The Olympic flag football is coming up in 2028, so we put together teams of NFL players. Who would win?

We’re in the final stretch of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which means we can look forward to 2028 in Los Angeles! As you may know, the United States is adding flag football to the roster of games as the host nation — and at this point, it’s completely baffling how 95% of the world can find a team to compete. In the meantime, the U.S. will be able to fill its roster with NFL players, using some of the world’s biggest soccer stars to grind everyone into a fine paste in the hunt for gold.

We’ll let Germany and Poland worry about how they field a team. Today, we decided to sit down and draft our ultimate 5v5 flag football team using current players. We’re not projecting ahead to 2028, or where players will be — this is who we’d take straight away to compete with the world.

So you know how 5v5 works: traditionally you have a quarterback, two receivers, a running back, and a tight end who pulls double duty as the de facto center holding up the ball and then running a route. The receivers will also be cornerbacks on defense, while the quarterback, running back, and tight end all play hybrid linebackers or safeties. Let’s take a look at who we’ve got.

David Fucillo

WR Tyreek Heuvel
QB Kyler Murray
WR Xavier Worthy
RB Raheem Mostert
TE/QB Taysom Hill

The name of the game is speed. We took three of the fastest skill position players in the NFL in Hill, Worthy and Mostert. I was surprised Worthy, the new Combine 40-yard dash record holder, fell as far as he did, but I’ll take him. There are plenty of interesting quarterbacks out there, but Murray strikes me as the right mix of speed, athleticism and arm strength to make plays. Some might see Hill as a waste of a pick, but as my team’s center, his QB skills offer something extra. I’ll admit I was tempted to draft John Ross with my last pick, simply because it might be the one thing he can consistently do in football.

Mark Schofield

QB Lamar Jackson
WR/CB Travis Hunter
WR DeVonta Smith
TE Kyle Pitts
RB Chase Brown

I was pleasantly surprised to see Lamar Jackson picked 6th overall. I think he would be deadly in this format and I was happy to make that pick.

When we first discussed this idea, Travis Hunter immediately came to mind. Not only will his two-way experience be crucial, but in the back of my mind I kept thinking that we were talking about the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games and he could be a powerhouse by then. I think DeVonta Smith could also shine in this format, and taking the proverbial “matchup weapon” of Kyle Pitts and centering him seems both a smart move and still an improvement over how Arthur Smith used him.

And what about Chase Brown? As followed by NFL Next Gen Stats Only DK Metcalf was a faster ball carrier during the 2023 season. That will work.

James Dator

RB Christian McCaffrey
QB Cam Newton
WR Ja’Marr Chase
WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
TE George Kittle

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Yes, I hired Cam Newton as my quarterback!

I don’t give a damn that he’s 35. Have you seen the shape Newton is in? I’d bet he’s in better shape than more than half the NFL quarterbacks right now. Plus, flag is a format he could absolutely shine in. The problem with Cam right now is that he’s an injury risk in full-contact football, and he can no longer overwhelm NFL-caliber defenses with his physical gifts.

In flag, there is no contact. There is no NFL-level defense. It is tailor-made for Newton to succeed. I essentially get a second running back who is elusive as hell, one of the best improvisers the game has ever seen, and when it comes to quarterbacking, his job is basically to just let it rip. I have weapons at every position that can make this shine, and if the dominant defense comes from wide receivers converted to cornerbacks, I think I’m in great shape.

CMC, Chase, and Kittle are pretty self-explanatory. Harrison Jr. is about the only place you could criticize me for valuing promise over proven NFL talent, but based on where I picked him in Round 4, it made too much sense to pick the (soon to be) best young receiver in the NFL over someone else.

I am confident that my team can handle the competition.

Jared Mueller

WR Jaylen Waddle
RB De’Von Achane
QB Joe Burrow
TE David Njoku
CB Jalen Ramsey

For me, speed and age were the top priorities. With the first overall pick, Waddle was a natural choice. He’s fast, elusive and quick, while also being younger than his teammate Tyreek Hill. Achane has all of those attributes, rushing for 800 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie.

