Since the #FixMaddenFranchise trend a few years ago, fans have been awaiting more substantial changes to the game’smost popular offline mode. The major changes to scouting promised last year did not arrive until well after the game’s launch, and what was there left fans wanting.
This year’s mode sees major changes tofree agencyandplayer demands, plus a more engagingscouting system. For those of you hoping to run through these new changes for the first time, here are a number of teams that best fulfill that rebuilding itch.
10/10 Houston Texans
Houston has narrowly escaped the Deshaun Watson era unscathed. While theadded draft capitalfrom Cleveland will come in handy for future years, their current roster leaves a lot to be desired. The team does still has two solid offensive pieces in their prime in Left Tackle Laremy Tunsil (88 overall) and Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks (87 overall), but the team hasno real young talentto speak of. Quarterback Davis Mills looked solid in his rookie season, but Madden appears to disagree, as his ratings and potential are both a little lacking. If you are looking for a realtotal overhaulwhile still having some nice assets with the added draft collateral, Houston will be a popular option.
9/10 Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville is a perfect team for those looking to add to an alreadystable young core. In addition to an above average lineup of veterans on the offensive end, the team also hasblue chip prospectsin second-year players: Running Back Travis Etienne (77 overall) and the most hyped Quarterback prospect of the last 10 years, Trevor Lawrence (76 overall). The team also adds #1 pick from this year, pass rusher Travon Walker (76 overall).
The only real thing to worry about here is thelack of offensive receiving targetsfor Lawrence. If you want to walk into a situation with a quarterback you can be happy with long term but still wantflexibility to make changesto the rest of the offense, it won’t get any better than Jacksonville.
8/10 Chicago Bears
While the Bears have an array ofterrific defensive talentto start with, their offense leaves a lot to be desired. 2nd year Quarterback Justin Fields should develop well long term, and he’ll be a great option for those of you that prefer a running quarterback. While they don’t have the draft capital that Houston does, they also have plenty of stalwarts on defense to depend on early, which will allow you to focus on bringing in targets for Justin Fields in the coming years.
7/10 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta finally said goodbye to Quarterback Matt Ryan after 14 years as the team’s signal caller. The team welcomes thehighest rated Rookie Quarterbackin the game with Desmond Ritter (70 overall). While Atlanta does not have the overall depth that teams on this list like Chicago or Pittsburgh do, they make up for withtop heavy options on both sides. Defensively, they have two of the best cornerbacks in the game with AJ Terrell (89 overall) and Casey Hayward (87 overall).
Offensively, they have two as well with Wide Receiver Calvin Ridley and second year Tight End Kyle Pitts. Their core also leans much younger, with both Terrell and Pitts being under 23. If you’d prefer to round out a top-heavy roster with reliable veterans and players the game values less than you do, Atlanta has a lot offlexibilityin how you want to approach things.
6/10 Miami Dolphins
Miami is a team that hasunderperformedthe last several years, but it isn’t due to a lack of talent.A well-rounded rosterjust added a top 5 Wide Receiver in Tyreek Hill (97 overall) on top of last year’s rookie, Jaylen Waddle, who had one of the best rookie receiving seasons of all time.
The only real question is whether or not you believe Tua Tagovailoa is the Quarterback to go with moving forward. He is still on his rookie contract, which means you should have no trouble moving on from him if that’s the direction you decide to go in. That being said, the absurd offense he is walking into this year will give hima lot of wiggle roomgoing forward.
5/10 Seattle Seahawks
Seattle moved on from the Russell Wilson era after failing to put a team around him the last several seasons. Despite themassive haul of pickscoming back from Denver, they lack any real option at quarterback to start. Drew Lock at a 66 overall is one of the worst at the position in the game. Much like Atlanta, they also have aterrific young receiving core and secondary. That being said, Atlanta is hoping Desmond Ridder is their man moving forward, whereas Seattle has no idea who that is right now. If you are looking for a team to run through one quick year and have the best odds of having the 1st overall pick in the next draft, Seattle is the biggest no brainer in the game.
4/10 Detroit Lions
Detroit is caught in the middle in every regard. While they havesome young talenton the team, none come into the first year with stellar ratings outside of tight end TJ Hockenson. And without a quarterback option better than Jared Goff (72 overall), he’ll be playing at a disadvantage.
Their 2nd overall pick from this year, Aidan Hutchinson, should develop into one of thebest pass rushersin the entire game after a few years. Aside from him, most of their young players are logjamming the same position at either receiver or cornerback. The Lions will beone of the most challengingrebuilds this year.
3/10 New York Giants
The Giants are in asimilar position to Detroit. Their high end player is HB Saquon Barkley, who has missed major time due to injury. Their starting quarterback Daniel Jones is a good athlete, but by madden standards, he’s going nowhere fast. Not to mention much of their cap is tied up long term in non-superstars. The Giants and Lions will likely be considered co-picks for the hardest rebuild at the start of the year.
2/10 Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh finally said goodbye to future Hall of Fame Quarterback Ben Roethlistburger last year. This year’s rookie, Kenny Pickett, is lookingunderwhelmingby Madden standards. While he hasdecent speed, he lacks the ball-carrying ability to really do anything with it. His passing ratings are just flat out disrespectful. Pittsburgh does rep one of theleague’s best defenses at the start, though.
For Steelers fans that are hoping to run the gambit with Pickett without outright changing his ratings, you are probably better off waiting for him to look solid to start the year in real life and hope EA corrects their decision. For the rest of you that don’t mind just taking another quarterback later on, Pittsburgh’ssolid defensewill give you plenty of freedom to retool the offense however you want very early on.
1/10 Washington Commanders
Washington may not be done with name changes, but their core young talent aren’t going anywhere. Washington has as manyhigh-end young talentsas anyone in the game. The teams core of Jonathan Allen (92 overall Defensive Tackle), Terry McLaurin (91 overall Wide Receiver), Kendall Fuller (87 overall Cornerback), Da’Ron Payne (87 overall Defensive Tackle), and Chase Young (86 overall Defensive End) are not only some of thebest at their position, but none of them are older than 27 years old.
The team also has one of the more in-flux quarterback situations in the entire game. 73 overall Carson Wentz was once the young stud for the Philadelphia Eagles. After injuries slowed down his trajectory, he looked solid at points for Indianapolis last season. Currently he is not much more than abridge quarterbackbefore the player opts to sign or draft his replacement. If he shows a return to form in real life, Washington could easily be astealth contenderin Franchise in year 1.
