Flag football bound for 2028 Summer Olympics: Dream NFL roster

Now is not the moment to rely on a traditional pocket passer. Jackson possesses the complete skill set to dismantle defenses from a three-step drop, but it’s his agility in the open space that transforms him into the terror of his opponents’ dreams. His natural talent to dodge contact appears to translate well into the world of flag football, where the requirement to halt an offensive player is significantly less. The offense would be well-managed by a master of evading tackles like Jackson, who holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single season by a quarterback with 1,206 yards.

First, a caveat: In our imaginary team-building scenario, all players would also be fully healthy right now, a designation that does not, unfortunately, apply to Achane in reality. The 5-foot-9, 188-pound rookie’s numbers are, quite frankly, absurd. At the time of his placement on injured reserve last week, his 460 rushing yards ranked second in the league on 38 attempts (coincidentally the 38th-most in the league). He was also first in rushing yards over expected with 236. Only four other running backs through Week 5 had even eclipsed 100. Achane’s league-leading per-carry average of 12.1 yards was better than Breece Hall’s second-place mark of 7.2 by 4.9 yards per carry — only seven RBs were averaging more yards per carry than that. He’s a flag-football highlight waiting to happen.

Hill is the most dangerous player on a blazing Dolphins offense. After Sunday of Week 6, he paces the NFL in both receiving yards (814) and receiving touchdowns (six), and he’s clocked three of the seven fastest speeds as a ball carrier in 2023, per Next Gen Stats. Hill made repeated claims this offseason that he will become the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver and is well on pace to do just that. If he also thinks he can become a gold medalist, you’ve got to let him try.

Metcalf might not possess the shiftiness of the abovementioned players, but his straight-line speed (4.33 40-yard dash during the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine) fits the bill just fine. A couple other notable things factor into his consideration as a must-have on the roster. One, his chase-down of former track star Budda Baker a handful of years ago remains an epic display of sheer will and athleticism. Two, who exactly is going to out-muscle him for contested jump balls? 

Despite not utilizing Pitts as many had anticipated when he was drafted as a “unicorn” tight end, it doesn’t negate his potential to excel in flag football. Pitts entered the league receiving praise for his unique combination of size, speed, and pass-catching, route-running skills. His stature of 6-foot-6 and 4.44 speed secures him a place in the lineup, alongside Metcalf, where he completes drives with impressive touchdown catches.

The RB1 from Kansas City runs as if he’s mad at the world, including the very ground he treads on. He possesses an uncanny knack for finding the end zone, boasting 19 scores in his 23 career games. He’s also been exhibiting significant progress in the passing game, setting new personal records with 17 catches for 135 yards this season. Pacheco, who was tied as the speediest RB in the 2022 draft class with a 4.37 40, has all the skills necessary to add a gold medal to his Super Bowl ring. While it’s two achievements short of an EGOT, it would still be a remarkable fashion statement.

The No. 19 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft made his mark on the combine by posting the fastest 40-yard dash time by a defensive tackle since 2003. There’s sure to be smaller athletes weaving around the flag football field, so this could easily backfire, but Kancey’s inclusion is all about fear factor. Imagine a 281-pound menace tearing into the pocket, no offensive line in sight, sporting 4.67 speed. 

Last season’s runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year joked during June that he would probably play “like eight positions” in 2023. He hasn’t quite done that, but he’s made a large enough impact that it has sometimes felt like it. Either way, Parsons’ positionless mindset lines up perfectly with the flexibility of flag football, as does his top-tier athleticism. Dallas’ defensive maestro could serve as a worthy captain and a stellar QB spy for the U.S.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Just keep Parsons and Diggs together and see what they can do. As with Achane, Diggs is currently out with an injury, recovering from a torn ACL. But in the two full seasons Parsons and Diggs have played together, the Cowboys finished top two in turnover/giveaway ratio both times. Diggs has been a massive part of that equation with 18 career INTs. Given his ballhawking ways, it’s only a matter of time until he’s flipping the onus on the other team to avoid a pick-six.

He has the 4.41 speed and the accolades with a 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year award on his mantle, but Gardner also brings the attitude. Sauce is dripping with swagger, from the diamond-studded necklace spelling out his name to the way he carries himself between the lines. Like the 1992 Dream Team sporting NBA talent for the first time, Gardner projects the loud-and-clear message that no one can hope to match the professionals. 

By the end of this exercise, it should be clear that speed is key. Although a stellar 40-time isn’t a surefire path to NFL success, Woolen has demonstrated remarkable agility in his 21 games guarding Seattle’s secondary. This fifth-round cornerback, who holds a joint record for the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash in combine history (4.26), racked up six interceptions in his rookie year, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl. Regardless of the remaining distance, no flag is secure.

Surtain excelled in his first All-Pro season last year, demonstrating excellent balance with an 86.7 Pro Football Focus pass defense rating and a 76.9 run defense rating. Since the beginning of 2022, he has only allowed a 39.3 completion percentage and 48.2 passer rating when he is the nearest defender in man coverage, according to Next Gen Stats. This places him firmly in the conversation for top shutdown corners. In 5-on-5 play, having multiple reliable cornerbacks is crucial, and there’s hardly a better option than bringing Surtain off the bench to effectively cover a wide receiver.