Madden 26 is still several months away, but the NFL world is back at the forefront of sports following the 2025 Draft. Some teams addressed their needs and got incredible value with their picks, while others had a puzzling process throughout all seven rounds. With most NFL rosters set for the foreseeable future, we thought it would be a good time to see how the rosters might play out in Madden 26 Franchise Mode.
Specifically, we’ll examine one area of need that 10 teams in Madden 26 have following free agency and the draft. Some teams have a gaping hole in their roster that you’ll want to know before choosing them in Franchise. While these roster holes could be addressed with solid performance or an additional signing/trade, they look like a bottomless pit weighing down several NFL franchises right now.
We’ve listed our top 10 positions of concern for 10 different Madden 26 Franchises below. This list is not in any particular order.
1. Cleveland Browns, QB
Well, I say the list isn’t in any order, and then I drop perhaps the most chaotic position room in the entire NFL. The Cleveland Browns have one of the most perplexing quarterback rooms in recent memory. In the offseason, Cleveland traded for Kenny Pickett and signed ageless wonder Joe Flacco. The Browns still have the 230 million dollar man in Deshaun Watson somewhere in the building. Even with those three QBs, the Browns still drafted Heisman runner-up Dillon Gabriel and the most-discussed fifth-round draft pick in history, Shedeur Sanders.
If you choose the Browns in Madden 26 Franchise, prepare to either start an untested rookie, an aging veteran, or a Super Bowl champion in Kenny Pickett (who might be the worst QB in the room). There’s also Watson, but let’s face it, you’re likely not starting him.
2. Dallas Cowboys, RB
The Dallas Cowboys have a long and storied history at the running back position. From Emmitt Smith to Ezekiel Elliott to that one year of DeMarco Murray, the Cowboys have become known for their workhorses in the backfield. It’s safe to say Dallas won’t be relying on the run game in 2025. Their running back room is a little bit of a mess right now, as the top option is JaVonte Williams with Miles Sanders following closely behind.
Dallas’s offensive line doesn’t look nearly as strong as it has been in years past with the retirement of Zack Martin. With the uneasiness along the line and no decent running back on the roster, you’ll have a tough time running the ball with the Cowboys in Madden 26.
3. New England Patriots, WR
It was perhaps the biggest position of need for any team heading into the 2025 offseason. New England’s wide receivers were historically bad in 2024, with rookie franchise cornerstone Drake Maye consistently putting up bad numbers due to the ineptness of his receivers. While third-year receivers Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas look like they could turn a corner with a new regime in New England, the receiver room as a whole is a massive question mark.
Newly signed veteran Stefon Diggs will certainly be a decent-rated receiver in Franchise, but the rest of the room is an unknown. You have a plethora of young receivers, including new rookie Kyle Williams, so it’ll be a challenge to figure out who to start.
4. Minnesota Vikings, QB
The Minnesota Vikings went from having a miracle of a quarterback room to a complete mystery of one. In 2024, journeyman Sam Darnold finally found his footing, putting up MVP-like numbers at times and leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record. However, Darnold only got the chance to start due to rookie J.J. McCarthy getting hurt in the preseason, forcing him to miss the entire year. Now, McCarthy is healthy, but there’s no telling how good of a quarterback he will be.
Backing up McCarthy is newly acquired Sam Howell, who didn’t show much in his brief time starting with the Washington Commanders. Regardless of who you start, quarterback likely won’t be a strength for this Minnesota team.
5. Miami Dolphins, OL
One of the toughest things to watch in the NFL over the past few years has been Tua Tagovailoa’s injuries. Tua has been on the receiving end of multiple concussions since he was drafted in 2020, forcing him to miss more than a fair share of games. When he’s on the field, the Dolphins look like a completely different team (as long as they’re playing in warm weather). However, it might be tough to keep Tua healthy behind Miami’s current offensive line.
It projects to be one of the worst in the NFL in 2025, and that’s not great news for a Dolphins team that relies on Tua’s ability to stay on the field. If you decide to play as Miami in Madden 26 Franchise, you’ll want to get the ball out of Tua’s hands as quickly as possible.
6. Cincinatti Bengals, RB
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the more potent mixtures of offensive talent in the NFL. Quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins are all superstars, and they’re all locked into huge contracts. However, the Bengals have seemingly forgotten that paying three players top-of-the-line money means cuts will need to be made elsewhere on the roster. Running back is the primary position that’s been left out in the cold by Cincy.
The top running back on the Bengals roster is Chase Brown, who’s serviceable but not a top talent. If you want the Bengals to excel in Franchise, running back is one position you’ll want to address sooner rather than later.
7. Detroit Lions, CB
While the Detroit Lions certainly have some work to do to prove they can win when it matters, they’re still one of the best football teams in the NFL. However, if there’s one glaring weakness on the roster in 2025, it’s at cornerback. This wasn’t a great position for the Lions in 2024, but Carlton Davis certainly propped up the room. With Davis now in New England, Detroit’s cornerbacks aren’t too inspiring.
The Lions have Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson, two players who don’t have a ton of experience in top, starting roles. Look for teams to attack the Lions’ cornerbacks all the time if you pick them in Franchise.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers, QB
Unlike other positions of concern on this list, we don’t even know if we need to be concerned about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback room. As of right now, the Steelers only have quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster. That’s it. While Rudolph had a memorable, yet brief, starting run with the Steelers once upon a time, he’s not a starting-caliber QB in the NFL. I don’t even want to get into Thompson’s starts with the Dolphins.
If this QB room holds, it’s easily the worst in the league. However, Aaron Rodgers could eventually sign with the Steelers to make the position at least serviceable. Even Rodgers, in his age-41 season, won’t be a great answer, though.
9. Kansas City Chiefs, OL
If you watched the 2024 Super Bowl, then you know how poor the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line is. While the Eagles’ pass rush was legendary, the Chiefs couldn’t stop a pee-wee team in the Super Bowl. So, this made it quite surprising when the Chiefs shipped out perennial All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney to the Bears in the offseason. With Thuney gone, Kansas City still has two studs at center and right guard.
However, the rest of the line is a massive question mark. Right tackle JaWaan Taylor has been inconsistent for years, and the left side of the line could feature a turnstile with how many guys might be swapping in and out. The Chiefs will be dominant in Madden 26 like always, but that offensive line certainly needs work in Franchise.
10. Carolina Panthers, DL
Finally, wrapping up the list is the Carolina Panthers and their atrocious defensive line. The Panthers had the worst pass rush in the NFL in 2024, and they didn’t really sign or draft anyone in 2025 to move the needle on that front. While Carolina did add Jadaveon Clowney to the mix, the former number-one draft pick’s best days are likely behind him.
If you play as Carolina in Franchise, you’ll need to come up with some creative ways to get to the opposing team’s quarterback, because the current DL won’t be winning any one-on-ones.
Published: May 2, 2025 7:29 PM UTC