We know NFL players will be eligible to compete for USA Football when the inaugural flag football national team is announced for the 2028 Summer Olympics. 

Which NFL players will be picked for Team USA’s 10-player roster? That will be a heavily debated topic over the next three years.

One player per NFL team is expected to be eligible for the Summer Games, as the league works to mitigate potential injuries to their superstar players. That rule adds a layer of intrigue for a star-studded team like the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Saquon Barkley was recently named the top running back in the NFL by a poll of league executives, scouts and coaches conducted by ESPN. Barkley’s elusiveness, vision and breakaway speed make him an obvious fit for the flag football format, but he’ll turn 31 by the time the Summer Games roll around, and younger guys like Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions and Bijan Robinson of the Falcons could have a leg up due to less wear and tear.

A.J. Brown is one of the NFL’s most physically imposing wide receivers, with an unmatched blend of size and speed. Brown could be uncoverable in a game devoid of contract, but he too will be on the wrong side of 30, and he recently ribbed the local media in Philly about what they would write about him for missing a portion of training camp.

So if not Barkley or Brown, who's the best bet to represent the Eagles on Team USA?

ESPN analyst Matt Bowen sees a clear front-runner in playmaking defensive back Cooper DeJean:

“DeJean could also see reps on offense given his ball skills and punt return ability, which translates well to the flag football game since you need vertical acceleration and the elusiveness to make people miss in space," Bowen wrote. "But we are focusing on DeJean as a slot corner for this team. He can match inside, run with the seams and corner routes and use his change-of-direction speed to limit underneath concepts (especially near the goal line). His rookie tape in Philly was excellent, and a pick-six in the Super Bowl off Patrick Mahomes highlighted his impact ability. DeJean is a rising star who would have three more full NFL seasons to grow his game before the Olympics.”

This prediction makes a ton of sense, as DeJean just barely turned 22 years old. He was also PFF’s highest-graded cornerback from the 2024 season, so he could be on the short list of the NFL’s biggest defensive stars in three years if he continues on his current trajectory.

You could make an easy argument that Quinyon Mitchell is the best cover corner on the Eagles’ roster, but DeJean’s versatility would translate perfectly to the flag football game. His athleticism is through the roof — as this clip of him dunking a basketball shows — and his prowess with the ball in his hands as a former electric punt returner for the Iowa Hawkeyes adds to his value.

We’re still a ways away from having serious conversations about Team USA’s inaugural roster, but DeJean could be the hidden gem that USA Football covets for the looming Summer Games.

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