Can you believe the NFL Draft is less than a month away, and then after that, you have only three measly months until the release of Madden 26? You may assume these two events have very little to do with each other, and you would be correct. I don’t even know if the ratings team even watches the draft; I know they certainly don’t watch the NFL Combine or college football! Every year, there are freak athletes with boatloads of production and once-in-a-generation skillsets, and they’re slapped with a 77 or 78 overall and insulting attribute ratings.
For instance, Brock Bowers was heralded as one of the best college tight ends ever and was a true blue-chip prospect who was adored explicitly for his ability to break tackles with the ball in his hands, with pundits saying that that was the biggest strength in his game, what did Madden give him for a break tackle rating? 74. His route running was also a key factor in his game, coming in with a really highly developed route running ability, better than a lot of current NFL players, and yet his route numbers were 71, 67, and 63. Even after a year of roster updates, Bowers’ tackle-breaking was still at 74, and his route running went up eight, eight, and four points, respectively.
Jayden Daniels was similarly disrespected by EA, getting a 74 overall to start the season, with a carrying rating of 62 and a throw under pressure rating of 78; again, these were two strengths of his game. By the end of the season, his carrying was unchanged, and his throw under pressure went up by 7 points.
EA hasn’t been good at this whole rookie rating thing, and worse than that, they haven’t been consistent in their logic; as you’ll see below, some players get ridiculously high ratings as well; it is so bad, which is why I want to take over in this article. I’m going to rate the 2025 rookie class based on the ability and skills of both this upcoming class of players and last year’s class. I’m then going to use the Madden 25 ratings, for as low as I think they are, to create a bit of a structure for what the 2025 rookie class will likely look like in Madden 26.
First, let’s take a look at what the overall ratings were for the top ten rookies on the release day of Madden 25:
Top Madden 25 Rookies – Ratings Upon Release
- LT Joe Alt 79
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr. 79
- LT J.C. Latham 78
- LT Olu Fashanu 78
- TE Brock Bowers 78
- EDGE Dallas Turner 78
- RT Amarius Mims 78
- WR Malik Nabers 77
- RB Jonathon Brooks 77
- EDGE Laiatu Latu 77
Jonathon Brooks!? Are you kidding me? Why would they inflate his overall like that?? Did they watch his tape? He was such a raw talent, with only 238 carries during his whole collegiate career, and he was coming off an ACL injury. And the three tackles in the top four? I can understand Alt; he was going to a Harbaugh Chargers team to play opposite one of the best left tackles in the game. It makes sense to hype him up, but Latham and Fashanu were going to the Titans and Jets, respectively.
A more accurate list would have included Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels (Maye was seen as more of a project than the other two), Rome Odunze, and probably Quinton Mitchell and/or Xavier Worthy, but instead of the tackles, Brooks, and Latu.
After the 2024 season and 20 or so roster updates, Madden got closer to the money:
Top Madden 25 Rookies – Super Bowl Update Ratings
- TE Brock Bowers 88
- EDGE Jared Verse 86
- QB Jayden Daniels 85
- RB Bucky Irving 83
- CB Cooper DeJean 83
- RG Dominick Puni 83
- WR Ladd McConkey 83
- WR Malik Nabers 83
- WR Brian Thomas Jr. 82
- LT Joe Alt 82
The updated list makes more sense, but is curiously missing Bo Nix, who, for whatever reason, was still rated a 77 at the end of last season despite putting up one of the better rookie QB performances we’ve seen in the last five years. I would’ve also included Braden Fiske and his 8.5 sacks on the list as well, and maybe even Quinton Mitchell, who got second in the DROY race last year.
Now that we’ve reviewed Madden 25, let’s use those numbers to estimate the ratings of the Madden 26 rookies at release.
Top Madden 26 Rookie Prediction – Ratings Upon Release
RB Ashton Jeanty 80
This may be a tad high for Jeanty, but I think it is very possible if the right team takes him. The right team in this context is, of course, the Dallas Cowboys. Could you imagine if “America’s Team” gets the most marketable running back to come out of college since Saquon Barkley? The hype would be insane, and Madden would be quick to capitalize, even if they know that Ashton Jeanty could struggle behind the Cowboy’s decimated O-line. They gave Brooks a 77, so they clearly like Texas running backs!
