Madden 26 ratings tracker: Updated leaks, list of top NFL players by position in 2025 release

Teddy Ricketson

Madden 26 ratings tracker: Updated leaks, list of top NFL players by position in 2025 release image

Another year, another iteration of Madden football is coming to consoles. Ahead of the official release on August 14, EA Sports is giving gamers and fans alike a look at the important player ratings for the start of the game.

These ratings are heavily scrutinized. Every franchise's NFL team will nitpick their players' ratings and ask them what they think about it for content. While players claim not to care about the video game rating, it is clear that many do. For gamers, the ratings can show you not only your favorite players and how they fare, but also the worst teams in the league for rebuilds. 

In the past, EA Sports released a different position group each day of the week. This year, they are switching it up. They released the 99 Club on Monday, July 28. The rest of the week will consist of daily reveals with rookies, the offense as a whole, defense as a whole and then a full ranking and X-Factor Ability reveal on Friday. 

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The Sporting News is tracking the best players by position in Madden 26 as they are leaked or revealed. 

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Madden 26 ratings

EA Sports will be rolling out its ratings throughout the week of July 28. In the past, they have done it by position, but this year, they are doing a different format. It is worth noting that these ratings are only for franchise and offline modes. MUT ratings will be separate. 

99 Club 

Every year, a select group of players is chosen to have the top overall rating in the game. The exclusive group is called the 99 Club. When it started, it was only four players, but in Madden 26, there are a whopping SEVEN players in the club, and fans of the game have plenty of problems with who wasn't included. 

This year's 99 Club will be represented by:

  • Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
  • Eagles OL Lane Johnson
  • Bills QB Josh Allen
  • Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase
  • Ravens QB Lamar Jackson
  • Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
  • Browns DE Myles Garrett

Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles

Ahead of last season, the Giants decided to let Barkley walk in free agency. He joined the divisional-rival Eagles and went on to put up one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory. Barkley sat out the final game of the season and still managed to post 2,005 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns on the ground while adding another 278 yards and two touchdowns through the air. 

He finished just 101 yards short of Eric Dickerson's all-time record for rushing yards in a season. Along the way to winning Offensive Player of the Year, Barkley backwards hurdled over a Jaguars defender, creating an instant viral highlight. A re-creation of it is gracing the Madden 26 cover. 

Saquon Barkley and his hurdle grace the cover of Madden 26 🔥🦅 @EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/13v5alJK6S

— ESPN (@espn) June 2, 2025

Lane Johnson, OL, Eagles

In front of every great running back is a great offensive line. Johnson is the top option among Philly's star-studded offensive linemen. The 35-year-old's career is winding down, but he is currently signed with the Eagles through the 2028 season thanks to options in his deal. 

Josh Allen, QB, Bills

Since the start of the '99 Club' with Madden 20, no reigning MVP has started that year's game with a 99 overall rating. That changes in Madden 26. Bills quarterback Josh Allen finished with 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions last year, adding another 531 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns to his resume, which earned him the 2024 NFL MVP Award.

While the argument against him is that he still needs to get Buffalo past its nemesis, Kansas City, in the playoffs, he can focus on doing that this year with a 99 rating in Madden. 

MORE: Early look at Madden 26 new features

Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals

Chase became the fifth receiver in history to win the WR triple crown, leading all players in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17) in 2024. Chase doesn't have the marketable touchdown dance like Justin Jefferson of the Vikings, but he showed in 2024 that he was deserving of the highest possible rating to start the Madden 26 game cycle. 

Yet another demonstration of why Ja’Marr Chase is simply the best in the business the footwork at the back of the end zone one-handed. pic.twitter.com/PjE9jbfikJ

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) July 25, 2025

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

Offense looks like it will be the name of the game in Madden 26. Players will have to deal with a 99 overall Allen and a 99 overall dual-threat Lamar Jackson. To make matters worse, they gave Jackson 96 speed out of the gate. For reference, he is the fastest player in the 99 Club to start the year. 

