Friday Faceoff: The NFL approved player participation in flag football for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Following a tryout, teams will consist of 10 players with games played in a five-against-five format. Which active NFL players are the ideal fit to represent Team USA?

Kyle Fredrickson, Broncos beat reporter

QB Kyler Murray (Cardinals) — At 5-foot-10 with track-star speed and passing accuracy, Murray brings the perfect skillset at quarterback. Good luck pulling his flags. A low center of gravity and quick twitch movements will keep defenders missing all game. Murray plays a fluid backyard-ball style that is better suited for a less-physical league, anyway.

WR Xavier Worthy (Chiefs) — Speed is the ultimate weapon in this sport. Worthy broke the 40-yard dash record in 2024 at the NFL combine with a time of 4.21 seconds. Of course, the deep ball is essential to blow the top off opposing defenses. Worthy is still getting established in the NFL. But he’s flag-football ready to make explosive plays.

WR DK Metcalf (Steelers) — The 27-year-old pass catcher is entering the second half of a productive NFL career. He’s still a unicorn in terms of breakaway speed, athleticism and physicality. You need a strong wide receiver capable of shedding defenders in open space. Metcalf checks all of those boxes as he starts a new chapter in Pittsburgh.

WR/DB Travis Huter (Jaguars) — The two-way University of Colorado star appears custom-built to thrive playing flag football. Hunter’s instincts as a master of defense and offense make him one of the most intriguing prospects in modern NFL history. The hype is real before he’s played a single down in the NFL.

DB Kerby Joseph (Lions) — He became the NFL’s highest-paid safety last month signing a four-year, $86-million contract extension. Joseph totaled 17 interceptions in his first three pro seasons, including nine a year ago to lead the NFL. He earned first-team All-Pro honors. Joseph is the ball-hawking cover man you need to help limit big plays defensively.

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Tyler King, college sports reporter

QB Lamar Jackson (Ravens) — It feels silly for either of us not to include Patrick Mahomes, especially given QBs can only advance past the line of scrimmage after first handing the ball off, but can you imagine some of the trick plays you could draw to get Jackson in space? Oh, and he’s not bad at throwing the ball to these receivers, either.

WR Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals) — Only one player averaged 100 receiving yards per game in the NFL last season: Chase. He also had over 100 yards after catch than second place in the league. He and his former LSU teammate would be nightmares for opposing defenses to try and cover one-on-one.

WR Justin Jefferson (Vikings) — Speaking of one-on-one coverage, there’s no one better in the league at beating it than Jefferson, who had more 20-yard receptions than anyone in the NFL last season and was only beaten out by Chase for total receiving yards in 2024.

DB Derek Stingley Jr. (Texans) — My team may as well put the LSU logo below to the American flag on the team uniforms. But Stingley deserves to be here after his breakout 2024 season, receiving first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career after finishing with five interceptions (tied for sixth in the NFL) and 18 passes defended (second).

DB Quinyon Mitchell (Eagles) — This is a little bit more of a projection for 2028 itself, but cornerbacks can fall off a cliff quickly and, also, I just had to get a member of the defending Super Bowl champs on my team. Mitchell had a great All-Pro case himself as a rookie in 2024 and looks set to be one of the league’s best corners for the rest of the decade.