With six quarterbacks on the board now, Burrow is my point guard-style QB who can distribute the ball quickly and accurately.

Njoku could play for the US or Nigeria, where he is the “Chief”. His size and athleticism make him a good center to snap the ball and block when needed, while also having the ability to run away from smaller defenders and block them with his strength. Ramsey is the oldest player on my roster, but when I imagine two-way players, I wanted a defender with some size and athleticism to hold things together on that side of the ball.

Even though they aren’t the biggest names, I have every confidence that my team can be explosive and at the same time keep the drive going when needed.

Kyle Thele

WR DK Metcalf
QB Josh Allen
RB Kenneth Walker III
CB Sauce Gardner
TE Brock Bowers

Drafting last is not for the stubborn. You have to be quick on your feet, mentally athletic, and willing to change direction quickly. Like any good team, my team definitely takes on the personality of its coach.

Were any of these players my first picks? Listen, we have all the answers in our locker room right now. Pure speed was my first priority, and while the team is loaded with burners, those aren’t necessarily the first names most people think of. Metcalf is definitely the star of the team. He’s a true speed threat to top the defense, but with the skill and size to get open on a smaller flag football field. Likewise, Allen is a proven star who has the pure athleticism and arm strength to make any of those tight window throws work.

But things got more interesting in the later rounds. I hadn’t planned on drafting a running back, but Walker’s open-field speed, coupled with his craftiness with the ball, made him valuable.

Then I took a little left turn with Sauce Gardner, the only defender on the team. The best cornerback in the game, I back Gardner to take out the biggest threat on the other end of the field and level the playing field.

With my last pick I took a bit of a risk on rookie Brock Bowers. An elite tight end in college, he is a natural pass catcher and can get open at the highest level. He is also just big enough to play center on a flag team.

This team is going to surprise the world.

JP Acosta

WR Justin Jefferson
QB CJ Stroud
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
WR CeeDee Lam
TE Sam LaPorta

With the 4th pick in this snake draft, I was out of reach of Mahomes. I start with Justin Jefferson, the best receiver in football and he’s only 25 years old. He’ll be 29 in 2028, maybe near the end of his athletic prime, but we never know. QB was easy after that: reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud would be my next pick if I couldn’t get Mahomes. I like Stroud’s ability to push the ball without putting it in jeopardy. I wanted a RB on the team because they matter, so with Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey off the board, I took Jahmyr Gibbs. He’s a great receiver in the backfield and his quickness to turn the field will be an asset to the team. Lamb is great after the catch, as is TE Sam LaPorta, and both will be in their athletic prime in 2028.

This is the best team when it comes to maximizing both current NFL talent and 2028 projections.

Jeanna Kelley

QB Patrick Mahomes
RB Bijan Robinson
TE/C Travis Kelce
WR Garrett Wilson
S Jessie Bates

You may have read some text about these teams and wondered, “Where the heck is Patrick Mahomes?”

Well, he’s on my list. I was looking for players who have the athletic talent to play both ways, and I believe Mahomes is the most athletic quarterback in the league. Any flag football team with him on it is going to be tough to beat. Add in his buddy and favorite target Travis Kelce (who will also have to play center in this scenario), a big guy who seems to have the most fun playing flag football, and you have a winning combination.

Additionally, Bijan Robinson and Jessie Bates both have the athleticism and versatility to play both ends of the field and make an impact. Bijan has the speed to overwhelm ball carriers, the strength and push to disrupt opponents, and his flexibility as a runner or receiver out of the backfield is an asset. Bates was near the top of the league in interceptions last season, so he can catch the ball and he would do a great job instructing these other offensive players on what to do defensively. Garrett Wilson is mainly here to catch the ball (and because I’m an Ohio State fan, let’s be honest).

I think any team with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce on it is the best team. Source: Back-to-back Super Bowls for the Chiefs.