFL game). We want Team USA to launch 50-50 balls here, and Smith can use his 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pound physique, his wide catch radius, and his great play strength to finish. And don’t forget his explosive straight-line speed after the catch on quick plays and crosses. Smith, who had 15 touchdowns as a freshman for the national champion Buckeyes, has already been compared to former Falcons receiver Julio Jones. I don’t disagree with that after watching the tape. If he continues his ascent through 2028, this should be a no-brainer for the US. Alternative: Malik NabersCenter
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Required skills: Shotgun snap, catch-and-run characteristics, vision of the ball carrier, open field speed The center is eligible to run routes and catch the ball after making the snap. So we are looking for a stretch option in the middle of the field that can make plays after catching a pass. Chase fits because of his electrifying open-field movement ability and lower body control to cut off pursuit angles. Last season, Chase led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and touchdowns (17). He can win at all levels and create instant chaos for opposing countries on short passes. Alternative: Garrett WilsonLine Defender
Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Required skills: Closing speed, lateral agility, reach The Team USA can pressure with a defender as long as he is designated before the snap and starts seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. With elite closing speed, Parsons can devour ground quickly to attack the quarterback, and he has the range and agility to change direction to match mobile passers in space and take away their flags. Parsons has 52.5 sacks in his four seasons in the league (the fifth-most in the NFL in that span), and he would gladly take a free rush on every play, as there are no blockers in flag football. In addition, if Team USA wanted Parsons to be matched up in coverage or play as a rover in the low red zone, he can easily do so. Parsons’ fellow Penn State alumnus, Abdul Carter, is a great secondary option if he makes the jump that is expected of him at the next level. Alternative: Abdul CarterDefensive
Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
Required skills: Field vision, pattern matching, transition speed, ball skills The prototype at the position, Surtain has the speed and high-level technique to go up against the best receivers in the world. More importantly, he is a long-coverage cornerback who can match patterns from the outside position, as the “no contact” rule in flag football eliminates the ability to play press coverage. In four professional seasons with the Broncos, Surtain has 11 interceptions and 39 passes defended. He could be a defensive game changer for Team USA. Alternative: Derek Stingley Jr.Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
Required skills: Field vision, pattern matching, transition speed, ball skills/game characteristics There was no way Hunter wouldn’t be on this list, as Team USA can easily build a package on offense for the two-way star. Still, Hunter’s primary role in the Olympics would be on the defensive side of the ball, where he can bring an element of playmaking to the court. Hunter, who had nine interceptions in three college seasons, has elite ball skills and the coverage instincts to create turnovers for the U.S. He can anticipate throws and take the ball away. Also, interceptions can still be returned for touchdowns in flag football; don’t be surprised if Hunter runs one all the way to the house. Alternative: Sauce GardnerCooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles
Required skills: Field vision, pattern matching, speed to change direction, ball skills DeJean could also see repetitions on offense given his ball skills and kick return ability, which translates well to the flag football game as vertical acceleration and evasion are needed to make people miss in space. But we are focusing on DeJean as a slot cornerback for this team. You can match inside, run with the seams and corner routes, and use your speed to change direction to limit the concepts below (especially near the goal line). His rookie tape in Philadelphia was excellent, and a pick-six in the Super Bowl against Patrick Mahomes highlighted his impact ability. DeJean is a rising star who would have three more full NFL seasons to grow his game before the Olympics. Alternative: Trent McDuffieSafety
Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay BuccaneersRequired skills: Coverage ability, second-level reach, blitz ability Kyle Hamilton would be a very good option here, although he hinted at his interest in playing for South Korea and was born in Greece. So let’s switch to Winfield, who brings versatility to the field as a multi-level defender. Winfield has the skills to create production on the ball in coverage, and can track receivers in space to limit the opponent’s offense after the reception. If Team USA wanted to match Parsons in coverage, Winfield could also be deployed as the passer or play from depth as a deep defender (remember, quarterbacks have seven seconds to throw). In five professional seasons, Winfield has seven interceptions, 20 passes defended, and 17 sacks. He is a natural disruptor who is often around the ball for a reason. Alternative: Xavier McKinneyA play this team should run: Wheel Mesh (corner post alert)
