The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off gave hockey some shine this previous week, proving to be a hit as a alternative for the All-Star Recreation following Staff Canada’s 3-2 win over Staff USA on Thursday night.
With the occasion fascinating the sports activities world within the normally quiet interval following the Tremendous Bowl, some have used the concept to drift different potential adjustments to totally different sports activities. For instance, there have been some solutions to make the NBA All-Star Recreation a matchup between USA versus the remainder of the world.
Soccer is about to enter worldwide competitors in a giant means quickly, with flag soccer being added as a sport for the 2028 Summer season Olympics. Though the Olympics are nonetheless three years away, it isn’t too early to start out occupied with a potential Staff USA roster for flag soccer.
So, lets say that the NFL determined to carry its personal worldwide match this offseason just like the 4 Nations Face-Off and Staff USA was choosing its squad. Per Olympic rules, rosters will include 12 gamers, whereas play is 5-on-5.
This is who we’re choosing.
OFFENSE
We would like our quarterback to have one of the best mixture of passing and operating as potential. Jackson is arguably one of the best operating quarterback in NFL historical past, having already set the report for essentially the most dashing scores on the place this previous season. However Jackson has additionally grown as a passer, placing up elite numbers in 2024 (4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 8.8 yards per try, 119.6 passer ranking).
Merely put, no participant is best suited to be a quarterback for a flag soccer group than Jackson.
There are a lot of instructions we might’ve gone with this alternative. Patrick Mahomes is arguably one of the best quarterback within the league, however he is not the quickest runner. Josh Allen is perhaps one of the best dual-threat quarterback right this moment, however his operating model is conducive to physicality, and he cannot plow opposing defenders in flag soccer. If we needed to modify up types, we might choose Joe Burrow and even Tom Brady to have a quarterback cube up the opposing protection from the pocket.
Nevertheless, pace is the secret, and Daniels gives the second-best mixture of passing and pace amongst all signal-callers. That means helped instantly rework the Commanders in his rookie season, with 891 dashing yards and 6 dashing scores to go together with his sturdy passing numbers (3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 9 interceptions).
We might be remiss to not embrace the reigning AP NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months on our roster. Happily, Barkley’s model additionally matches the mould that we’re on the lookout for with our flag soccer group. He is not a bruiser like another high operating backs, usually beating opposing defenders with agility in tight area and pace within the open subject. That helped Barkley be part of the two,000-yard membership this previous season.
Moreover, Barkley is a menace within the passing sport, recording 33 receptions for 278 yards and two touchdowns this previous season. Barkley might probably play middle in apparent passing conditions, as he is eligible to be a receiver.
Saquon Barkey’s unreal 60-yard TD in NFC title sport
Arguably no vast receiver has been higher since Jefferson entered the league in 2020. The 2022 Offensive Participant of the 12 months has already made 4 All-Professional groups and at the moment holds the NFL report for receiving yards per sport (96.5). Jefferson won’t be the quickest receiver (he solely ran a 4.43 40-yard sprint on the NFL Scouting Mix in 2020), however his route operating, means to get open and catch radius are simple. With the liberty to line up wherever in flag soccer, Jefferson’s means to thrive in area makes him a really perfect match.
If Jefferson is not your alternative because the league’s finest wideout right this moment, Chase possible is. The Bengals star has carried out injury within the boundary and within the slot over his first 4 years, recording a whopping 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns to win the receiving triple crown this previous season. Chase’s means to make contested grabs will give Jackson or Daniels a robust possibility if his 4 different wideouts are coated.
Sorry, Tyreek Hill. If we made this roster a 12 months in the past, you’ll’ve been a lock. Nevertheless, there is a new high speedster on the town that we’ll take to assist open up the sector much more for us. Worthy amazed everybody final 12 months when he ran a record-setting 4.21 40-yard sprint on the NFL Scouting Mix. He proved he might play on the highest degree as nicely, recording 925 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns over the common season and postseason as a rookie. Worthy additionally had three dashing touchdowns, so he’d give us a robust reverse or trick-play possibility.
DEFENSE
Defenses are allowed to have one designated rusher to get after the quarterback on every play. Whereas we might load up our unit with defensive backs and use certainly one of them to hurry the passer, let’s not take any possibilities right here. Parsons has arguably been the league’s finest pass-rusher since he was drafted in 2021, posting 12.0 sacks in simply 13 video games this previous season. He has usually gotten to opposing quarterbacks together with his agility and has used his lengthy arms to bat some balls all through his profession as nicely, which inserts the mould of what you must need in a flag soccer rusher.
Much like Barkley’s inclusion, we won’t depart off the reigning AP NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Surtain has locked down the opposing group’s high receivers over the previous few seasons, recording 4 interceptions in 2024. He allowed simply 38 receptions on 62 targets for 326 yards and two scores this previous season, per Professional Soccer Reference.
McDuffie has additionally been one of many league’s high younger corners over the previous couple of seasons, rapidly rising as an All-Professional participant for Kansas City. Although he recorded the primary two interceptions of his profession in 2024, he is amassed 27 cross defelctions and 7 pressured fumbles by means of three years. He is additionally allowed solely 31 receptions on 61 targets for 427 yards over 10 profession playoff video games, per PFR.
Hamilton has primarily performed free security in his first three seasons within the league and has excelled in that position, incomes a pair of All-Professional nods because the Ravens protection has additionally been among the finest within the league throughout that stretch. Whereas Hamilton’s ball-hawking means (5 profession interceptions) will assist down the sector, he has additionally performed a bit within the field all through his profession. Together with his seven profession sacks, Hamilton might be a stable backup rusher possibility if Parsons wants a breather or if you wish to play 5 defensive backs and never rush the quarterback.
Along with pace and agility, general athleticism must also be emphasised when constructing this group. DeJean is among the most versatile athletes in right this moment’s NFL. He was a do-it-all participant defensively at Iowa, taking part in nook, security and even some snaps as a hybrid linebacker along with being an award-winning punt returner. After all, DeJean’s fame exploded when he returned his interception of Patrick Mahomes for a touchdown in Super Bowl LIX, so he’d give this protection some big-play means.
Cooper DeJean’s pick-six off Patrick Mahomes in SB LIX
With two of the sport’s high boundary corners plus an elite security and slot nook already on the roster, that ought to enable us to be a bit inventive with the ultimate spot. So, let’s carry alongside Hunter. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is among the high prospects within the 2025 NFL Draft, thanks largely to his play at cornerback — he recorded seven interceptions over two seasons at Colorado. Clearly, Hunter is finest identified for his two-way means, excelling at vast receiver to additionally win the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2024. So, if something occurs to any of the receivers, or if we wish to open up the playbook a bit extra, Hunter might see some snaps on offense as nicely.
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