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Madden NFL 25: 5 Best Teams to Use in Franchise Mode, Ranked

Whether you're looking to take control of a dominant team or rebuild a struggling project, these are the best teams to use in Madden 25 Franchise mode.

There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding on what team to assume control of in Madden 25‘s franchise mode. Faced with the hypothetical dream-come-true scenario in which every team in the league is vying for your team-building expertise, it’s worth weighing all of the variables. The natural inclination would obviously be to lead whatever team you happen to root for in real life all the way to a championship (or, if all goes well, perhaps even several). Assuming you want to set such allegiances aside, you’ll need to assess your priorities and decide what kind of challenge level you desire. You could take an easier path where glory is all but expected by choosing a perennial contender with most of the pieces already in place for success. You might instead be looking for a more challenging task though and would prefer to be at the helm of a team with some intriguing assets but in need of just the kind of finishing touch that only you can provide. Or, you might be that someone who just has to make things difficult for yourself on a team that could benefit from a total overhaul from top to bottom.

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Whichever of these options suits you best, let’s go over the pros and cons of the 5 best teams to use within franchise mode in Madden 25. An analysis of their current rosters will highlight existing strengths and any positions that could use an upgrade. We’ll outline which players are offering considerable value on their current contracts. We also won’t hesitate to ask perhaps the most vital question of all when attempting to make this kind of decision: what’s really fun about the team?

Let’s run down your best options and see what NFL team’s facility will end up with an office with your name outside the door.

5 Best Teams To Use In Madden 25 Franchise Mode, Ranked

# 1 – Kansas City Chiefs

Why the Chiefs? Honestly, the better question at this point has to be why not the Chiefs? They were knocking on the door of a three-peat in Super Bowl LIX and, despite something of a down season from Patrick Mahomes, they have an all-world quarterback locked up under contract for probably as many seasons as you’ll be willing to devote to a franchise mode so the position will never need to be a concern.
Strengths: Aside from Mahomes, the anchor of the Chiefs’ stout defense is on their line with Chris Jones. Though he’s hardly cheap, he’s one of just a few players not named Patrick Mahomes to be under contract through the 2028 season, so he’s likely to be wreaking havoc in the opposing team’s backfield for quite a few more seasons.
Weaknesses: You can never have enough offensive weapons at Mahomes’ disposal to help to unleash his full potential. While young running backs like Isiah Pacheco and wide receivers like Rashee Rice have shown flashes of greatness, you’ll want to probably consider bolstering the skill positions. Whether that’s done by adding through the draft or bringing in a veteran like they did recently with DeAndre Hopkins through free agency or a trade, it’s crucial to resurrect the high-scoring offense that was the norm not too long ago in Kansas City.
Best Roster Value: Protecting an asset like Mahomes is bound to be a top concern for anyone in charge of the Chiefs, which is why it’s nice to have an elite center like Creed Humphrey under contract at a relatively meager price for the next few seasons.
Looming Decisions: One the bigger ones has to be with the ubiquitous tight end Travis Kelce, who is only signed through the 2025 season. Will he retire after the 2024 season and become a movie star? Does it make sense to sign him beyond 2025 when his skills are bound to diminish? Will he ever propose to Taylor? Okay, that last one is none of your concern as general manager but still.
Fun Factor: There’s no denying that being able to use arguably the best quarterback in the league holds some appeal. Passes from Mahomes are bound to be on target more often than not, even when throwing on the run, and there’s the opportunity to scramble and pick up a first down with your legs when no one’s open. Are the Chiefs fun? Well, isn’t winning fun?

# 2 – Washington Commanders

Why the Commanders? With all due respect to the Minnesota Vikings, no team’s success was more surprising in 2024 than the Washington Commanders. Thanks in large part to the play of unflappable rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders not only made the playoffs unexpectedly but then put together a run that saw them get all the way to the NFC Championship game.
Strengths: An underrated aspect of the Commanders’ turnaround was their pass defense, which certainly was on display when the Commanders managed to upset the Lions in the divisional round by slowing down the a high-octane Lions offense. The secondary is led by veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who the Commanders acquired in a trade from the Saints prior to the 2024 season and figures to be lynchpin for the foreseeable future.
Weaknesses: If you’re going to praise the Commanders for shutting down the Lions, you also have to point out how their porous run defense ultimately resulted in their playoff demise courtesy of Saquon Barkley and the Eagles. Any plans to improve the team would be well-advised to include bringing in some better defensive linemen and/or linebackers to help control the line of scrimmage.
Best Roster Values: There’s probably no greater asset when building a team than a reliable quarterback on a rookie contract and that’s exactly the good fortune the Commanders find themselves in with Jayden Daniels. Now that it’s already clear how much of an impact Daniels can make, the powers that be need to consider a championship window officially open and start quickly spending their savings at the quarterback position elsewhere on the roster.
Looming Decisions: The Commanders’ 2024 running back duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler are both due to be free agents following the 2025 season. That means you’ll need to choose whether either of the two will remain in the team’s plans beyond then or look elsewhere for contributions out of the backfield.
Fun Factor: Anyone who watched Jayden Daniels this season can tell you that he’s already become must-see-TV whenever he’s on the field. It would be fun to help shape his career right from its beginnings and see if you’re able to routinely conjure some of the same magic we saw this year during their unlikely playoff run and on plays like the game-winning Hail Mary against the Bears.

