Madden 26 is now less than a week away from its worldwide release. Players who purchased the Deluxe Edition or have an EA Play subscription have been able to start playing since August 7, with the full launch scheduled for August 14.
One of the ways EA builds anticipation for the release of Madden is by gradually revealing team and player ratings. It’s a yearly tradition that always sparks conversation, and plenty of controversy, about who’s rated too high or too low. Still, it’s worth remembering these debates should stay lighthearted — we’re talking about a video game.
This year’s ratings haven’t exactly been kind to the Green Bay Packers. Despite finishing last season ranked in the top ten in EPA per play on both offense and defense, they didn’t crack the top 10 in either category in Madden 26.
Jordan Love has an 83 overall rating, which feels fair on the surface. Still, I’d argue he’s a better quarterback than Jalen Hurts and Jared Goff, who come in at 86 and 87, respectively. Malik Willis comes in at just 65, too low considering how well he played stepping in for Love last year. It’s especially odd to see players like Spencer Rattler, Joe Milton III, Hendon Hooker, and rookies like Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart rated higher, despite having little to no NFL experience.
Malik Willis pic.twitter.com/apUE5hgVo8
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 23, 2025
Josh Jacobs has a 90-overall rating in Madden 26, placing him among the top seven running backs in the league. It’s a well-deserved mark for a player who was the heart and soul of Green Bay’s offense last season. Heading into his second year with the Packers, Jacobs should be even more comfortable in the system.
Jayden Reed leads the way for Green Bay’s receiving corps with an 81-overall rating. Matthew Golden debuts at 76, just ahead of Dontayvion Wicks at 75, while Christian Watson sits at 78. If Watson can finally stay healthy and put together a good performance once he returns from injury, there’s no question he has the upside to become Green Bay’s top-rated receiver down the line.
Tucker Kraft comes in at 79 overall, while Luke Musgrave is rated 70. Musgrave still has plenty of upside, but the ratings reflect what most Packers fans already know: Kraft is the better player right now and will open the season as the starter. Still, Musgrave should continue to see meaningful snaps as the year progresses.
Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins are the pillars of Green Bay’s offensive line, each earning an 87-overall rating. Rasheed Walker follows as the next-highest-rated lineman at 80, with no other player on the roster surpassing that mark. Notably, Jordan Morgan is rated 75, the same as Aaron Banks, who landed a big contract in free agency with the team this offseason.
Green Bay’s defensive line has just two players rated above 80: Kenny Clark at 83 and Rashan Gary at 82. That pretty much sums up the situation in the trenches. Clark and Gary are the leaders inside and on the edge, while the talent behind them has potential but hasn’t yet developed into a consistent, full-time starting force. Enter Lukas Van Ness (74), who could be key to that growth moving forward.
Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker come in at 79 overall. However, if Cooper continues the breakout he started late in 2024, he should easily surpass Walker and could even reach the mid-80s. Isaiah McDuffie sits at 73, while Ty’Ron Hopper is rated 65, so the depth behind Cooper and Walker isn’t exactly inspiring – in Madden and in real life.
Green Bay’s three likely starting cornerbacks – Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine – are rated 81, 76, and 74, respectively. Still, I expect Valentine to surpass Nixon at some point this season. Meanwhile, Xavier McKinney leads the safety group with a 93 rating, while Javon Bullard, Isaiah Simmons, and Evan Williams come in at 75, 74, and 73. Make no mistake, though, the depth behind McKinney is talented, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this group’s ratings rise as the season progresses.
Carrington Valentine is the only #Packers CB in the last 11 years to play 250+ coverage snaps in a single season without allowing a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/dzmrFa67Oo
— Felipe Reis Aceti (@Aceti_Felipe) July 26, 2025
On special teams, Brandon McManus is rated 77, while Daniel Whelan comes in at 74, which feels a bit low. Meanwhile, Matthew Orzech is rated 61. Keep an eye on Orzech specifically, since EA has introduced long snappers into Madden for the first time this year.
The Madden takeaway is that Green Bay’s pass rush and receiving corps have plenty of potential but still need to develop into true game-changing units. Meanwhile, Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs are the only Packers to break the 90 club, which feels fair given they were the team’s best players last year. Additionally, a healthy Jordan Love should climb the rankings and at least establish himself as a top-10 quarterback in the game.