Franchise QBs, we all want them, but they seem to become rarer year after year. You can argue that there are as many as seven to 25 franchise quarterbacks currently in the league, but the real number probably falls somewhere in the middle. To determine the number of franchise quarterbacks, we must first know what to look for.
For both the real NFL and Madden, we are looking for winners who can accurately throw the ball. We are also looking for young guys who can develop into even bigger stars.
In real life, a franchise quarterback is someone who the team really believes can help them create a dynasty over the next decade. In Madden, a franchise quarterback is someone who I would pick in the fantasy draft to build a dynasty in Madden 26.
We will organize this list into the seven natural tiers of quarterbacks based on their final Madden 25 overall rating. I’ll list some key statistics and figures and share my take on whether the quarterback is a franchise quarterback in Madden, in real life, or both.
Tier 1
Lamar Jackson, Ravens, 99 OVR (28)
- Contract remaining: 7 years/52 million AAV
- Win%: 74.5%
- Playoff wins per season: 3:7 (0.42)
- Career passer rating: 102
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, of course!
- In Madden: Yes, of course!
Josh Allen, Bills, 98 OVR (29)
- Contract remaining: 6 years/55 million AAV
- Win%: 69.1%
- Playoff wins per season: 7:7 (1.0)
- Career passer rating: 93.4
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, of course!
- In Madden: Yes, of course!
Joe Burrow, Bengals, 96 OVR (28)
- Contract remaining: 5 years/55 million
- Win%: 55.1%
- Playoff wins per season: 5:5 (1.0)
- Career passer rating: 101.2
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, of course!
- In Madden: Yes, of course!
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, 95 OVR (29)
- Contract remaining: 7 years/45 million
- Win%: 79.5%
- Playoff wins per season: 17:8 (2.125)
- Career passer rating: 101.2
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, of course!
- In Madden: Yes, of course!
Tier 2
Jared Goff, Lions, 88 OVR (30)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/53 AAV
- Win%: 60.4%
- Playoff wins per season: 5:9 (0.55)
- Career passer rating: 95.7
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, the Lions love him.
- In Madden: Yes. I would usually say no, but EA inflated his numbers in the game so much that I have to say yes despite his age and reputation as an average quarterback.
Jalen Hurts, Eagles, 87 OVR (26)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/51 million AAV
- Win%: 69.7%
- Playoff wins per season: 6:5 (1.2)
- Career passer rating: 93.5
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, he just won a Super Bowl.
- In Madden: Yes, he just won a Super Bowl.
Brock Purdy, 49ers, 86 OVR (25)
- Contract remaining: 6 years/53 million AAV
- Win%: 63.9
- Playoff wins per season: 4:3 (1.33)
- Career passer rating: 104.9
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, definitely after that big contract he signed.
- In Madden: Yes. He may not be an exciting pick, but look at his accuracy numbers and his passer rating. How could you pass him up?
Justin Herbert, Chargers, 86 OVR (27)
- Contract remaining: 5 years/52.5 million AAV
- Win%: 51.9
- Playoff wins per season: 0:5 (0)
- Career passer rating: 96.7
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, although his seat might start to get hot if he doesn’t win a playoff game in the next few seasons.
- In Madden: Yes, his combination of throw power and athleticism makes him a great franchise QB.
Jayden Daniels, Commanders, 85 OVR (24)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/9.5 million AAV
- Win%: 70.6%
- Playoff wins per season: 2:1 (2)
- Career passer rating: 100.1
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, I think it’s safe to start drafting up a second contract after last season’s performance.
- In Madden: Yes, he might be the best potential (young) option in the game.
Matt Stafford, Rams, 85 OVR (37)
- Contract remaining: 2 years/42 million AAV
- Win%: 48.6%
- Playoff wins per season: 5:16 (0.31)
- Career passer rating: 91.2
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, not anymore. He’s too old and is regressing.
- In Madden: No, he’s too old to build a future around.
Tier 3
Dak Prescott, Cowboys, 84 OVR (31)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/60 million
- Win%: 62.3%
- Playoff wins per season: 2:9 (0.22)
- Career passer rating: 98.1
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, the Prescott and the Cowboys are stuck with each other for better or worse.
- In Madden: No, not at 31 with that contract and definitely not that overall.
Jordan Love, Packers, 84 OVR (26)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/55 million AAV
- Win%: 54.5%
- Playoff wins per season: 1:2 (0.50)
- Career passer rating: 95.1
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, the Packers seem to believe in him.
- In Madden: Yes, he can still develop and already has good attributes.
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers, 83 OVR (30)
- Contract remaining: 2 years/33.3 million AAV
- Win%: 48.5%
- Playoff wins per season: 2:7 (0.29)
- Career passer rating: 91.2
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Kind of. Mayfield is essentially functioning as a franchise quarterback right now, but they may start looking at quarterbacks of the future soon.
- In Madden: No, at thirty, you would hope your franchise QB is at least 85 overall.
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins, 82 OVR (27)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/53.1 million AAV
- Win%: 61.3%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:5 (0)
- Career passer rating: 97.9
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Maybe, depending on his health.
- In Madden: Maybe, depending on his performance.
C.J. Stroud, Texans, 81 OVR (23)
- Contract remaining: 3 years/9 million AAV
- Win%: 59.4%
- Playoff wins per season: 2:2 (1)
- Career passer rating: 93.7
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, of course! Even after a slight sophomore slump.
