Madden 26 Rookie Ratings Projections: Will Travis Hunter Be the Highest Rated?

With Madden NFL 26 not expected to be out until sometime in mid-August, there's going to be plenty of intrigued over the next few months about how EA Sports plans to rate this rookie class, especially Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter.

Using a combination of how EA Sports rated last year's class, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, pre-draft rankings, and draft landing spots, we projected this year's Madden 26 rookie ratings.

🎮 Projected top 10 Madden ratings for NFL rookies

• No rookie in last year's Madden was rated better than a 79 overall (Marvin Harrison Jr., Joe Alt), so it's hard to imagine any player tops that number this year.
• As the Heisman winner and first non-QB drafted, Hunter will likely be the highest rated rookie as a receiver - the position the Jaguars plan to use him at more immediately - but he should also have a top-five rookie Madden rating at cornerback.
• Abdul Carter and Ashton Jeanty were right there with Hunter as the blue chip prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, and as such, all three should have the same overall as elite rookies.
• Will Campbell, Mason Graham, and Armand Membou were consensus top-eight players and should have similar rookie ratings to that of Olu Fashanu, Malik Nabers, and JC Latham last year.
• Tetaiora McMillan wasn't viewed as the same level of receiver prospect as Harrison or Nabers, but a 76 overall would put him right there with Rome Odunze, last year's No. 8 overall pick.
• While Brock Bowers fell to No. 13 last year, he still earned a 78 overall, so it's fair to assume both Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren will be rated a hair lower than arguably the best tight end prospect of all time.

🔥 Who will be the highest-rated offensive rookies in Madden NFL 26?

• After the offensive players that were consensus top-15 prospects, all of whom were taken within the top 14 picks of the NFL draft, Madden ratings will likely be less dictated by pick slot.
• Los Angeles Chargers rookie Omarion Hampton will be a popular dark horse Offensive Rookie of the Year contender after being the second-best running back in college football last year and putting up ridiculous numbers at the NFL combine - a 76 overall may even be too low of a projection.
• The second wide receiver off the board, Emeka Egbuka should be right there with McMillan in terms of his overall due to his well-rounded skill set that could lead to more immediate production.
• A polarizing prospect, Kelvin Banks Jr. was ranked as high as a top talent and as low as outside of the top 30 by some NFL draftniks, but as the No. 9 pick he probably won't be rated lower than a 75.

🛡️ Who will be the highest-rated defensive rookies in Madden NFL 26?

• One of the biggest questions will be which Georgia rookie defender in the NFC gets rated higher between Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker, but I think it's a toss-up with both being solid DROY bets.
• One rookie who could be rated sneaky high is Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Walter Nolen, who has every athletic trait needed to be a Pro Bowl talent if he can build on his consistency.
• While not the same athlete as Nolen, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was viewed as one of the highest floor defenders coming out of Oregon due to his length and violent hands, which should help him be one of the highest-rated rookies.
• The first non-Hunter cornerback taken, Jahdae Barron should start immediately for the Denver Broncos, with his instincts and physicality making him one of the top-rated defensive rookies in Madden.
• Though taken before both Nolen and Harmon, Miami Dolphins rookie Kenneth Grant doesn't offer the same pass-rush upside as them and fits the mold of a classic 1-technique, which could hurt his Madden rating.
• Arguably the most polarizing defensive prospect in the draft, Shemar Stewart's rating is tough to project with him being a ridiculous athlete - 90th percentile or better in 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and broad jump - but having next to no sack production at Texas A&M (4.5 sacks in three seasons).

📈 Who will be the highest-rated rookies at each position in Madden NFL 26?

• Despite being the No. 1 pick, Cam Ward likely won't receive better than a 74 overall Madden rating - that's the same rating both Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye initially had in last year's game.
• Fullbacks rarely get drafted anymore, and though Robbie Ouzts was a fifth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, he actually played tight end at Alabama; those receiving chops should give his rating a boost.
• After playing left tackle at the FCS level for North Dakota State, Grey Zabel is expected to kick inside to guard for the Seahawks, but his athleticism should make him one of the highest-rated offensive rookies.
• Without many pure centers in this rookie class, Jared Wilson's freaky movement skills will likely make him the clear highest-rated at his position, even if he doesn't start a game for the New England Patriots as a rookie.
• Howie Roseman keeps winning for the Philadelphia Eagles because he keeps taking freaky SEC defenders when other teams opt not to, and Jihaad Campbell's versatility and range will make him the obvious highest-rated rookie linebacker in Madden.
• Though Malaki Starks doesn't have the same athleticism as fellow rookie safety Nick Emmanwori, the football IQ and instincts are why he was a first-round pick and why he'll be the highest-rated safety.
• The rookie kicker class is lacking, but Andres Borregales should earn the starting job for the Patriots and the highest Madden rating at his position after hitting 94.7% of his field goals as a senior at Miami.
• The only punter drafted, Jeremy Crawshaw isn't expected to have much competition for the Denver Broncos' starting job or the highest rookie punter rating in Madden with the Aussie possessing a booming leg.
• Julian Ashby shouldn't have any competition to be the highest rated rookie long snapper in Madden, due both to the fact he was the only one drafted and because he ran a ridiculous 1.56 10-yard split for a long snapper.

📊 Projected Madden ratings for first-round rookies

💎 Projected Madden ratings for non-first-round rookies

🏟️ NFL betting odds pages

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