Yahoo Sports Former NFL player picks his flag football Olympics squad, led by Jayden Daniels

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Flag football will make its debut in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This will be the first time we've seen flag football in the Olympics, thanks to the approval of the International Olympic Committee. The good news is that NFL players will be eligible to play.

While the Olympics are three years away, it's never too early to begin speculating about which NFL players will participate.

Former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Matt Bowen recently wrote an article titled, "Building the best 2028 Olympics U.S. flag football roster." At quarterback, Bowen could've picked Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow. Instead, he selected Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

I looked at both Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow here, but Daniels gets the nod due to his age; he will be 27 years old at the time of 2028 Olympics. Plus, his high-level throwing traits and movement skills fit great with the flag football game.

As a rookie, Daniels completed 69% of his passes, sixth-best in the league. He's an accurate thrower from the pocket and can deliver the ball against the man coverage he would see in the Olympics. He also has the arm strength to drive throws vertically downfield.

In flag football, quarterbacks cannot run on designed carries or scrambles (unless it is handed off first), but they need the mobility to escape the blitz and extend the pocket as much as possible within seven seconds. Daniels is a fit here with his speed and change-of-direction skills (which includes gadget plays), and we know he can create as a thrower on the move.

Daniels would be a fun choice in that type of setting. Of course, NFL teams may not want their players participating due to the risk of injury. Could you imagine if one of the NFL's top stars, like Daniels, was forced to miss time during the season?

If you're curious about the rest of Bowen's roster:

• Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
• Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs
• Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
• Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith
• Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase
• Cowboys EDGE Micah Parsons
• Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II
• Jaguars CB/WR Travis Hunter
• Eagles CB Cooper DeJean
• Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr.

That would be a pretty stacked roster for the first edition of Olympic flag football.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Jayden Daniels would be ideal choice for 2028 flag football Olympics

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