CB/WR Travis Hunter 79
It doesn’t matter what side of the ball Hunter plays; we know he’s going to be rated high (for a rookie in Madden). They are likely going to have to change elements of the game just to accommodate his uniqueness, similar to what MLB The Show had to do with Shohei Ohtani. His attributes with the ball in his hands should be very high, and you know his man-to-man coverage should be extremely good as well; just by the nature of how attributes and overall work in the game, he’s almost guaranteed to be a high 70s or low 80s rookie on release, just because of his variety of skills.
EDGE Abdul Carter 79
Abdul Carter will likely be a top-four pick and is arguably the best player available in the whole draft, but he ranks third because Jeanty and Hunter are going to sell more copies than an EDGE rusher, regardless of how good he is. And Abdul Carter is very good, he’s got size, speed, technique, and an aggressive and unrelenting motor that gives him an edge on most tackles in college football and soon the NFL as well. I personally believe he is better than Dallas Turner from last year, so I’m giving him a 79.
DT Mason Graham 78
Graham leads the pack in this loaded DT class because of how disruptive he is on the line of scrimmage, and he can completely wreck running lanes and destabilize pass blocking with great efficiency. He also already has a high pedigree and reputation, given his role as the leader of a historically great 2023 Michigan defensive line. He’s likely to get selected in the top ten picks — my money would be on either the Jaguars at five or the Panthers at eight.
LT Will Campbell 78
One of the more polished prospects in the whole draft, Will Campbell is a sure thing as a dominant offensive lineman at the next level, the question will be whether it’s at left tackle or guard. His arm length puts into question whether he can play left tackle effectively against NFL pass rushers, but his tape shows just how good he is, especially with his footwork at keeping edge rushers at bay.
TE Tyler Warren 77
Tyler Warren is quietly one of the best tight ends to come out of college in the last decade. We had Bowers last year, Pitts in 2021, and Hockenson in 2019; those are the only three tight ends taken in the last ten drafts that can compare to Warren. Warren can be an electric force in the passing game, but is also a very good blocker as well. He’s got traits similar to Brock Bowers and may get drafted in a similar spot, with his name most likely to be heard starting around pick seven with the Jets and falling no further than pick 14 with the Colts.
OT Armand Membou 77
Membou is a physical freak and does have some skills that are NFL-ready; I just think he’s somebody who will need a little time to develop. With that being said, his combine measurables and flashes of dominance on tape might be enough for EA to give him a 77 overall to start. I really think they learned their lesson on tackle ratings last year, and Fashanu and Latham were definitely more polished pass protectors than Membou.
EDGE Jalon Walker 77
Walker is an athletic Georgia edge rusher who plays a bit like a smaller Micah Parsons. He is versatile and can really make up ground quickly when rushing the passer. Watch out, quarterbacks, because this guy’s got the traits to be a dominant speed rusher and blitzer from a stand-up LB spot. He’s a fun guy to watch play. He’s a bit similar to Chop Robinson last year, who started off as a 77 overall as well.
CB Will Johnson 76
Will Johnson is a cornerback, and I have not seen anything suggesting that he wouldn’t play cornerback at the next level, but man, does he seem like a safety to me. He’s a zone coverage specialist without a top gear when running. He’s got all the instincts and talent you want, but I personally feel as though he’s out of position. As a corner, he’s still got a lot to be excited about; his burst and suddenness to the ball help him create PBUs, he’s got the physicality and size to be effective in press coverage, and his instincts are solid. He should be a top-ten talent in Madden and could be a top-ten pick in the draft.
WR Tetairoa McMillan 76
After a year of elite receiving talent from 1st rounders MHJ, Nabers, and Johnson Jr. to later-day guys like McConkey, Jalen McMillan, and Devaughn Vele, this year is a lot more sparse at the position, and Tet McMillan represents the cream of the crop. He’s a big receiver who should command very high spectacular catch and catch-in-traffic ratings, given his incredible ball skills and ability to track the ball and go up and get it. I would imagine that he’s seen in a similar way to how scouts saw Brian Thomas Jr. last year during this time. They both get 76 overall.
Top Madden 26 Rookie Prediction – Super Bowl Update 2026 Ratings
CB Jahdae Barron 87
Barron is an electric nickel corner who has amazing ball production and could easily rack up 5+ interceptions and 15+ PBUs in his first season. He’s the type of player (like Tarik Woolen or Daron Bland) that has huge early career production and shoots up the ratings rankings in Madden in their first year. It would be similar to Jared Verse’s rise from mid-1st rounder to DROY
WR Emeka Egbuka 85
This guy is a silky smooth route-running slot receiver with four years of experience playing alongside the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson throughout his career. He’s a polished athlete with Ladd McConkey-type skills and should have an immediate impact on his team this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts up 1200+ yards and 8+ touchdowns. He could be the Ladd McConkey this year, but with an even higher upside.