- In Madden: Yes, of course!
Tier 4
Geno Smith, Raiders, 79 OVR (34)
- Contract remaining: 3 years/37.5 million AAV
- Win%: 48.2%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:11 (0)
- Career passer rating: 88
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, I don’t think the Raiders see Smith as part of their long-term plan.
- In Madden: No, he’s 34, and is a mid-tier QB at best.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals, 79 OVR (27)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/46.1 million AAV
- Win%: 43.9%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:6 (0)
- Career passer rating: 92.4
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, but they may be delusional at this point.
- In Madden: No, at 27, I think Murray might have just aged out of the development stage, and I’m not sure you’re going to get much more out of him than what he’s done the last few years.
Sam Darnold, Vikings, 78 OVR (28)
- Contract remaining: 3 years/33.5 million AAV
- Win%: 47.9%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:7
- Career passer rating: 83.9
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, his contract was only three years at low-tier starter money.
- In Madden: No, he’s already 28, and Darnold’s last few games last year tanked his attributes.
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers?, 77 OVR (41)
- Contract remaining: ~1 year/35 million AAV?
- Win%: 63.5%
- Playoff wins per season: 12:20 (0.60)
- Career passer rating: 102.6
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, of course not!
- In Madden: No, he’s 41!
Tier 5
Bo Nix, Broncos, 77 OVR (25)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/4.5 million AAV
- Win%: 58.8%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:1 (0)
- Career passer rating: 93.3
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, I think he has proven himself.
- In Madden: Yes, I think he has proven himself.
Drake Maye, Patriots, 76 OVR (22)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/9.1 million AAV
- Win%: 25%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:1 (0)
- Career passer rating: 88.1
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, they hope.
- In Madden: Yes, he’s got the potential.
Bryce Young, Panthers, 75 OVR (23)
- Contract remaining: 3 years/9.5 million AAV
- Win%: 21.4%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:2 (0)
- Career passer rating: 77.3
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, but Young still has a lot to prove.
- In Madden: Yes, he’s still young and should get a potential boost after his late-season run last year.
Caleb Williams, Bears, 75 OVR (23)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/10 million AAV
- Win%: 29.4%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:1 (0)
- Career passer rating: 87.8
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, the Bears hope.
- In Madden: Yes, he still gets the attribute benefits of being the number one pick. Williams should still be a star in franchise mode a few years out.
Tier 6
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars, 74 OVR (25)
- Contract remaining: 6 years/55 million AAV
- Win%: 36.7%
- Playoff wins per season: 1:4 (0.25)
- Career passer rating: 85
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, but the Jaguars may be delusional at this point.
- In Madden: No, you might as well sign Danny Dimes; he’s much cheaper.
Justin Fields, Bears, 73 OVR (26)
- Contract remaining: 2 years/20 million AAV
- Win%: 31.8%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:4
- Career passer rating: 83.9
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, Fields’ contract doesn’t scream “franchise QB” to me; he’s more of an experiment than anything.
- In Madden: Maybe, if you put him in the right system.
Michael Penix Jr., Falcons, 73 OVR (25)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/5.7 million AAV
- Win%: 33.3%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:1 (0)
- Career passer rating: 78.9
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, they hope.
- In Madden: Yes, he’s got the potential to develop into a true star.
Anthony Richardson, Colts, 72 OVR (23)
- Contract remaining: 3 years/8.5 million AAV
- Win%: 53.3%
- Playoff wins per season: 0:2 (0)
- Career passer rating: 67.8%
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, they wouldn’t be paying Danny Dimes 14 million dollars to compete for QB1 if they believed in him.
- In Madden: Yes, he’s too talented not to try and salvage his career.
J.J. McCarthy, Vikings, 72 OVR (22)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/5 million AAV
- Win%: NA
- Playoff wins per season: NA
- Career passer rating: NA
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, they cleared out the QB room for him.
- In Madden: Yes, he’s still incredibly young and has a ton of potential.
Cam Ward, Titans, 71 OVR (23)
- Contract remaining: 5 years/12 million AAV
- Win%: NA
- Playoff wins per season: NA
- Career passer rating: NA
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, the Titans wouldn’t have used the number one pick on Ward if they didn’t think he would be the guy.
- In Madden: Yes, he has excellent skills that should translate well to the game.
Tier 7
Joe Flacco, Browns, 71 OVR (40)
- Contract remaining: 1 year/4.2 million AAV
- Win%: 55%
- Playoff wins per season: 10:17 (0.59)
- Career passer rating: 84.4
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, bridge veteran.
- In Madden: No, he’s 40!
Jaxson Dart, Giants, 69 OVR (22)
- Contract remaining: 5 years/4.2 million AAV
- Win%: NA
- Playoff wins per season: NA
- Career passer rating: NA
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: Yes, they hope.
- In Madden: Yes, Madden hates rookie QBs, but he should have good development and be a starter in a year or two.
Tyler Shough, Saints, 67 OVR (25)
- Contract remaining: 4 years/2.7 million AAV
- Win%: NA
- Playoff wins per season: NA
- Career passer rating: NA
Are they a franchise QB?
- Reality: No, Shough is probably just a bridge guy until they can draft a real franchise QB.
- In Madden: No, I don’t know what his attributes will be, but they won’t be great.
