Rookie ratings have finally dropped for Madden 26, and they’re raising some eyebrows. EA’s been a little stingy with the OVRs, holding back on the hype of this year’s rookie class. The most surprising example? Cam Ward — the No.1 overall pick — ranks just 62nd among all rookies. Still, we have some prominent names in the top 10 like Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, so it’ll be fun to see how they’re utilized.
Our goal for today is simple: analyze the best rookies this season in Madden 26. This will be based on the official Madden 26 ratings and will help you navigate this season’s rookie class. Keep in mind that this isn’t a position-focused list, but rather a cumulative list for the top rookies in Madden 26.
Travis Hunter – 84 OVR
- POS: CB
- Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Starting us off, we’ve got Travis Hunter. As a rookie, Travis Hunter tops the list with an unmatched 84 OVR in Madden 26. He will be playing as the cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season, and is bound to be in the spotlight to showcase his skills. Being a cornerback, Hunter’s stats are more focused on speed and agility rather than strength. He boasts an impressive 93 SPD, 94 ACC, and 95 AGI.
However, his most impressive stat by far is his stamina, which sits at a comfortable 99. So if you’re looking for a swift CB to make those vertical runs, Hunter’s your guy. With the recent changes to physics-based tackles, you’ll need to be cautious of bigger linemen. Travis Hunter has a 61 in STR, making him prone to injuries if tackled hard. Other notable stats include good receiving and ball carrier stats; however, he severely lacks blocking and passing stats. Overall, a solid pick sitting at the top of the rookie list.
Ashton Jeanty – 83 OVR
- POS: HB
- Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Ashton Jeanty takes the second spot in the rookie list with an 83 OVR. The 5′ 9″, 211lbs HB plays an Elusive Back archetype and is aiming to hit triple digits in yards gained. Unlike Travis Hunter, who excelled in some stats but fell off in others, Jeanty has a much more equal spread across the board. Most of his general stats are bordering on 90, with AWR being the only one at 77. His ball carrier stats also show a full green board, making him a promising candidate.
Similar to Hunter, Jeanty falls off in passing, blocking, and defense. His receiving stats are also completely in the yellow, so he just might fumble passes a few times, especially with the new Stadium Pulse mechanic being introduced. Focus more on handing off the ball to him to avoid interceptions, as being elusive is where the player shines. With 80 STR and 93 TGH, he isn’t going down easily. Playing to his strengths will ensure he performs at his best.
Abdul Carter – 81 OVR
- POS: LE
- Team: NY Giants
We’re now dangling dangerously close to sub-80 OVR territory, but thankfully, Abdul Carter made the cut at 81 OVR. The right-handed LE will be playing for the New York Giants, sacking any unsuspecting QBs who make the mistake of ignoring him. Carter plays into the Smaller Speed Rusher archetype with stats in all the right places. He has a full green panel of general stats, with most stats either in the mid-80s or near 90.
His highest stat is TGH at 93, followed by ACC at 91, so rest assured, his enormous size will not slow him down. Another positive aspect is the defensive stats. He has an 83 in Finesse Moves and 82 in Pursuit, which allows him to dodge the tackles and make his way to the QB. He’ll also be useful in blocking corner plays that fade into the flat or vertical runs on the left side of the field. Carter is definitely someone to keep your eye out for, especially since he’s the top defensive rookie this season.
Mason Graham – 80 OVR
- POS: DT
- Team: Cleveland Browns
Coming in at the No. 4 spot, we’ve got Mason Graham, the defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns. Graham is the last player we have this season with an 80 or above OVR, and his stats justify it. The right-handed DT doesn’t have a particular archetype, but weighing in at 306lbs and 6’ 4″, there’s not a lot getting past him. The most notable stats in his stat spread are his STR and TGH at 90 and 94, respectively. This is the highest STR stat we’ve seen so far amongst rookies.
Graham also has an 88 in Impact Blocking, 85 in Block Shedding, and 81 in Tackle. Your RBs really don’t want to endure a tackle by this giant. His defensive stat spread isn’t as good as Abdul Carter’s, but it is still commendable for a rookie. He lacks stats in zone and man coverage, so make sure not to rely on him for that. Otherwise, he’ll be a solid anchor for the Browns’ defensive line in the upcoming season.
Jalon Walker – 79 OVR
- POS: LE
- Team: Atlanta Falcons
We’ve officially entered the sub-80 OVR category for Madden 26’s rookies. Coming in at 79, we have Jalon Walker, a 6’ 1″, 242lbs LE for the Falcons. Walker has the same archetype as Abdul Carter, Small Speed Rusher. His most notable stat across his entire stat spread is his ACC at 92. Walker has impressive swiftness on the field, a skill he’ll need to stop agile RBs from getting those double-digit yard gains. His SPD and AGI are at 86 and 86, respectively, placing him on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of speed.