EDGE Abdul Carter 84
Carter’s production and near-perfect traits and technique are undeniable. I would be extremely surprised if he isn’t a 10+ sack and near 20 TFL guy in his rookie year. He’s probably the best player in this draft (I would argue that Travis Hunter has a higher upside if he’s able to play and succeed on both sides of the ball) and has the ability to develop very quickly into a plus edge rusher in the league.
RB Cam Skattebo 84
I have to put Skattebo on this list because he’s just so productive. I don’t care if the speed isn’t there or if there are concerns about durability; he’s a beast. He has all the traits that you want in a modern running back: he’s got receiver-like hands, creativity in his running moves, unmatched strength and toughness, and he’s an energy creator. When Skattebo touches the ball, the whole team gets a jolt of energy and momentum; I think he’s going to be dangerous at the next level. Is he going to rise up the board just like Bucky Irving? I hope so.
CB/WR Travis Hunter 84
This prediction will be dependent on where he goes and what the plans are for him. Which side of the ball does he play? If he plays receiver, he will likely end up in the mid-eighties overall, as I’ve predicted here, but even at the corner, he still could end up being an 81 or 82 by the end of the year; he’s just that good. Now, if a team wants to roll the dice and let him play both sides, he could be a 90+ by year’s end; his ceiling would be nearly limitless.
TE Tyler Warren 83
Is he this year’s Brock Bowers? Not quite, but he’s not that far off. He probably won’t put up the eye-popping numbers that Bowers had in his first year, but 900+ yards are possible, and he could be a touchdown magnet as well.
RB Ashton Jeanty 82
Jeanty is so productive, albeit in the Mountain West conference, so I do have nerves that when he faces NFL competition, he will be in for a rude awakening. I expect his broken tackle numbers are going to fall precipitously, and he’s not going to be able to pull away from defenses the same way that he did at Boise State. Despite my worries, it’s still likely that he will put up a solid rookie season and use his elite vision to find holes and lanes to gain extra yards.
TE Colston Loveland 82
Another top-tier tight end on this list, Loveland, has the size and skills to be a dominant red zone target. He could rack up 10+ Touchdowns yearly. Loveland has receiver-type skills, great route running, and the ability to create separation. He could be an 800+ yard and 12+ touchdown guy in his first year.
OT Will Campbell 81
Campbell may have short arms, but damn, he’s one great lineman. He’s got great technique and sneaky athleticism to keep the blind side clean, and regardless of whether he’s blocking for Drake Maye, Derek Carr, or Caleb Williams, I expect him to have success early in his career.
WR Xavier Restrepo 81
Restrepo is my wild card. There are concerns that he may not be fast enough to succeed in the league, but if you watch his tape, he makes up for his speed with his quickness and shiftiness. Restrepo just fits the mold of a player who could have a breakout rookie season. I see a bit of Puka Nacua in this guy, but maybe I’m crazy.
Summary:
Cam Ward is the only QB in this draft class with any chance of having a Jayden Daniels-esque season and making it into the final top 10 rookies of Madden 26. Ward is the consensus number-one quarterback in the class, and I believe he is head and shoulders above the next-best quarterback. Ward, however, is likely to end up on either the Titans, Browns, or Giants, none of which will give him the protection and firepower in his first year to have much early success. I think his ceiling in year one is that of Drake Maye (finished the year at 76 overall)
Despite being in the top ten in my release rating predictions, I think Mason Graham, Armand Membou, Jalon Walker, Will Johnson, and Tetairoa McMillan will fall out of the top ten by the end of the year. Mason Graham, much like the rest of this terrific defensive tackles class, could struggle to increase their overall ratings, given that these guys impact the games in ways that aren’t super flashy or show up in the stat sheet. Walker and McMillan could end up having solid rookie years, depending on what teams they wind up on, but maybe not enough to keep up with some of the breakout stars of this class.
Armand Membou and Will Johnson are the two players on the initial list that I feel could end up with a lower overall at the end of the year than at the beginning. Membou is undoubtedly a dominant athlete, but I think it may take a year or two for him to find his footing in the league. Will Johnson is a great zone coverage corner, but his underwhelming man coverage really limits his potential in his first year. He’s also a slower corner, which makes him a potential liability against teams with fast receivers who may take advantage of him over the top.
Published: Apr 4, 2025 10:02 am