Nobody batted an eye when the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to select Travis Hunter second overall in the 2025 NFL draft because he showed at Colorado the capability to play both cornerback and wide receiver at a high level. Those same skills make him a prime candidate to be part of an illustrious team.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports put together a list of candidates for the USA flag football team for the 2028 and picked Hunter. While he didn't give an obvious explanation, it's clear that he chose him for his ability to play two ways.
Other players who made the cut, precisely because they could potentially play offense and defense, were quarterback Jayden Daniels, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, running back De'Von Achane, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, linebacker Nolan Smith, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., pass rusher Micah Parsons, and cornerback Maxwell Hairston.
All things considered, that's a pretty stacked roster, but there's a strong chance that their respective teams may not be inclined to let them participate. The biggest reason? The possibility of getting hurt. Although flag football is considerably safer than its NFL counterpart, the risk isn't zero percent.
Stephen Holder and Kevin Seifert of ESPN cite a study by Dr. Robert Parisien that found 2,508 injuries were serious enough to be presented in hospital emergencies, in 10 years of analyzing the injury rate of flag football injuries.
On the other hand, a 2021 study at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that "head injuries in flag football are 15 times less common than tackle football at comparable age levels."
But even if you leave injuries aside, there's the fact that NFL players may not be incentivized to participate in the Olympics because they wouldn't have much time to rest and prepare for the 2028 season. Heck, All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson said that it would be a privilege to be part of the flag football delegation. That said, he said that there are many things he would need to consider before making a decision.
Why the Jaguars may not be thrilled to see Travis Hunter participate in the Olympics
There's still a long way to go before the 2028 Olympics, so the NFL has plenty of time to figure out the details. In the same breath, players who may want to be part of the USA team now could potentially change their mind, and vice versa. Sure, the prospect of having the spotlight worldwide may be too good to pass up. On the other hand, the prospect of getting hurt and potentially missing significant time may steer candidates away.
In the Jacksonville Jaguars case, they would sure love to see Travis Hunter represent them in the Olympics. Heck, this hasn't been the first time it's been suggested he be part of the USA delegation. However, they may not be thrilled to see him be exposed to injuries, even if the risk is lower.
Again, there's plenty of time left to figure things out, but the consensus seems to agree that watching Travis Hunter play flag football in the Olympics would be must-watch TV. Then again, you don't need to wait to see his game-changing skills.