The Franchise mode offers different options for Madden 26 players to pick from, and this year brings a host of exciting challenges.
It's pretty easy to pick the best sides and keep taking them to new heights. However, that might not be the experience you want. The table below has details about ten exciting challenges you can try out in this year's Franchise mode.
10 best teams to pick in Madden 26's Franchise mode
I've picked these teams based on a variety of different reasons, which I outline for you in the table below.
| Team | Status | Salary Cap | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | Championship Contender | $15.2m | Decent salary cap, but the pressure will be intense. The squad is one of the best on paper, led by DT Jones and QB Patrick Mahomes. There are numerous 90-rated stars, so you'll need to manage the roster and destroy all other sides on the way to the Super Bowl. |
| Washington Commanders | Playoff Hopeful | $23.5m | The team has decent young talent that you can use to build a championship-winning squad. There's plenty of room in the salary cap, which might be enough for a couple of fresh free agents. Provides a good experience for those who want a decent challenge, without the burden of building a team from scratch. |
| New York Jets | Rebuilding | $37.8m | One of the worst-performing teams last season, the Jets have a couple of stars to build the team around. There's plenty of money in the salary cap, but a complete overhaul is the ultimate goal of this playthrough. |
| New England Patriots | Rebuilding | $64.6m | The glories of the past are now history, and you'll inherit an extremely weak squad. However, you have money and the free agent market. The initial save will be tough, so you'll need smart recruitment to get your run going. |
| Baltimore Ravens | Championship Contender | $16.3m | One of the best squads in the league. While salary cap space is tight, you won't really need to recruit much. The aim will be to win as many games as possible. |
| Houston Texans | Playoff Hopeful | $15.9m | While the base squad is decent, there's some room for improvement. You'll have to be smart with recruitment as the wage cap is pretty tight here. |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Playoff Hopeful | $21.9m | The Steelers have one of the strongest defenses in the league, but you'll need to improve the offense. There's decent money available, and a few smart trades will net you even more. Spruce up the offense, and you should be well on your way to the playoffs. |
| Carolina Panthers | Rebuilding | $22.3m | One of the weakest squads in the entire league, and there's not much space in the wage cap. Both offense and defense need improvement, and your aim will be to build around star DT Derrick Brown. A challenging experience. |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Championship Contender | $31.9m | The Eagles have the best offense in the NFL this season (on paper), but the defense is pretty shoddy. Thankfully, you have more than decent money to shore up the defense in hopes of winning a Super Bowl. |
| Atlanta Falcons | Rebuilding | $8.17m | This is one save ideal for trade experts, as you have a weak squad and an almost non-existent wage cap. There are a few stars on the roster, and trading some of them might not be a terrible idea. |
Ultimately, always pick a save based on how you want to enjoy Madden 26's Franchise mode, and what your expectations are. Picking a squad like the KCC is boring for me because I prefer a decent challenge. But if you're a beginner, playing with a stacked team won't be a bad idea at all.
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