San Jose FORCE general manager Kevin Malcolm met with reporters at General Electric Field on Monday to discuss the club’s preparation for the 2026 draft, offering the most detailed look yet at how the front office is approaching roster construction ahead of the September 9 season opener.

The 2026 campaign will be the first played under the league’s new name, the Schmeague. Malcolm said the change has not altered the club’s evaluation process, but that the front office has spent the offseason revisiting long-held assumptions about how the roster is built.

“We’re going in with an open mind this year, especially when it comes to the FLEX position. The game is constantly evolving and we’ve been evaluating not just the top tight ends, but also the more mid-range tight ends.” Kevin Malcolm, General Manager, San Jose FORCE

The FLEX Question

Under current league rules, clubs start one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers and one tight end, with a single FLEX spot that may be filled by a running back, wide receiver or tight end. That one roster slot has become a central focus of the club’s draft preparation.

Malcolm was asked whether running backs are due for a resurgence after several seasons in which analysts predicted a leaguewide shift toward the passing game.

“I think a lot of teams look at their running backs when their run game is failing, when they should be looking at their pass-catchers. Are you getting run-blocking from that FLEX position?” Kevin Malcolm, General Manager, San Jose FORCE

The general manager declined to say whether the club intends to use its FLEX spot on a tight end with any regularity in 2026, noting that the decision will be made week to week once the roster is finalized.

Rule Proposal Under Consideration

A proposal to raise the maximum number of tight ends a club may carry on its roster is expected to come before the league ahead of the season. Malcolm said the front office has been preparing for either outcome.

“We have to be ready for both,” he said. “If the limit goes up, the board looks different. If it stays where it is, we have a plan for that as well. Our job is to be prepared either way.”

The club has not indicated how it intends to vote.

On the Competition

Asked whether recent comments from Throat Goats general manager Matt Devlin had caused the FORCE to reconsider any aspect of their approach, Malcolm was brief.

“I don’t think about the Throat Goats at all.” Kevin Malcolm, General Manager, San Jose FORCE

What Comes Next

Training camp opened at General Electric Field this week and continues through the remainder of the summer. The club will publish roster and depth chart information once the roster is set, and FORCE Nation members and Season Ticket Members will be notified first.

The FORCE open the 2026 season on Wednesday, September 9.