# 3 – Minnesota Vikings

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Why the Vikings? Despite many expecting that the Vikings were headed into a rebuilding year in 2024, the team showed that the future is very much right now and looks awfully bright indeed.
Strengths: With a receiving corps headlined by superstar Justin Jefferson that also includes the promising Jordan Addison and trusty tight end TJ Hockenson, the team has no shortage of dangerous pass-catching weapons to rack up yards and points.
Weaknesses: The Vikings’ defense was fairly stingy in yielding yards on the ground but they ranked near the bottom of the league in defending through the air. Aging veterans like Harrison Smith and Stephon Gilmore will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.
Best Roster Values: The aforementioned Addison will continue to be on a team-friendly rookie contract for the next few seasons.
Looming Decisions: The elephant in the room that will need to be addressed is whether you trust the surprisingly efficient performance of Sam Darnold in 2024 and see him as the quarterback of the future or believe that 2024 1st round draft pick JJ McCarthy should be given a shot under center.
Fun Factor: The quarterback controversy creates an intriguing crossroads for the franchise that will ultimately play a huge role in the team’s success or failure in the years ahead. These kind of high-stakes calls are what the thrill (and agony) of being a general manager in Madden is really all about.

# 4 – Cleveland Browns

Why the Browns? Think about it: you could be the one to finally solve the Cleveland Browns. Many with illustrious credentials have tried and failed to crack the code in the past, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a shot. Just think about the kind of praise and adulation you’ll receive from the entire city if you can even just get them a playoff win.
Strengths: Though legitimate strengths are hard to pinpoint on the Browns’ roster, they definitely are better on the defensive side of the ball than on the offensive side. One good thing too is that you won’t have to worry about your best defensive player, Myles Garrett, demanding a trade in Madden as he has in real life.
Weaknesses: After trading Amari Cooper to the Bills during the 2024 season, the Browns aren’t left with many receiving threats aside from Jerry Jeudy. The same deficiencies can be seen in the running backs too, with Nick Chubb set to be a free agent this offseason and there are obvious concerns that he’ll never be quite the same dynamic player following his devastating 2023 injury.
Best Roster Value: The Browns have done pretty well in assembling a trusty and affordable offensive line, with stalwarts like Jack Conklin, Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller all locked up to reasonable contracts for the next few years.
Looming Decisions: What to do about Deshaun Watson? By now, it’s clear that he’s never going to be the savior at quarterback that the franchise thought he might be when they signed him to a controversial contract in 2022 despite the scandal swirling around him. Now you’ll need to decide whether you want to try to turn him into a viable option, find a trade partner willing to take on his monster contract or else bite the bullet by cutting him and crippling your salary cap for a few years with dead money.
Fun Factor: There isn’t a lot to enjoy about the current incarnation of the Browns, so you’ll have to find your pleasure in eventually bringing some excitement to a city in dire need of some.

#5 – New York Giants

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Why the Giants? Are you in the market for a fixer-upper? Look no further than the Giants, a team desperately searching for some direction after a disastrous 2024 that first saw them lose Saquon Barkley in free agency before they also eventually cut ties with quarterback Daniel Jones after lackluster play. Because the franchise has so many needs, you can be sure that your fingerprints will be over this team and you’ll fully be responsible for their success or failure.
Strengths: No
Weaknesses: All of them.
Best Roster Value: Okay, at least you do have one bright spot on your roster, as it seems like the Giants did land a top receiver the draft last year with Malik Nabers. Now he’ll be on the kind of paltry rookie deal that you can build around before you have to worry about paying him the big bucks in a few years.
Looming Decisions: The biggest thing you’re going have to figure out here in a hurry is who’s going to be the long-term quarterback that can lead the Giants out of NFC East basement. Whether that involves finding him through the draft or perhaps looking around the league at some of the veteran free agents who will be available in the 2025 off-season, it will be hard to win until someone decent is under center.
Fun Factor: For many, a rebuild of this magnitude will be akin to the tedium and pain of pulling teeth. But for those who like to get a little dirty with a sledgehammer and then slowly assemble a solid foundation on which you can build, this might be just the long-term project that you’ve been looking for.

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Kevin Scott
Kevin Scott is a writer and video producer who's been contributing to Operation Sports since 2016. He's primarily been focused during this time on any and all video games related to football, baseball, basketball, hockey and golf. He lives in Toronto and still believes, despite all evidence to the contrary, that someday the Leafs will finally win the Stanley Cup again.