Here’s your full breakdown of every 99 OVR player in Madden NFL 26 — including their full attributes across speed, strength, agility, and more. https://t.co/Hbvmo643S2 pic.twitter.com/bRL8i627VR

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 28, 2025

Jackson has a career-high 4,172 passing yards in 2024 with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions. Despite his winning two MVPs previously and not in 2024, last season was the best passing season of his seven-year career. Jackson added 915 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. 

Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

Jefferson was overshadowed by Chase in 2024, but he still had an impressive season. He finished with 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jefferson has tallied at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his five seasons so far, and his 10 scores from 2024 tied a career-high. This means that players can expect to drop the Griddy on opponents again in Madden 26. The iconic dance was invented because Jefferson's mom called him boring on the field. Now, it is one of the most emulated celebrations across sports. 

Justin Jefferson started hitting The Griddy because his mom called him boring 💀 pic.twitter.com/Zk6sRf1s8o

— Netflix (@netflix) July 13, 2024

This is the third time that the Vikings' wide receiver has been named to Madden's 99 Club to start a season. He was a 74 overall when he was a rookie, but now has been a 99 for three consecutive iterations of the game. 

Justin Jefferson earns a 99 overall rating in Madden for the third straight year 🥇 https://t.co/vgidjgydSm pic.twitter.com/xSehtLZEEt

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) July 28, 2025

Myles Garrett, DE, Browns

Garrett is the lone defensive player to earn a spot in the 99 Club, with many fans believing that reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II was snubbed. 

Garrett is still one of the best defenders in the league and will terrorize quarterbacks in the game. He notched 14 sacks last season, the second consecutive season that he has finished with that many. Garrett has played in the NFL for eight years and already has 102.5 career sacks to his credit. Bruce Smith's 200 career sacks are a long way off, but Garrett has forged a strong foundation so far. 

Myles Garrett in 2024:
🟤 14.0 sacks
🟤 3 forced fumbles
🟤 28 QB hits
🟤 22 TFL
Still one of the most unblockable forces in football. Here's every sack from the All-22 — raw, violent, and relentless.

🎧 Gahh Damn – BDifferent

Let me know who else you want to see cut ups from!… pic.twitter.com/cbn8xHd2I0

— All 22 Parker (@All22Parker) May 31, 2025

MORE: Why was Saquon Barkley chosen for Madden 26 cover?

Rookie Ratings

EA Sports changed its ratings release schedule and released a tease of the rookie ratings ahead of the full release along with a teaser trailer featuring Jameis Winston.

Later, they released the Top 10 rookies. Here are the top 10 rookies in Madden 26, with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward added. The remaining rookies for Madden 26 can be found here with all of their attributes

RatingPlayerTeamPosition
84Travis HunterJaguarsWR/CB
83Ashton JeantyRaidersRB
81Abdul CarterGiantsLB
80Mason GrahamBrownsDT
79Will CampbellPatriotsOT
79Jalon WalkerFalconsLB
78Kenneth GrantDolphinsDT
78Jahdae BarronBroncosCB
78Mykell Williams49ersDE
78Maxwell HairstonBillsCB
72Cam WardTitansQB
67Shedeur SandersBrownsQB

Top 10 overall players

Here are the top 10 overall players in Madden 26. 

RatingPlayerTeamPosition
99Saquon BarkleyEaglesRB
99Lane JohnsonEaglesOL
99Lamar JacksonRavensQB
99Ja'Marr ChaseBengalsWR
99Justin JeffersonVikingsWR
99Josh AllenBillsQB
99Myles GarrettBrownsDE
98Derrick HenryRavensRB
98George Kittle49ersTE
98Micah ParsonsCowboysLE

MORE: When does Madden 26 come out?

