San Jose FORCE general manager Kevin Malcolm met with reporters at General Electric Field on Monday and answered questions regarding 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 Schmeague has a new look for the 2026 campaign - will the same be true for the FORCE? Malcolm admitted 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

FLEXing their Muscles

How to approach the FLEX position has been a topic of debate across the league for years. 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. How many of them can help with run blocking?” Kevin Malcolm, General Manager, San Jose FORCE

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. The club has not formally indicated how it intends to vote, but league sources expect the FORCE to support the change.

On the Competition

Asked whether rival general manager Matt Devlin, known for his intense draft preparation, has been a source of any inspiration for the FORCE ahead of the draft, 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.