His STM is something that could create an issue. At 73, it might cause him to tire out easily and not be as effective later in the game. Coming onto his defensive spread, his Pursuit and Tackle stats are above 80, while his Finesse Move stat falls just short at 79. While not the best defender, he’ll definitely shine in certain situations. Make sure not to rely on him too much, as he might cost you some crucial yardage.
Will Campbell – 79 OVR
- POS: LT
- Team: New England Patriots
Will Campbell is the second player we have at 79 OVR, and ranks 6th overall in the rookie category. Campbell is one of the sturdiest players you’ll see on the field. He’s over 6’ 6″ and weighs a whopping 319lbs. Even as a rookie, you don’t want to take a full-contact tackle from him. His archetype is Agile. Looking at Campbell’s stats, his general stats are better compared to other rookies. His INJ and TGH are at 90, closely followed by STR at 87.
Campbell is unique, however, as he specializes in blocking stats rather than defensive stats. His entire blocking panel is filled with stats in the mid-80s, making him a blocking powerhouse on defense. He has 85 on Impact Blocking, Pass Block Finesse, and Lead Blocking. The only problem is that these are the only two fields he excels in, while drastically failing in all the others. Still, if you play him in the correct position, he’s bound to be useful.
Jahdae Barron – 78 OVR
- POS: CB
- Team: Denver Broncos
At number seven, we have Jahdae Barron with a 78 OVR. Barron will be playing as a cornerback for the Broncos this season, and he has an interesting stat spread. He weighs 194lbs at 5’ 1″1, making him an ideal CB with good SPD and ACC stats. He plays into the Zone archetype, one of the more rarely seen archetypes in the game. This right-handed CB has some insane stats in his general category. 93 STM, 93 SPD, 92 ACC, 91 TGH, and 88 AGL. These are some of the best stats we’ve seen in the top 10 rookies.
This is offset, however, by his being extremely vulnerable with 54 STR. Similar to Travis Hunter, one bad tackle could put him out for more than a few games. His passing, ball carrier, and receiving attributes also aren’t that impressive, except for his Change of Direction at 91. He does have some good defensive stats we haven’t seen from many rookies. Barron’s Play Recognition, Man Coverage, and Zone Coverage are all in the mid to high 70s, making him a good situational pick-up.
Kenneth Grant – 78 OVR
- POS: DT
- Team: Miami Dolphins
Next up on the list is the defensive tackle from the Miami Dolphins, Kenneth Grant. Grant sits at 78 OVR with the other rookies, barely snagging a place in the top 10. The right-handed DT beats out Will Campbell in terms of build, weighing in at 330lbs and standing tall at 6’ 4″. Grant does not have a specific archetype. Looking at the stat spread, he’s not someone who stands out from the rest. There are some notable stats like STR at 92, which is absolutely necessary for a DT. His TGH and INJ are also at 93 and 91, respectively.
Besides these handful of stats, Grant can be used for Impact Blocking and Block Shedding. His massive build allows him to easily throw off opposition players with ease. He also has 84 Hit Power, making him one of the dangerous defensive linemen. Don’t have him cover a fast RB, and he’ll be pretty useful on the field.
Maxwell Hairston – 78 OVR
- POS: CB
- Team: Buffalo Bills
If you’re looking for fast cornerbacks, we might’ve found the rookie for you. At 78 OVR, Maxwell Hairston has some incredible speed. He might be small (only 182lbs and 6’ 0″), but he can run circles around most of the heavier defenders. Before we look at his stat spread, Hairston will have the Manto Man archetype. Now, about his general attributes. Hairston has 96 SPD (highest amongst rookies), 93 ACC, and 94 AGI (3rd highest amongst rookies). This makes him one of the fastest rookies in Madden 26.
Following the trend for CBs, Hairston does lack STR at 59 and AWR at 70. His Change of Direction is amazing at 95, but the rest of the stat spread is not worth mentioning. The best way to play him would be a run-heavy offensive playbook since running is his best skill. Look to gain massive yardage and utilize his speed to its full potential.
Mykel Williams – 78 OVR
- POS: RE
- Team: San Francisco 49ers
Rounding out our top 10 rookies list is Mykel Williams. Williams will be playing as the Right Edge for the San Francisco 49ers. He’s 6’ 5″ and weighs 266lbs, equipped with the Power Rusher archetype. Even though he’s at the bottom of the list, Williams has an even stat spread with a lot of green attributes. His general and defensive attributes both boast several high stats like ACC at 89, INJ at 87, Pursuit, and Hit Power both at 83.
The interesting part is that he has a few stats in blocking as well. Most defenders either load up on Blocking or Defense, but rarely do we see a little bit of both. Still, he’s not someone you should keep in mind if you require a block-heavy defender. Mykel Williams might not be the strongest rookie on defense, but he can definitely have some clutch plays if played right.
