ESPN analyst tabs Ja'Marr Chase for 2028 Olympic flag football team at an entirely unique position for the sport

We're a little over three years away from seeing flag football being played during the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, CA, and thanks to unanimous owner approval, NFL players will have a chance to compete for their countries.   

Team USA will have an expansive list of options to build out its roster with the vast majority of NFL players representing the home country. Actual flag footballers will surely be a part of the team, and superstars of tackle football will be the most likely to represent their league as well. 

This brings Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase into the discussion, even if the discussion isn't even about his actual position. 

Ja'Marr Chase picked for mock USA flag football roster

ESPN's Matt Bowen put together his ideal flag roster featuring only current (and future) NFL stars. Chase made the cut, but not at receiver. Bowen placed him at the center position, an eligible receiver on every play, citing Chase's run-after-catch abilities as ideal for the role. 

The center is eligible to run routes and catch the ball after he snaps. So we are looking for a middle-of-the-field stretch option who can make plays after hauling in a pass. Chase fits due to his electric movement ability in the open field and lower-body control to slice through pursuit angles. — ESPN's Matt Bowen

Obviously there is a center in tackle football, but the position is not eligible to receive passes after the snap. Chase would snap and run routes instead of block while his fellow receivers lined out wide.

Chase's former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson and current Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith were Bowen's starting receivers. Jefferson is the league's best wideout if it's not Chase and was actually on sight for the league to approve its players potential inclusion in the Olympics. Smith is already being touted as a generational prospect who still has two years of college ball left to play. 

Add Chase to the mix and other countries would surely tremble at the thought of covering all three.