Madden 26 QB Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
99Josh AllenBills
99Lamar JacksonRavens
97Joe BurrowBengals
95Patrick MahomesChiefs
88Matthew StaffordRams
87Jared GoffLions
86Justin HerbertChargers
86Jalen HurtsEagles
85Baker MayfieldBuccaneers
85Jayden DanielsCommanders

MORE: Ranking the 13 greatest Ravens players of all time from Lamar Jackson to Ray Lewis

Madden 26 RB Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
99Saquon BarkleyEagles
98Derrick HenryRavens
95Jahmyr GibbsLions
94Christian McCaffrey49ers
92Bijan RobinsonFalcons
91Joe MixonTexans
90Josh JacobsPackers
89James CookBills
88Jonathan TaylorColts
88Kenneth WalkerSeahawks

MORE: Complete list of Super Bowl MVP winners through the years

Madden 26 WR Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
99Ja'Marr ChaseBengals
99Justin JeffersonVikings
96Amon-Ra St. BrownLions
95CeeDee LambCowboys
95Tyreek HillDolphins
94Terry McLaurinCommanders
93Mike EvansBuccaneers
93A.J. BrownEagles
91Drake LondonFalcons
90Davante AdamsRams

MORE: Ranking the 18 greatest Cowboys of all time

Madden 26 TE Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
98George Kittle49ers
93Travis KelceChiefs
92Trey McBrideCardinals
91Mark AndrewsRavens
90Brock BowersRaiders
89David NjokuBrowns
88T.J. HockensonVikings
87Dallas GoedertEagles
86Sam LaPortaLions
85Evan EngramBroncos

MORE: Ranking the 18 greatest Patriots players of all time

Madden 26 OL Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
99Lane JohnsonEagles
97Trent Williams49ers
96Penei SewellLions
96Tristan WirfsBuccaneers
96Jordan MailataEagles
95Quinn MeinerzBroncos
94Creed HumphreyChiefs
94Chris LindstromFalcons
94Laremy TunsilCommanders
93Joe ThuneyBears

MORE: Breaking down the heaviest players of all time in the NFL

Madden 26 DL Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
97Chris JonesChiefs
97Dexter Lawrence IIGiants
95Derrick BrownPanthers
94Cameron HeywardSteelers
93Vita VeaBuccaneers
93Nnamdi MadubuikeRavens
92Jeffery SimmonsTitans
91Quinnen WilliamsJets
90Jalen CarterEagles
88DeForest BucknerColts

MORE: Ranking the 19 greatest Steelers players of all time

Madden 26 EDGE Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
99Myles GarrettBrowns
98Micah ParsonsCowboys
96T.J. WattSteelers
96Maxx CrosbyRaiders
95Nick Bosa49ers
93Aidan HutchinsonLions
92Trey HendricksonBengals
91Danielle HunterTexans
90Josh Hines-AllenJaguars
89Will Anderson Jr.Texans

MORE: Looking back at the oldest players ever selected in the NFL Draft

Madden 26 MLB Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
97Fred Warner49ers
94Roquan SmithRavens
91Bobby WagnerCommanders
90Demario DavisSaints
88Lavonte DavidBuccaneers
88Zack BaunEagles
87Foyesade OluokunJaguars
86Dre GreenlawBroncos
86Bobby OkerekeGiants
85Devin LloydJaguars

MORE: 16 NFL stars you didn't know were also drafted by MLB teams

Madden 26 CB Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
97Patrick Surtain IIBroncos
95Christian GonzalezPatriots
94Sauce GardnerJets
94Trent McDuffieChiefs
94Jalen RamseySteelers
93Derek Stingley Jr.Texans
92Marlon HumphreyRavens
91Jaire AlexanderRavens
90Denzel WardBrowns
89Jaylon JohnsonBears

MORE: Ranking the 15 greatest Bills players of all time

Madden 26 S Ratings

RatingPlayerTeam
95Jessie Bates IIIFalcons
93Derwin James Jr.Chargers
93Xavier McKinneyPackers
92Budda BakerCardinals
92Minkah FitzpatrickDolphins
91Antoine Winfield Jr.Buccaneers
90Kyle HamiltonRavens
90Kerby JosephLions
89Brian BranchLions
88Harrison SmithVikings

Teddy Ricketson

Teddy Ricketson is a Digital Content Producer at The Sporting News. He joined the team in 2024 after spending the last three years writing for Vox Media as part of its DK Nation/Network team. Teddy does his best to support the South Carolina Gamecocks and Carolina Panthers, but tends to have more fun cheering on the Atlanta Braves. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, Brooke, and their two dogs, Bo and Hootie.